Presented byCanadia Group

La Francophonie

The 20th Francophonie SummitPhnom Penh, 13-17 November 2026

20th

Cambodia hosts the Summit of La Francophonie for the first time in its history.

His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni speaking at the 19th Francophonie Summit in Paris, October 2024

The Kingdom of Cambodia had the honor of hosting the 20th Francophonie Summit in 2026, a historic first for Cambodia.

This Summit will bring together the Heads of State and Government of French-speaking countries to discuss major issues related to international cooperation, multilateralism, and sustainable development. It will provide an opportunity to strengthen ties among the members of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) and to highlight Cambodia’s growing role within the Francophone community.

Several bilateral agreements will be signed, while cultural exchanges will showcase the Kingdom’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

What is Francophonie?

The Francophonie is first and foremost a group of women and men who share a common language, French. The latest report from the Observatoire de la langue française, published in 2026, estimates their number at 396 million speakers.

It is also an institutional framework dedicated to promoting French and implementing political, educational, economic, and cultural cooperation within the 90 member states and governments of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

La Francophonie in numbers

396million

French speakers

Observatoire de la langue française, 2026

90

Member states and governments

  • 53 full members
  • 5 associate members
  • 32 observers

International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF)

Founders of Francophonie

Les fondateurs de la Francophonie

  1. Habib Bourguiba
    Flag of Tunisia
    Habib BourguibaFormer President of Tunisia
  2. Hamani Diori
    Flag of Niger
    Hamani DioriFormer President of Niger
  3. Norodom Sihanouk
    Flag of Cambodia
    Norodom SihanoukHis Majesty the late King Father of Cambodia
  4. Léopold Sédar Senghor
    Flag of Senegal
    Léopold Sédar SenghorFormer President of Senegal

Norodom SihanoukHis Majesty the late King Father of Cambodia

Through King Father Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia has been part of La Francophonie from the very beginning.

Mission

Its mission is to build active solidarity between its member states and governments and to contribute to improving the standard of living of its populations. It supports its members in developing or consolidating their policies and carries out international political activities and multilateral cooperation in accordance with the four major missions established by the Francophonie Summit:

  1. 01

    Promote the French Language and Cultural and Linguistic Diversity

  2. 02

    Promote Peace, Democracy and Human Rights

  3. 03

    Support Education, Training, Higher Education and Research

  4. 04

    Develop Cooperation for Sustainable Development

Francophonie Summits

Sommets de la Francophonie

  1. 19861stFranceParis
  2. 19872ndCanadaQuébec
  3. 19893rdSenegalDakar
  4. 19914thFranceParis
  5. 19935thMauritiusGrand-Baie
  6. 19956thBeninCotonou
  7. 19977thVietnamHanoiFirst summit in Asia
  8. 19998thCanadaMoncton
  9. 20029thLebanonBeirut
  10. 200410thBurkina FasoOuagadougou
  11. 200611thRomaniaBucharest
  12. 200812thCanadaQuébec
  13. 201013thSwitzerlandMontreux
  14. 201214thDR CongoKinshasa
  15. 201415thSenegalDakar
  16. 201616thMadagascarAntananarivo
  17. 201817thArmeniaYerevan
  18. 202218thTunisiaDjerba
  19. 202419thFranceVillers-Cotterêts & Paris
  20. 202620thCambodiaPhnom PenhFirst summit in Cambodia
Independence Monument, Phnom Penh

ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា

Kingdom of Cambodia

Host of the 20th Francophonie Summit. For the first time in its history, Cambodia welcomes the Heads of State and Government of the French-speaking world to Phnom Penh.

Summit hosted by Cambodia
1st
November 2026, Phnom Penh
13-17
Member states and governments
90

ភ្នំពេញ ឆ្នាំ១៩៦៥

Phnom Penh in 1965

Aerial view of the Central Market's dome and wings among the city blocks
Central Market
Visitors crossing the courtyard of the Silver Pagoda at the Royal Palace
Royal Palace
The Independence Monument on its roundabout, with a wide boulevard beside it
Independence Monument
Stairs guarded by stone lions climbing the hill to the Wat Phnom temple and its stupa
Wat Phnom
Two views of the university campus: an arched hall behind a flagpole, and its teaching buildings
Royal University of Phnom Penh

The architect

Vann Molyvann 1926-2017

The architect behind Phnom Penh's new landmarks of the 1960s.

Portrait of the architect Vann Molyvann
Cutouts of Vann Molyvann's buildings in Phnom Penh, with the Independence Monument at the centre

តន្ត្រីព្រះរាជនិពន្ធ ព្រះបរមរតនកោដ្ឋ នរោត្តម សីហនុ

Music Composed by King Norodom Sihanouk

Cover of the album Musique et Chansons de S.A.R. le Prince Norodom Sihanouk du Cambodge: the young Prince in a round portrait above Angkor Wat, with palm trees against an orange sky

Now playing

Rose de Phnom Penh

Norodom Sihanouk

ស្វាគមន៍មកកាន់កម្ពុជា

Welcome to Cambodia

From the royal capital on the Mekong to the river villages and the Khmer kitchen, a first look at the host country.

ភ្នំពេញ

The view of Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh from the air, on the river
Phnom Penh rooftops in the evening light
The Phnom Penh skyline at sunset
The Royal Palace, Phnom Penh
A bridge over the river in Phnom Penh at night

ទន្លេមេគង្គ

Mekong River
A bamboo bridge across the Mekong
Tents on a sandbank of the Mekong
A floating village on the Mekong
Boat races of the Water Festival
A sand island in the Mekong from above

ម្ហូបខ្មែរ

Khmer Food
Bai sach chrouk, grilled pork on broken rice
Num banh chok, Khmer rice noodles
A bowl of Khmer soup
Khmer sour soup with fish and prawns
Lort cha, short rice noodles stir-fried with a fried egg

ភូមិហ្វ្រង់កូហ្វូនី

The Village Francophone

For five days, Wat Botum Vatey Garden in the heart of Phnom Penh becomes a meeting place for the Francophone world, with national pavilions, food, performances and themed talks.

November 2026
13-17
national pavilions
~90
zones to explore
5
The Royal Palace of Phnom Penh from the air, with the city skyline behind
Walk through the villageSource: francophonie2026.gov.kh

Map of the village

Aerial view of the Village Francophone, with its five zones numbered from west to east

ទីតាំងកិច្ចប្រជុំកំពូល

Summit Site

The OCIC Convention Center at night from the air, its long facade lit in colour, with Chroy Changvar's towers behind

OCIC Convention Center

Chroy Changvar Satellite CityDoeum Kor Village, Sangkat Chroy ChangvarKhan Chroy Changvar, Phnom Penh
Open in Google Maps

“The Khmer Smile will be the Smile of La Francophonie.”

His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, smiling and waving
Graphic of the 20th Francophonie Summit: colourful tiles with Angkor Wat, a dove, a lotus and the number 20

13-17 November 2026

See you in Phnom Penh

The Independence Monument in Phnom Penh, with the Cambodian flag flying beside it