Kigali, Rwanda | 11 August 2026 – Rwanda today officially unveiled plans for the 21st edition of Kwita Izina, the country’s flagship conservation event, reaffirming its commitment to protecting mountain gorillas while demonstrating how conservation continues to drive tourism growth, create economic opportunities and improve livelihoods for communities living around the country’s national parks.

Addressing members of the media in Kigali, representatives from the Rwanda Nature Foundation (RNF), Ministry of Environment, Northern Province and Tourism Chamber of the Private Sector Federation outlined preparations for this year’s event, which will be held on 4 September 2026 in Kinigi, Musanze District, under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future.”

Over the past 21 years, Kwita Izina has evolved into one of the world’s leading conservation events, celebrating newborn mountain gorillas while highlighting Rwanda’s conservation achievements and the role of communities and partners in protecting the country’s natural heritage.

Rwanda’s tourism sector continued its sustained growth in 2025, generating a record USD 685 million in tourism revenues, up from USD 647 million in 2024, supported by 1.49 million visitor arrivals, representing a 9 per cent year-on-year increase.

The country’s national parks welcomed 155,394 visits in 2025, generating USD 40.8 million in park revenues. Volcanoes National Park remained the largest contributor, accounting for USD 35.8 million, while Nyungwe National Park recorded the fastest growth in visitation following the introduction of new tourism products, including the zipline and rope course.

Domestic tourism also continued to grow, with park visits increasing by 8.1 per cent to more than 59,000 visits, demonstrating growing appreciation of Rwanda’s natural heritage among Rwandans.

The country’s tourism sector has also become increasingly diversified. Rwanda’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) sector generated USD 94.7 million in revenues in 2025, an increase of 11.8 per cent, while hosting 165 international and regional meetings and events that attracted more than 61,000 delegates.

Today, close to 1,100 mountain gorillas live in the wild across the Virunga Massif and Bwindi ecosystem. They remain the only great ape whose population continues to grow, reflecting decades of conservation efforts involving governments, conservation organisations, researchers, veterinarians, rangers and communities.

Speaking at the media briefing, Eugene Mutangana, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Nature Foundation, said Rwanda’s experience demonstrates the connection between protecting nature and creating sustainable economic opportunities.

“For over two decades, Kwita Izina has showcased Rwanda’s belief that conservation is not simply about protecting wildlife. It is about creating opportunities for people, supporting communities, growing tourism and ensuring that future generations inherit a healthy and thriving natural environment. This year’s theme, ‘Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future,’ reflects exactly that vision.”

He added that Rwanda’s tourism performance continues to demonstrate the value of its conservation-led tourism model.

“Mountain gorilla trekking remains Rwanda’s leading tourism attraction, while continued investment across our national parks is helping diversify visitor experiences and position Rwanda among the world’s leading high-value nature tourism destinations. As our conservation agenda evolves, we must continue investing in healthy ecosystems, resilient communities and the long-term protection of our natural heritage.”

Speaking on the relationship between environmental protection and Rwanda’s wider development ambitions, Thadee Twagirimana, Director General of Environment and Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment, emphasised that tourism growth must continue to advance alongside environmental sustainability.

“As Rwanda continues positioning itself as a premium and eco-conscious tourism destination, environmental sustainability must remain at the centre of tourism development. A world-class tourism destination must also be a world-class environmental destination.”

He noted that Rwanda’s approach to green growth recognises that healthy ecosystems underpin economic development, climate resilience and community livelihoods.

“Our protected areas, forests, wetlands, lakes, rivers and wildlife provide essential ecosystem services, support livelihoods, strengthen climate resilience and create opportunities for sustainable tourism and development. Our mission is not only to protect flagship species, but also to conserve and restore the wider ecosystems on which biodiversity, communities and our economy depend.”

An equally important pillar of Rwanda’s conservation model is ensuring that communities directly benefit from tourism.

Through the Tourism Revenue Sharing Programme, 10 per cent of national park tourism revenues are reinvested into community development in areas surrounding Rwanda’s protected areas.

To date, more than RWF 23 billion, approximately USD 16 million, has been invested in nearly 1,300 community projects, supporting schools, health centres, water infrastructure, livelihood initiatives and other community priorities.

This year’s Kwita Izina will also mark the ground-breaking of the Smart Green Village, part of the Volcanoes Community Resilience Project and Rwanda’s long-term vision for the restoration and expansion of Volcanoes National Park.

The vision includes expanding Volcanoes National Park by approximately 3,740 hectares and establishing approximately 6,620 hectares of buffer zones, creating additional habitat for the growing mountain gorilla population and supporting sustainable land use. The broader programme is expected to improve livelihoods for more than 17,000 people, approximately 3,400 households, while reducing human-wildlife conflict by 80 per cent.

Representing the private sector, Jackson Hakiza, Director General of the Rwanda Chamber of Tourism, highlighted the role of sustainable tourism in generating wider economic opportunities.

“Sustainable tourism is tourism that protects the environment and our biodiversity. When we look at what Kwita Izina represents, these principles are at the heart of the celebration we are marking today. It is about creating business opportunities, generating jobs within communities, and opening doors for investment, both from Rwanda and from international investors.”

Maurice Mugabowagahunde, Governor of the Northern Province, highlighted the significance of Kwita Izina for the communities that host the annual celebration.

“Kwita Izina is a great source of pride, especially for the people of the Northern Province. More broadly, it demonstrates the remarkable progress Rwanda has made in conserving the mountain gorillas and protecting our biodiversity, while bringing more visitors and partners to be part of this journey.”

The briefing also highlighted the establishment of the Rwanda Nature Foundation, whose creation was recently approved by Cabinet. The Foundation will advance wildlife conservation across Rwanda, including the direct management of Volcanoes and Gishwati-Mukura National Parks, while promoting biodiversity protection, scientific research, innovation and resilient ecosystem management. It will also help mobilise partnerships, expertise and resources to support Rwanda’s long-term conservation ambitions.

This year’s Gorilla Naming Ceremony will see 22 baby mountain gorillas receive names from distinguished Namers representing conservation, business, sports, entertainment, philanthropy and public service from Rwanda and around the world. The full list of Namers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Other activities to celebrate this year’s Kwia Izina include; international travel trade and media familiarisation trips, a conservation exhibition in Kinigi, screenings of A Gorilla Story in Kigali and Muzanze, gorilla trekking experiences and the Kwita Izina Concert at BK Arena. 

Notes to Editors

Kwita Izina 2026 Programme

• 27 August 2026 | Smart Green Village Project
  Ground-breaking ceremony of the Smart Green Village project, aimed at improving livelihoods and ensuring communities surrounding Rwanda’s national parks benefit directly from conservation and tourism.

• 28 August – 8 September 2026 | Kwita Izina Exhibition
  A conservation exhibition in Kinigi, Musanze, showcasing Rwanda’s mountain gorilla conservation journey and the communities and partners behind its progress.

• 2–3 September 2026 | A Gorilla Story Screenings
  Special screenings in Kigali and Musanze of the documentary narrated by Sir David Attenborough, sharing Rwanda’s mountain gorilla conservation story. A Kinyarwanda version narrated by Félix Ndagijimana will also be screened in Musanze.

• 3 September 2026 | Namer Gorilla Trekking Experience
  Kwita Izina Namers and invited guests experience mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

• 3 September 2026 | Kwita Izina Community Celebration Concert
  A community celebration on the eve of Kwita Izina, bringing together music and entertainment at Ubworoherane Stadium in Musanze.

• 4 September 2026 | 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony
  The flagship Gorilla Naming Ceremony in Kinigi, Musanze, under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future.”

• 5 September 2026 | Kwita Izina Concert
  A celebration bringing together music, culture and conservation, featuring international and Rwandan performers.

About Kwita Izina

Kwita Izina is Rwanda’s annual Gorilla Naming Ceremony inspired by the centuries-old Rwandan tradition of naming children soon after birth. Since becoming an official annual event in 2005, the ceremony has named 438 mountain gorillas, celebrating Rwanda’s conservation achievements while highlighting the important role of communities and partners in protecting one of the world’s most endangered species.

Today, Kwita Izina has evolved into one of the world’s leading conservation events, bringing together conservationists, researchers, policymakers, business leaders, tourism stakeholders and visitors from around the world to celebrate Rwanda’s unique conservation model.

About the Rwanda Nature Foundation

The Rwanda Nature Foundation (RNF) is a newly established institution dedicated to advancing wildlife conservation across Rwanda, including the direct management of Volcanoes and Gishwati-Mukura National Parks. The Foundation will promote biodiversity protection, scientific research, innovation and resilient ecosystem management, while supporting sustainable tourism and greater socio-economic benefits for communities surrounding Rwanda’s protected areas.