Affiliate Leaders Summit 2026: Conversion Conf Focuses on Scale, Growth, and AI

The Affiliate Leaders Summit 2026 will see a dedicated Conversion Conf stage address the core challenges facing iGaming affiliate businesses: scaling operations, finding effective growth channels, and integrating artificial intelligence. The programme, developed jointly by SBC and Conversion Conf, targets hands-on solutions via sessions spanning three pillars—scale, growth, and AI—from 29 September to 1 October at Lisbon's Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena.

Scale: Building Affiliate Teams and Systems

Day one of the Conversion Conf stage will concentrate on the infrastructure and processes affiliates need for sustainable growth. Speakers and sessions focus on:

• Streamlining operations to reduce manual workloads
• Strengthening sales functions
• Implementing automation for business efficiency

Panels such as 'From Small Team to Scalable Company: Building Systems That Work' and 'Scaling in 2026: What Every Founder Needs to Know' will examine how successful affiliates build teams and transition beyond basic lead generation. The event promises to highlight practical tactics for systematising affiliate businesses and advancing to the next stage of expansion.

"As the bridge between operators, platforms and players, affiliates are often among the first to feel the impact of change, and the speed of this change is increasing," said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC.

Growth Track: New Traffic and Converting Audiences

The second day pivots to methods for capturing new audiences and optimising acquisition in what has become an increasingly competitive digital marketing environment. Topics include:

• Leveraging TikTok, Telegram, and influencer partnerships for traffic
• Advanced media buying strategies for scaling spend and results

Sample sessions like 'Influencer Marketing Strategy at Scale: In-house vs External Partnerships' and 'Unlocking High-Profit iGaming Traffic' are slated to address the creative systems affiliates are using to improve performance. The agenda also includes examining how Gen Z audiences are altering iGaming promotion strategies—with sessions on meme marketing and new market opportunities.

AI: Automation Versus Human Expertise in the Affiliate Sector

Thursday’s track dives into the real capabilities and current limits of AI for iGaming affiliates. The scheduled content will explore:

• How AI affects team structure and creative production
• The impact of AI on SEO and organic traffic acquisition
• Maintaining original creative work amidst automated content generation

Discussions under 'Creative Strategy in 2026: Professional Production vs AI-Generated Creatives' and 'Can We Trust AI 100%? Top 5 Things AI Still Can’t Do for Your Business' seek to draw a practical boundary between automation and the value of experienced marketers. The track asks direct questions about the role of human judgement and the potential of AI, without assuming wholesale adoption or success.

Line-up: Industry Leaders on the Conversion Conf Stage

Over three days, notable industry speakers from leading firms and start-ups will take part. Participants include:

• Aleksandr Flint (Founder, Flint Group)
• Dmitriy Belianin (Founder, Blask)
• Nikolay Nice (Founder, Sinners Media Buying)
• Mike Waizman (CMO, NGM GAME)
• Angelina Miko (Founder, Miko TikTok Traffic)
• Manish Chhabra (Senior Product Manager, Tinder)
• Ashley Wright (Founder & CEO, Social Tale)
• Nefeli Papadopoulou (Senior Acquisitions Manager, Google EMEA)

Practical Focus and Access

Lana Rossi, CEO of Conversion Conf, described the programme as answer-driven:

"Affiliate businesses don’t need more conversations about what might matter in two or three years; they need practical answers to the problems they are dealing with today. That’s what this stage is all about, allowing attendees to leave with strategies and approaches they can put into practice straight away."

The Affiliate Leaders Summit will host approximately 10,000 industry professionals across networking, exhibition, and education sessions. Attendance at the Conversion Conf stage requires a Summit VIP Pass, with select affiliates eligible for complimentary access. This focus on real, applicable solutions signals a shift toward prioritising day-to-day operational needs over speculative future trends for affiliate stakeholders. More details on the wider context of affiliate marketing trends and market regulation can be found in the magazine’s news and regulation sections.