SBC agrees to remain in Lisbon until 2030 for its international summit

SBC has signed a long-term agreement with Turismo de Portugal, the Município de Lisboa and Lisboa FCE to keep Lisbon as the host city for the SBC Summit until 2030. The pact extends the commitment beyond the already confirmed 2027 edition, with dates and support agreed for 2028, 2029 and 2030; the signing was formalised on the final day of the SBC Summit.

What the agreement includes and who signed it

The agreement was signed between SBC and three Portuguese entities: Turismo de Portugal, the Município de Lisboa and Lisboa FCE, the non-profit association that manages large exhibition and conference venues in the city. The combination of the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) and the MEO Arena is the infrastructure that will allow SBC to maintain the format that combines exhibition, conference, business networking and an entertainment programme.

Senior local officials and venue executives were present at the signing. Attending officials included Gonçalo Reis, Vice President of the City of Lisbon; Maria Luísa Aldim, Deputy Mayor for Innovation and Social Development; António Ramalho, President of the Executive Board of FIL; Carlos Oliveira, member of FIL's Executive Board; and Teresa Monteiro, member of Turismo de Portugal's council.

Why Lisbon will remain the SBC Summit host until 2030

SBC justified the extension by citing logistical capacity and market response. Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, said:

"We are happy to formalise how we feel by committing to this city until 2030. The agreement gives SBC and our attendees and partners the stability to plan and invest for the future."

Sojmark added that knowing where the event will be held and for how long allows the organisation to focus resources on growing the size and value of the Summit.

António Ramalho, President of the Executive Board at FIL, commented: "We are committed to working together with SBC, supporting their ambitions and creating the conditions for the Summit to continue growing in Lisbon. Events of this scale and international reach are key to positioning Lisbon, Parque das Nações and FIL at the forefront of the global events industry."

Economic impact and attendance figures for the SBC Summit in Lisbon

Since the event arrived in Lisbon in 2024, its impact on the city has increased. For the 2026 edition, attendees from 178 countries generated an estimated 85.000 hotel nights in the Portuguese capital; final attendance figures were still to be confirmed at the time of the statement.

The scale of the 2026 event was also reflected in the programme: the summit included a Leadership in Sports Business keynote with high-profile figures that the organisers described as one of the most significant held in Europe.

Programme, speakers and new features presented in the 2026 edition

The 2026 edition consolidated several firsts: the summit introduced the Affiliate Leaders Summit, an independent forum for the affiliate and performance marketing community; it also hosted the Global Prediction Markets Forum and the African Gaming Forum. Key speakers included:

• Michael Jordan, basketball icon, investor and philanthropist;

• Carsten Koerl, founder and CEO of Sportradar;

• Jason Robins, co-founder, CEO and chairman of DraftKings;

• Kirsty Gallacher, presenter and moderator in the main conversation.

In addition, there were keynotes with football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano and UFC champion Charles Oliveira. The event closed with INFINITY Lisbon, headlined by DJ Tiësto.

Consequences for organisers, partners and the MICE sector in Lisbon

For SBC, confirming Lisbon as the host until 2030 provides stability to negotiate sponsorships, expand the conference offer and plan investments in attendee experience. For the city and its venues, the agreement secures the continued presence of an event that, according to FIL, strengthens Lisbon's ability to attract and host top-tier international events.

A stable Summit presence also means a known calendar for hotels, suppliers and event services in Parque das Nações, facilitating medium-term operational and commercial planning. Professionals looking for commercial opportunities related to the Summit can follow developments on our [events](/events) section.

Upcoming schedule and practical notes

The SBC Summit will return to the Feira Internacional de Lisboa and the MEO Arena on 21-23 September 2027. Subsequent editions — 2028, 2029 and 2030 — already have dates and support under the long-term agreement signed.

For industry professionals interested in following the event's evolution and commercial opportunities, the 2027 event is the next key date in the sector's calendar. Organisers have emphasised the intention to continue expanding both the conference offer and the networking and exhibition spaces; exhibitors and sponsors can plan multiyear activations via our [b2b](/b2b) coverage.

What this means for the iGaming and sports-entertainment industry

Confirming Lisbon as the SBC Summit home until 2030 consolidates a stable foundation for annual gatherings that connect iGaming, sports betting, technology providers and operators. The event's weight on the European and global industry agenda is reflected in the geographic diversity of attendees and the profile of 2026 speakers.

Continuity in Lisbon enables exhibitors and sponsors to plan product launches, brand activations and commercial strategies with multi-year visibility. For regulatory and market observers, the Summit's permanence also provides a predictable forum for policy and industry debate; see our [regulation](/regulation) section for related coverage.