Program - APrIGF 2026

Watch the session LIVE now on YouTube

Stream LIVE now

APrIGF 2026

60 minutes

30 minutes

20 minutes

Break / lunch

Plenary / townhall

Conference Schedule

October 4, 2026
Sunday
October 5, 2026
Monday
October 6, 2026
Tuesday
October 7, 2026
Wednesday

Nepal Timezone	UTC	Day 0 (Sunday, 4 Oct)
Nepal Timezone	UTC	Kangchenjunga Hall, Level 7	Royal Tulip Hall (TBC)
11:30-11:45	05:45-06:00		Side Event: FOC 15th Anniversary: Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue Register here 90 minutes · 11:30–13:00
11:45-12:00	06:00-06:15
12:00-12:15	06:15-06:30
12:15-12:30	06:30-06:45
12:30-12:45	06:45-07:00
12:45-13:00	07:00-07:15
15:00-15:15	09:15-09:30	Day 0 Capacity Building Program 120 minutes · 15:00–17:00
15:15-15:30	09:30-09:45
15:30-15:45	09:45-10:00
15:45-16:00	10:00-10:15
16:00-16:15	10:15-10:30
16:15-16:30	10:30-10:45
16:30-16:45	10:45-11:00
16:45-17:00	11:00-11:15

FOC 15th Anniversary: Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue

Date: 4 October 2026
Time: 11:30–13:00 Nepal Time / 05:45 – 07:15 UTC

*Note: Participants must register for APrIGF 2026 separately, and also register for this session directly via this form.

FOC’s 15th anniversary: Marking the FOC’s 15th anniversary, this regional dialogue brings together civil society, technical community, and government voices to take stock of Internet freedom and digital rights in Asia-Pacific, from shutdowns and shrinking civic space to platform governance and AI. Framed by the São Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines, the session tests directions for the FOC’s forthcoming 15th Anniversary Joint Statement and gathers regional input to shape the FOC’s priorities ahead of the Global IGF in Nairobi.

Panel Speakers:

Disha Verma, Program Manager for Asia-Pacific (APAC), Tech Global Institute
Jennifer Chung, Vice President for Policy, DotAsia Organisation
Isabelle Lois, Senior Policy Advisor, Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), Switzerland/FOC Chair 2026

Day 0 Capacity Building Program

Date: 4 October 2026
Time: 15:00* – 17:00 Nepal Time / 09:15* – 11:15 UTC

*For On-site participants, registration opens 1 hour before. For Online participants, you are welcome to join the program after ice-breaking session has concluded at 15:35 Nepal Time (09:50 UTC)

Expected Participants: APrIGF Fellows, yIGF participants, newcomers and any APrIGF participants who are be interested

Expected outcomes:

To make fellows and yIGF participants familiar with APrIGF and its functioning
Facilitate interactions between the Fellows, yIGF participants, and other newcomers to the APrIGF
Enable a space for discussion on the overarching theme and tracks to allow participants a better understanding of the issues

APrIGF 2026 – Day 0 Capacity Building Program

Nepal Timezone	UTC	Min	Activity
15:00-15:05	09:15-09:20	5	Welcome and introduction to Day 0 Capacity Program
15:05-15:35	09:20-09:50	30	Ice-breaker* *Remote participants will be advised to join the Day 0 Capacity Building at 15:35pm Nepal Time (09:50 UTC). Local Hubs participating in Day 0 will be advised to conduct similar ice-breaker at their respective hubs
15:35-15:50	09:50-10:05	15	Introduction to APrIGF What to expect in APrIGF 2026 Objectives and intended outcomes based on this year’s theme Code of conduct for the event Key highlights of the program
15:50-16:25	10:05-10:40	35	Breakout Group Discussion Introduction of the session and participants divide into four onsite breakout groups, each group discusses one APrIGF sub-theme, and one online group Rotating breakout sessions onsite of approximately 9–10 minutes each
16:25-16:45	10:40-11:00	20	Regroup: participants are invited to present or share key discussion points
16:45-16:55	11:00-11:10	10	Q&A / Open floor
16:55-17:00	11:00-11:15	5	Closing Remarks for Day 0 Capacity Building Program

Total: 2 hours

Nepal Timezone	UTC	Day 1 (Monday, 5 Oct)
Nepal Timezone	UTC	Lhotse Hall (Level 1)	Langtang Hall (Level 3)	Kangchenjunga Hall (Level 3)
09:00–09:15	03:15–03:30	Opening Ceremony & Plenary 105 minutes · 09:00–10:45
09:15–09:30	03:30–03:45
09:30–09:45	03:45–04:00
09:45–10:00	04:00–04:15
10:00–10:15	04:15–04:30
10:15–10:30	04:30–04:45
10:30–10:45	04:45–05:00
10:45–11:00	05:00–05:15		Break (Transition to parallel sessions) 30 minutes · 10:45–11:15
11:00–11:15	05:15–05:30
11:15–11:30	05:30–05:45		Seeing the Bias: A Regional Interactive Ideation Workshop on AI Bias, Misinformation, and Inclusive Digital Futures Sub-themes: AI Governance for Good Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 60 minutes · 11:15–12:15	A Guide to Integrating Gender to Cybersecurity Policy Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 60 minutes · 11:15–12:15
11:30–11:45	05:45–06:00
11:45–12:00	06:00–06:15
12:00–12:15	06:15–06:30
12:15–12:30	06:30–06:45		Lunch at Ground Floor 60 minutes · 12:15–13:15
12:30–12:45	06:45–07:00
12:45–13:00	07:00–07:15
13:00–13:15	07:15–07:30
13:15–13:30	07:30–07:45		The Algorithmic Breach: Brevity Bias, Cognitive Sovereignty, and the Case for a Duty of Care in South and Southeast Asia Sub-themes: Future of APrIGF & Multistakeholder Ecosystem Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 30 minutes · 13:15–13:45	Governing AI Training Data in the Asia-Pacific: Transparency, Verifiability, and Creator Rights Sub-themes: AI Governance for Good Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 30 minutes · 13:15–13:45
13:30–13:45	07:45–08:00
13:45–14:00	08:00–08:15		Break 10 minutes · 13:45–13:55
14:00–14:15	08:15–08:30		Who Gets a Say? A Regional Dialogue on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Governance in Asia-Pacific Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust Future of APrIGF & Multistakeholder Ecosystem 60 minutes · 13:55–14:55	Community Radio in the Digital Era: Strengthening Internet Resilience and Trusted Communication in South Asia Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust Universal and Meaningful Connectivity 60 minutes · 13:55–14:55
14:15–14:30	08:30–08:45
14:30–14:45	08:45–09:00
14:45–15:00	09:00–09:15
15:00–15:15	09:15–09:30		Break 15 minutes · 14:55–15:10
15:15–15:30	09:30–09:45		The Cost of a Click: Unboxing AI and Internet Infrastructures to Shape a Greener Internet in the APAC Sub-themes: Universal and Meaningful Connectivity Future of APrIGF & Multistakeholder Ecosystem 60 minutes · 15:10–16:10	Backdoors, Blackouts, and Big Tech: Mapping Encryption Rules Across the Asia Pacific — and Filling the Southeast Asian Gap Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust AI Governance for Good 30 minutes · 15:10–15:40
15:30–15:45	09:45–10:00
15:45–16:00	10:00–10:15			Break 10 minutes · 15:40–15:50
16:00–16:15	10:15–10:30			Let’s Measure the Internet: RIPE Atlas for APAC Digital Resilience Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust Universal and Meaningful Connectivity 30 minutes · 15:50–16:20
16:15–16:30	10:30–10:45		Break 20 minutes · 16:10–16:30	Break 10 minutes · 16:20–16:30
16:30–16:45	10:45–11:00		Townhall Session 60 minutes · 16:30–17:30
16:45–17:00	11:00–11:15
17:00–17:15	11:15–11:30
17:15–17:30	11:30–11:45

Opening Ceremony & Opening Plenary

Date: 5 October 2026
Time: 09:00 – 10:45 Nepal Time / 03:15 – 05:00 UTC

Inaugural Ceremony (50 Minutes)

Opening & Introduction
Lighting of the lamp
Welcome Note: Rupesh Shrestha, CEO, NPIX
Opening Remarks: Amrita Choudhury, Chair, Multistakeholder Steering Group (MSG) of APrIGF
Remarks from IGF MAG Chair: Jennifer Chung, MAG Chair, UN IGF
Chief Guest: Chief Justice Rt. Hon. Dr. Manoj Sharma
Presentation of Token of Appreciation by Local Host: Babu Ram Aryal, Chair, Host Steering Committee
Closing of the inaugural ceremony: Babu Ram Aryal, Chair, Host Steering Committee

Plenary Roundtable (55 Minutes)
Safeguarding Resilient Internet in Times of Crisis

Moderator: Dr. Bhoj Raj Ghimire, Co-Convenor, Program Committee, APrIGF
Panel Speakers:

Subhash Dhakal, Joint Secretary, Government of Nepal, Information Technology and Digital Governance Office (ITDGO)
Nuwan Waidyanatha, Senior Research Fellow, LIRNEasia
Rukamanee Maharjan, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Tribhuvan University
Tahani Iqbal, Digital Development Specialist, ADB Bank
Ruzan Sarwar, Public Policy Manager, Meta

Nepal Timezone	UTC	Day 2 (Tuesday, 6 Oct)
Nepal Timezone	UTC	Langtang Hall (Level 3)	Kangchenjunga Hall (Level 3)
09:00–09:15	03:15–03:30	From Barrier to Enabler: Rethinking Policy for Community-Driven Internet Access Sub-themes: Universal and Meaningful Connectivity Future of APrIGF & Multistakeholder Ecosystem 60 minutes · 09:00–10:00	Building the Next Generation of Pacific Cybersecurity Professionals: Partnerships, Skills and Regional Resilience Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 60 minutes · 09:00–10:00
09:15–09:30	03:30–03:45
09:30–09:45	03:45–04:00
09:45–10:00	04:00–04:15
10:00–10:15	04:15–04:30	Break 15 minutes · 10:00–10:15
10:15–10:30	04:30–04:45	Drawing the Line: Online Harm, Queer Expression, and Platform Governance in Asia-Pacific Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 60 minutes · 10:15–11:15	Closing the Last-Mile Gap: A Civil Society Approach to Internet Quality Measurement in Rural Indonesia Sub-themes: Universal and Meaningful Connectivity Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 30 minutes · 10:15–10:45
10:30–10:45	04:45–05:00
10:45–11:00	05:00–05:15		Break 10 minutes · 10:45–10:55
11:00–11:15	05:15–05:30		From Compliance to Confidence: How Asia’s Startups Are Shaping the Future of AI Governance Sub-themes: AI Governance for Good Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 30 minutes · 10:55–11:25
11:15–11:30	05:30–05:45	Break 15 minutes · 11:15–11:30
11:30–11:45	05:45–06:00	From Local Evidence to Regional Dialogue: Trust, Inclusion, and an Open Internet in the Age of AI Sub-themes: Future of APrIGF & Multistakeholder Ecosystem 60 minutes · 11:30–12:30	Break 10 minutes · 11:25–11:35
11:45–12:00	06:00–06:15		EcoInternet Index (EII): APAC Leads the Way Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust AI Governance for Good 30 minutes · 11:35–12:05
12:00–12:15	06:15–06:30		Break 10 minutes · 12:05–12:15
12:15–12:30	06:30–06:45		Community Wi-Fi and Cyclone Alert Systems for Marginal Fisher Villages Barguna, Coastal Bangladesh to Improve Internet and Save Lives Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust Universal and Meaningful Connectivity 20 minutes · 12:15–12:35
12:30–12:45	06:45–07:00	Lunch 60 minutes · 12:30–13:30
12:45–13:00	07:00–07:15
13:00–13:15	07:15–07:30
13:15–13:30	07:30–07:45
13:30–13:45	07:45–08:00	When An Energy Crisis Becomes a Connectivity Crisis Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust Universal and Meaningful Connectivity 60 minutes · 13:30–14:30	Governing Generative AI for Electoral Integrity: Building Resilient and Trustworthy Digital Spaces in South and Southeast Asia Sub-themes: AI Governance for Good Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 60 minutes · 13:30–14:30
13:45–14:00	08:00–08:15
14:00–14:15	08:15–08:30
14:15–14:30	08:30–08:45
14:30–14:45	08:45–09:00	Break 15 minutes · 14:30–14:45
14:45–15:00	09:00–09:15	Assistive Technology for Meaningful Participation and Successful Integration in Education and the Workplace Sub-themes: AI Governance for Good Universal and Meaningful Connectivity 60 minutes · 14:45–15:45	Surveillance by Design: Digital ID, Data Protection and the Trust Crisis in South Asia Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust Universal and Meaningful Connectivity 60 minutes · 14:45–15:45
15:00–15:15	09:15–09:30
15:15–15:30	09:30–09:45
15:30–15:45	09:45–10:00
15:45–16:00	10:00–10:15	Break 15 minutes · 15:45–16:00
16:00–16:15	10:15–10:30	Connected but Not Safe? Rethinking Digital Inclusion Through the Experiences of Young Women in Taiwan Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust Universal and Meaningful Connectivity 20 minutes · 16:00–16:20	AI in the Kill Chain: Accountability, Human Control, and the Case for a Binding Regime in Asia Pacific This session may be presented in a pre-recorded format Sub-themes: AI Governance for Good Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 20 minutes · 16:00–16:20
16:15–16:30	10:30–10:45	Break 10 minutes · 16:20–16:30
16:30–16:45	10:45–11:00	Townhall Session 60 minutes · 16:30–17:30
16:45–17:00	11:00–11:15
17:00–17:15	11:15–11:30
17:15–17:30	11:30–11:45

Nepal Timezone	UTC	Day 3 (Wednesday, 7 Oct)
Nepal Timezone	UTC	Lhotse Hall (Level 1)	Langtang Hall (Level 3)	Kangchenjunga Hall (Level 3)
08:30–08:45	02:45–03:00			Open House with MSG (Open to all) 20 minutes · 08:30–08:50
08:45–09:00	03:00–03:15			Break 10 minutes · 08:50–09:00
09:00–09:15	03:15–03:30		Beyond Access: Who Keeps Children Safe Online Once They are Connected? Sub-themes: Future of APrIGF & Multistakeholder Ecosystem Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 60 minutes · 09:00–10:00	From Technical Debt to Strategic Liability: Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Resilience, and Internet Governance in the Asia-Pacific Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 60 minutes · 09:00–10:00
09:15–09:30	03:30–03:45
09:30–09:45	03:45–04:00
09:45–10:00	04:00–04:15
10:00–10:15	04:15–04:30		Break 15 minutes · 10:00–10:15
10:15–10:30	04:30–04:45		From Shutdown to Solidarity: Co-Designing a South Asia Rapid-Response Protocol for Internet Shutdowns Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust Universal and Meaningful Connectivity 60 minutes · 10:15–11:15	The Right to Be Forgotten by AI: Who Owns Human Knowledge in the Age of Foundation Models? Sub-themes: AI Governance for Good 60 minutes · 10:15–11:15
10:30–10:45	04:45–05:00
10:45–11:00	05:00–05:15
11:00–11:15	05:15–05:30
11:15–11:30	05:30–05:45		Break 15 minutes · 11:15–11:30
11:30–11:45	05:45–06:00		APrIGF Fellowship Presentation60 minutes · 11:30–12:30	When Submarine Cables Go Dark: From Public Fear to Internet Governance through Open Research and Community Engagement Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust Universal and Meaningful Connectivity 30 minutes · 11:30-12:00
11:45–12:00	06:00–06:15
12:00–12:15	06:15–06:30			Break10 minutes · 12:00–12:10
12:15–12:30	06:30–06:45			Appealing Hate Speech: Using the Grievance Appellate Committee to Hold Platforms Accountable Sub-themes: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust 20 minutes · 12:10–12:30
12:30–12:45	06:45–07:00		Lunch at Ground Floor 60 minutes · 12:30–13:30	MSG Debrief30 minutes · 12:30–13:00
12:45–13:00	07:00–07:15			MSG Debrief30 minutes · 12:30–13:00
13:00–13:15	07:15–07:30			Lunch at Ground Floor 30 minutes · 13:00–13:30
13:15–13:30	07:30–07:45			Lunch at Ground Floor 30 minutes · 13:00–13:30
13:30–13:45	07:45–08:00	Open Dialogue Roundtable on Role of APrIGF in Implementing the Permanent Mandate of the IGF 60 minutes · 13:30–14:30
13:45–14:00	08:00–08:15
14:00–14:15	08:15–08:30
14:15–14:30	08:30–08:45
14:30–14:45	08:45–09:00	Break 15 minutes · 14:30–14:45
14:45–15:00	09:00–09:15	Townhall Session60 minutes · 14:45–15:45
15:00–15:15	09:15–09:30
15:15–15:30	09:30–09:45
15:30–15:45	09:45–10:00
15:45–16:00	10:00–10:15	Break 15 minutes · 15:45–16:00
16:00–16:15	10:15–10:30	Closing Remarks + Plenary 95 minutes · 16:00–17:30
16:15–16:30	10:30–10:45
16:30–16:45	10:45–11:00
16:45–17:00	11:00–11:15
17:00–17:15	11:15–11:30
17:15–17:30	11:30–11:45

Open Dialogue Roundtable: Role of APrIGF in Implementing the Permanent Mandate of the IGF

This Roundtable is organised by the APrIGF Working Group on Global Internet Governance Processes (AP-WGIGP)

Date: 7 October 2026
Time: 13:30 – 14:30 Nepal Time / 07:45 – 08:45 UTC

Description:

The first part of the discussion will briefly look at what the permanent mandate of the global IGF means for APrIGF and how APrIGF can become a stronger regional link between local, national, regional and global Internet governance processes.

The major part of the discussion will focus on Internet resilience especially for many disaster-prone countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The discussion will therefore explore how the region can move from reactive emergency connectivity to better preparedness and long-term Internet resilience.

Moderator: Ms. Pavitra Ramanujam, Social and Environmental Justice Programme Manager, Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

Panel Speakers:

Ms. Jennifer Chung, MAG Chair, UN IGF
Ms. Amrita Choudhury, MSG Chair, APrIGF 2026-2028
Mr. Subhash Dhakal, Joint Secretary, Government of Nepal, Information Technology and Digital Governance Office (ITDGO)
Mr. Izumi Aizu, Principal Researcher, Institute for HyperNetwork Society

Closing Ceremony

Date: 7 October 2026
Time: 16:00 – 17:30 Nepal Time / 10:15 – 11:45 UTC

Plenary Roundtable (60 Minutes)
Towards an Inclusive Digital Infrastructure in Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific is a region of remarkable diversity—not only in geography and culture, but also in levels of economic and digital development. While some economies are at the forefront of technological innovation, others are still working to establish the foundational infrastructure needed to participate meaningfully in the digital economy. This uneven digital landscape presents both challenges and opportunities. Therefore, how can we ensure that infrastructure development does not deepen existing divides, but instead creates pathways for more communities and economies to benefit?

This plenary will explore some key challenges / issues faced across the region in moving towards an inclusive digital infrastructure, and best practices we can learn from economies around the region.

Moderator: Dr. Pradip Paudyal, Deputy Director, Nepal Telecommunications Authority

Panel Speakers:

Mr. Adesh Khadka, Joint Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
Masanobu Katoh, Chair, Japan Internet Governance Supporting Organisation (JPIGFSO)
Neeti Biyani, Senior Adviser, Strategy and Development, APNIC Foundation
Sajana Maharjan, Team Leader, Adam Smith International
Tek Tamata, Portfolio Manager, UNDP Nepal

Closing Remarks (30 Minutes)

Closing Remarks
- Babu Ram Aryal, Chair, Host Steering Committee
- Edmon Chung, Secretariat of APrIGF, DotAsia Organisation
- Taruna Kaur Bamrah, Asia Pacific Youth IGF Organizing Committee 2026
Remarks from Guest of Honour: Hon. Dr. Bikram Timilsina, Minister, Ministry of Communication
Announcement of new MSG Leadership
- Ashirwad Tripathy, Outgoing MSG Vice-Chair, 2024-2026
- Umera Rana Asmat, Incoming MSG Vice-Chair, 2027-2029
Announcement and Remarks from Host Country for APrIGF 2027: Hiro Hotta, Vice President, JPIGFSO
Closing Note

View Grid Schedule