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For anyone attending SBC Summit 2026, prepare yourself. You’re in for a busy three days.
There are conference sessions to attend. Meetings with potential clients. Hundreds of brands to visit on the show floor. Networking events, parties and everything in between.
In fact, your biggest problem might be fitting it all in. (Luckily, we have a guide for that too.)
But among everything happening across the week, there are some experiences that deserve to go straight to the top of your list.
From sporting icons and industry heavyweights to face-to-face meetings with regulators and performances from global music stars, we’ve picked five things you really don’t want to miss at SBC Summit 2026.
1. Michael Jordan, Carsten Koerl & Jason Robins on the Super Stage
Now this is a big one, everybody.
SBC Summit 2026 will host one of the most high-profile keynote sessions ever staged in Europe by bringing together three of the most influential figures in global sports business: Basketball icon, investor, and philanthropist Michael Jordan, Sportradar founder and CEO Carsten Koerl, and DraftKings co-founder, CEO, and chairman of the board Jason Robins, hosted by former Sky Sports News presenter, broadcaster, and journalist, Kirsty Gallacher.
The headline keynote, titled ‘Leadership in Sports Business’, will take place on Tuesday, 29 September, and explore the evolution of sports, technology, media, data, and fan engagement through the perspective of three leaders who have helped shape the modern sports ecosystem.
As part of the discussion, the connection between sports betting and iGaming will be examined, highlighting how the two sectors are increasingly operating in parallel and in collaboration.
Broader leadership themes will also be explored, including building global businesses at scale, decision‑making under pressure, and how leaders navigate change across fast‑moving sports and technology markets.
And the sporting star power doesn’t stop there. Former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira will also take to the Super Stage on Wednesday, 30th September for the keynote, ‘Record Success: Leadership in Sports with Charles Oliveira’. As one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history, he’ll discuss everything from his daily routine as a champion to his view on the future evolution of the UFC, MMA and other sports.
Access to the Super Stage is available with a VIP, Conference or Business Pass.
Have an Expo or Networking pass? You can still attend by upgrading to a VIP or Business Pass or by purchasing the ‘Super Stage Pass’ (€199), through our official event app SBC Connect.
Want the best seat in the house? Purchase the ‘Super Stage Golden Circle Pass‘. Priced at €499, this pass provides a seat in one of the exclusive front rows for all Super Stage sessions, alongside entrance to the INFINITY Lisbon Closing Party featuring EDM legend Tiësto.
Read more about Leadership in Sports Business here.
2. Sit down with regulators from across the world at the Regulatory Gaming Meetups
Trying to better understand a market is never easy. But speaking directly to those regulating it gives you an incredible place to start.
That’s why the Regulatory Gaming Meetups should be an essential part of every attendee’s schedule.
Taking place across all three days of the event, attendees looking to better understand a certain market will have the choice of 20 distinct meetups examining the policy changes, developments and growth opportunities shaping gaming businesses across key global markets and regions.
Regions and markets covered include Latin America, Africa, North America, Italy, Malta, Portugal, France, Germany, Asia, the UK & Ireland and many more.
Each session will be led by regulators, industry associations and subject-matter experts with direct experience of the jurisdictions being explored.
For businesses operating in, or considering entering, these markets, that direct access is difficult to replicate. Here, attendees can hear about regulatory developments from those closest to them, understand how changes could affect their business and connect with the people already succeeding in the market.
And that’s just one way SBC Summit is making those valuable introductions easier.
Other structured networking elements include:
- Speed Networking: four fast-paced sessions where you can meet dozens of relevant contacts in a short period of time.
- Show Floor Tours: eight guided tours connecting attendees with exhibitors grouped around themes such as AI in Gaming, Casino and Sports Betting, making it easier to discover companies aligned with your interests.
- Smart Connect: curated one-to-one meetings between buyers and sellers based on commercial priorities, product fit and market focus.
- SBC Connect Meets: allows eligible attendees to search for registered delegates, filter by company type and industry sector, and send meeting requests weeks before the event through the SBC Connect app. (Outreach capabilities are exclusive to VIP, Networking & Business Pass holders. All pass holders can reply to messages and accept meeting request. )
Whether you’re interested in better understanding a certain market, looking for a supplier in a specific field or want to engage in fast-paced conversations, there will be a networking format that suits your style and business needs.
Access to the structured networking programme is included with VIP, Business and Networking Passes.
3. Hear from the industry’s most influential voices on the ‘Super CEO Panel’
Away from the star power of NBA superstars and UFC champions, the SBC Summit conference will host some superstars of its own: the industry’s leading CEOs.
Taking place on Tuesday, 29 September, on the MEO Arena’s Super Stage, Super CEO Panel: The Industry Speaks will bring together seven senior industry figures:
- Jesper Svensson (CEO, Betsson Group)
- Kresimir Spajic (CEO, Allwyn Digital)
- Albert Simsensohn (Deputy CEO, Super Technologies)
- Dieter John (Group CEO, FEG)
- Aris Dimarakis (Deputy CEO, Kaizen Gaming)
- Tom Bowry (Chief Strategy Officer, Flutter International)
- Dinos Stranomitis (Director & CEO, Altenar)
With discussions covering the practical advantages of AI technology, global regulation and the rise of prediction markets, the session will tackle many of the decisions currently sitting at the top of the industry’s agenda.
More importantly, these are senior leaders responsible for navigating these challenges within major betting and gaming businesses themselves. Gaining first-hand insight into how these leaders are approaching today’s challenges makes this one of the most important sessions of the week.
And valuable industry knowledge isn’t restricted to the Super Stage.
SBC Summit will feature a six-stage conference programme spanning every corner of the global betting and gaming industry, including global and emerging markets, payments, regulation and compliance, marketing, sports betting and iGaming.
Across the programme, attendees will hear from over 600 industry experts, from marketing specialists and product experts to regulators and, of course, C-level executives.
Names across the agenda include:
- Daniela Johansson (Chief Responsibility Officer and Deputy CEO, Paf)
- Vlad Kaltenieks (CEO, BoyleSports)
- Endre Nesset (Former President, Coolbet)
- JD Duarte (Chairman, Betcris)
- Savo Bakmaz (CEO and CFO, MaxBet)
- Francesco Postiglione (CEO, Casumo)
- Gonzalo Pérez (CEO, Apuesta Total)
- Xabier Maribona (CEO, Grupo Retabet)
Whether it’s understanding how major operators are approaching new markets, or discovering how emerging technologies are influencing the player experience, the conference allows attendees to hear directly from the people shaping the industry.
Access to the conference agenda is exclusive to VIP, Conference or Business Pass holders.
View our full conference schedule here | View our full line-up of speakers here
4. Meet the industry’s biggest names on the show floor
Now, this is technically not one thing. But it’s one show floor, so we’re sticking with it.
The show floor is the heart of SBC Summit, bringing some of the biggest names in betting and gaming together across four exhibition halls.
And that face-to-face element matters.
Emails, calls and company websites can only tell you so much. The show floor gives you the opportunity to see products in action, ask questions directly to the teams behind them and turn conversations with existing or prospective partners into something more tangible.
To make the exhibition easier to navigate, the halls have been segmented around different areas of the industry:
- Casino & iGaming (Hall One & Two): EGT Digital (A201, A206 & A301), Smartsoft (A211), Amusnet (A411), Playtech (B201), SOFTSWISS (B501), Alea (B213) and many more.
- Sports betting and iGaming (Hall Three): 1xBet (C301), Soft2Bet (C411), BetConstruct (C211), Altenar (C311), Pragmatic Play (C401), Digitain (C218), Sportradar (C431), amongst others.
- Payments (Hall Four): Payfuture (E311), Trustly (E611), Payhound (E201), Inpay (E306), Paysafe (E216), Big Idea (E316), Nuvei (E520) and many more.
The show floor will also host specialist areas such as the Player Protection Hub, bringing together safer gambling specialists and solution providers, and the Startup Hub, giving emerging brands a platform on the global stage.
Beyond the exhibition stands, attendees will also find dedicated lounges, bars, meeting areas, Festival Square and the Food Festival throughout the show floor. Together, these spaces provide a more relaxed environment to continue conversations, catch your breath between meetings or recharge for the rest of the day.
With thousands of potential conversations, products and opportunities spread across the four halls, just don’t make the mistake of thinking you can afford to skip it.
5. Party to The Script and Tiësto at our evening parties
Okay, we aren’t quite done with the star power at SBC Summit just yet.
On Tuesday, 29 September, attendees at the SBC Summit Opening Party will be treated to a headline performance from chart-topping, best-selling pop-rock band The Script.
Known for hits including Hall of Fame (featuring will.i.am), The Man Who Can’t Be Moved and Breakeven, attendees will be treated to an exclusive performance just days before the band heads out on its world tour.
Then, closing SBC Summit on Thursday, 1 October, EDM icon Tiësto will be joined by Blasterjaxx as they headline the INFINITY Lisbon Closing Party, complete with a festival-level stage show and complimentary drinks throughout the night.
But SBC Summit’s evening parties aren’t simply about the headline acts. They bring thousands of attendees together in a more relaxed setting, giving you another opportunity to reconnect with people from the day, strengthen new relationships or simply celebrate a successful week.
Attendance at SBC Summit’s evening networking parties is exclusive to those with a VIP, Networking or Business Pass.
Want to attend INFINITY Lisbon? You can upgrade your pass with the ‘Party Pass’ priced at €149. Click here to upgrade.
Make Your SBC Summit Count
With three days, four exhibition halls and a packed schedule of conference sessions, meetings, networking and entertainment ahead, no two attendees will experience SBC Summit in quite the same way.
There are, however, some things that are just too good to miss.
So plan ahead, leave some room in your schedule for the unexpected, and, whatever you do, make sure these five experiences are on your list.
See you in Lisbon!
