Phnom Penh:Cambodia is gearing up to host the 20th Francophonie Summit from November 14 to 16, 2026. This event will be held in Phnom Penh under the theme "Reinvest in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Sustainable Stability."

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the summit will mark a significant occasion, making Cambodia only the second Asian country to host the event. This follows nearly 30 years after the Hanoi Summit in Vietnam in 1997. Alongside the main summit, Cambodia is also planning to organize the Francophonie Village and the FrancoTech digital innovation forum as key side events.

La Francophonie, a political and cultural organization, originated as a literary and geographical concept in the late 19th century. Its institutional form emerged in the wake of decolonization, driven by leaders of newly independent nations sharing the French language. This led to the establishment of a framework for cooperation, initiated by figures like Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia and other prominent leaders from Tunisia, Senegal, and Niger.

The official institutionalization began on March 20, 1970, in Niamey, Niger, with the signing of a convention to establish the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT). Over the decades, La Francophonie has expanded from cultural to political roles, with its first summit held in Paris in 1986. The organization now comprises 93 states and governments, including 56 full members, five associate members, and 32 observer members.

The most recent report by the Observatory of the French Language, released in March 2026, indicates that 396 million people speak French worldwide, making it the fourth most widely spoken language globally.