Portugal officials welcome SBC Summit back to Lisbon for third year

September 30, 2026

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Government and Lisbon city dignitaries join ribbon-cutting ceremony as SBC Summit returns to the Portuguese capital

Multiple Portuguese government and Lisbon city dignitaries turned out to welcome SBC and its 40,000 attendees to the city for the third year running, taking part in an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of SBC Summit.

The Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, delivered the event's opening remarks ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where officials were joined by SBC leadership and the event's key sponsors. The dignitaries then took part in a VIP tour of the exhibition floor at Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL), meeting industry leaders, exhibitors and SBC Summit partners.

Officials in attendance included:

Maria Luísa Aldim, Deputy Mayor for Innovation and Social Development
Rita Prates, CEO, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
António Ramalho, Vice President, FIL
António Valle, Director-General, Turismo de Lisboa
Carlos Abade, President, Turismo de Portugal
Jorge Vinha da Silva, CEO, MEO Arena

Senior representatives from several of SBC Summit’s major sponsors also attended the ceremony, including SoftConstruct, Digitain, Alea, EGT and Amusenet, joining city officials and SBC leadership.

Vigen Badalyan, Founder & CEO, SoftConstruct
Vardges Vardanyan, Founder, Digitain
Alex Tomic, Founder, Alea
Vladimir Dokov, CEO, EGT
Ivo Georgiev, CEO, Amusenet

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, said: “We are very happy to have the support of the city we have chosen to host our biggest and most ambitious event. Year on year, Lisbon is proving to be the perfect fit, and we're grateful for all the support we've received so far, and for the time everyone here today has chosen to dedicate to attending and welcoming our attendees to Lisbon.”

Ahead of the ceremony, officials were hosted at the MEO Arena, Lisbon's largest indoor venue and one of the biggest in Europe, for a Leadership in Sports Business keynote that will go down as one of the most high-profile ever staged in Europe, cementing Lisbon's place in that history. Basketball icon, investor and philanthropist Michael Jordan, Sportradar founder and CEO Carsten Koerl, and DraftKings co-founder, CEO and Chairman Jason Robins joined broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher on stage for the conversation.

This continues a pattern of high-level engagement from city and government officials: Mayor Carlos Moedas and then-Minister of Economy Pedro Reis attended personally when the event first relocated from Barcelona.

The event's economic footprint has grown alongside it: in its first year alone, SBC Summit generated approximately €100 million in indirect economic benefit for Lisbon, drawing visitors from 150 countries last year, up 22 on 2024. This year, the organiser estimates 85,000 room nights booked by attendees descending on the city, with final attendance figures still being confirmed.

In its third year in the city, SBC Summit is introducing plenty of firsts, including a standalone summit for the affiliate and performance marketing community, Affiliate Leaders Summit, alongside the Global Prediction Markets Forum and the African Gaming Forum. Attendees can also expect a brand-new structured networking programme, an Opening Party featuring a headline performance from multi-platinum-selling band The Script, high-profile keynotes with football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, known worldwide for breaking major signings, and UFC champion Charles Oliveira, and a closing Infinity Lisbon night headlined by one of the best DJs of our era, Tiësto.

The global event will return to Feira Internacional de Lisboa and the MEO Arena on 21-23 September 2027.

For more information, visit sbcevents.com/sbc-summit.

For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, reach out to sales@sbcgaming.com. For general enquiries, contact info@sbcgaming.com.

FAQs

What is SBC Summit?
SBC Summit is a major international betting and iGaming conference and exhibition bringing together operators, suppliers, affiliates, technology companies and other industry stakeholders.

How many people are attending SBC Summit in Lisbon?
The 2026 SBC Summit is expected to welcome around 40,000 industry professionals to Lisbon from more than 150 countries.

Where is SBC Summit taking place in Lisbon?
The event is being held at Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) and the MEO Arena in Lisbon.

Which Portuguese officials attended the SBC Summit opening ceremony?
Attendees included Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas, Deputy Mayor Maria Luísa Aldim, Turismo de Portugal President Carlos Abade and representatives from Turismo de Lisboa, FIL and other Lisbon institutions.

Who appeared in the Leadership in Sports Business keynote?
Michael Jordan, Sportradar founder and CEO Carsten Koerl and DraftKings co-founder, CEO and Chairman Jason Robins joined broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher for the Leadership in Sports Business session.

What new features are being introduced at SBC Summit?
The 2026 event includes the standalone Affiliate Leaders Summit, Global Prediction Markets Forum, African Gaming Forum, a redesigned networking programme and additional conference and entertainment formats.

When will SBC Summit return to Lisbon?
The next SBC Summit is scheduled to return to Feira Internacional de Lisboa and the MEO Arena from 21 to 23 September 2027.

Affiliate Leaders Summit African Gaming Forum Carlos Moedas Global Prediction Markets Forum iGaming events Lisbon Rasmus Sojmark SBC SBC Summit SBC Summit Lisbon

Anna Amstill

I am an avid Blogger and Writer with more than 6 years of experience with Content Writing. An Online Marketing expert specializing in Blog writing, Article writing, Website content, SEO specific Keyword content and much more. Education B.A. - business management, York University, Canada, Graduated 2016.