The Africa Cup of Nations, also known as AFCON, is one of the biggest football tournaments in the world.
Established nearly 70 years ago to crown a champion of Africa, the international competition has seen superstars anointed and title-winners enshrined throughout the years.
The tournament has been a consistent pillar of African football, a celebration of not only sporting heritage across the continent but also a showcase of African talent to the world.
AllSportsPeople explains how often the competition is held currently, and details some big news on that front, which will alter AFCON for the future.
MORE: A full overview of the 2025/26 AFCON tournament schedule and bracket
How often is AFCON? Africa Cup of Nations moves to four-year cycle
At present, the Africa Cup of Nations is held every two years, as it has been since the tournament's inception in 1957, with the only exception being a one-year gap between the 2012 and 2013 editions meant to move to odd-numbered years.
However, on December 20, 2025, CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced that the AFCON schedule would be shifting to every four years.
"We have the most exciting new structure for African football," Motsepe said. "I do what is in the interests of Africa. The global calendar has to be significantly more synchronised and harmonised."
After the 2025 edition, the tournament will hold its next event in 2027, the final two-year gap for AFCON. It will then feature a one-year gap, with another edition in 2028, to align the competition better in the middle of the World Cup cycle.
At that point, it will shift to a four-year cycle, with subsequent tournaments in 2032, 2036, and so on. This is to be more in keeping with continental championships such as CONMEBOL's Copa America and UEFA's European Championship.
With this change, the only confederation left with a two-year cycle on its continental championship is CONCACAF, as the Gold Cup is still held every two years on odd-numbered years... For now.
MORE: Who has won the most AFCON titles in history?
CAF adds African Nations League to schedule
To fill the gap created by the stretching of the AFCON cycle to every four years, the African federation also announced that it would be creating a Nations League competition.
This tournament will mirror that played by both the European confederation and the North American confederation.
The Nations League was first incepted by UEFA as a means to reduce the amount of international friendlies being played throughout the FIFA calendar. It was soon adopted by CONCACAF, and is now being used by CAF as well.
The first CAF Nations League will take place in 2029, the year after the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations.