how often is afcon hosted

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has traditionally been held every two years, but from 2028 it is scheduled to move to a four‑year cycle.

Basic schedule

• AFCON has been a biennial (every two years) tournament consistently since 1968, with editions typically spaced by a two‑year gap.

• Recent and upcoming tournaments (2025 in Morocco and 2027 in Kenya/Tanzania/Uganda) will still follow this every‑two‑years pattern.

Change from 2028 onward

• The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that AFCON will switch to being held every four years starting after the 2027 tournament.

• The 2028 AFCON is described as the start of this new four‑year cycle, with the next editions expected in 2032, 2036, and so on if the policy remains in place.

Why the schedule matters now

• The move to four‑year cycles is intended to better align AFCON with the global football calendar and reduce clashes with major club seasons and other international tournaments.

• In parallel, CAF plans an annual African Nations League so African national teams still have a major competitive platform in years without AFCON.

Quick answer for “how often is AFCON hosted”

• Historically: Every two years since 1968.

• Going forward: Every four years from the post‑2027 cycle (starting with the 2028 edition).

TL;DR: AFCON used to be every two years, but from 2028 it is set to be hosted every four years.