Seatrade Cruise Med 2026 is exploring how the region and cruise industry collectively can raise the bar while balancing growth, authenticity and lasting impact, with a comprehensive conference programme curated by the Raising Expectations theme. 25 conference sessions will take place on the 16 and 17 September at Las Palmas, powered by more than 90 distinguished guest speakers.
The Mediterranean Sets the Tone
Charles “Bud” Darr, President and CEO at Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is Seatrade Cruise Med 2026 Opening Keynote speaker. He comments: “The Mediterranean is one of the world’s most important cruise regions, and Seatrade Cruise Med brings together the leaders and partners shaping what comes next,” said Bud Darr, “Cruise tourism is managed tourism. Our member cruise lines work closely with destinations to support responsible growth, strengthen destination stewardship, and advance technologies and practices that reduce emissions and improve environmental performance. The Mediterranean has enormous opportunity ahead, and continued collaboration will help ensure cruise tourism delivers lasting value for communities, travellers, and the wider region.”
Following the Opening Keynote, The State of the Mediterranean Cruise Industry: Raising Expectations, keynote panel is one of the most anticipated sessions, moderated by Mary Bond, Group Director, Seatrade Cruise. A distinguished panel of industry leaders include Leonardo Massa, VP Southern Europe for the Cruise Division at MSC Group, alongside Nikos Mertzanidis, Executive Director for Europe at Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Theodora Riga, President of MedCruise, Samantha Stimpson, CEO of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and Chris Theophilides, CEO of Celestyal Cruises. Together, they will explore how the Mediterranean can remain one of the world’s most compelling cruise regions.
“For decades, the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas have been the second most popular cruise destination in the world with passenger movements reaching a record 39.75 million in 2025. It is now welcoming exciting challenges and, with them, unavoidable higher expectations. Seatrade Cruise Med 26 is bringing these conversations to life”, said Bond.
New Horizons for Cruise
Thursday 17th will be opened with the keynote panel When Hotel Brands Set Sail, bringing together the CEOs of two of the world’s most iconic hotel brands entering cruise, fresh from their inaugural 2026 Mediterranean seasons, to explore how they are bringing new standards of service, design and guest experience to the industry.This fireside chat will be moderated by Jason Gelineau, Seatrade Cruise Ambassador, JAG Hospitality, leading the conversation alongside panellists Philippe Hetland-Brault, CEO, Orient Express Sailing Yachts and Ben Trodd, CEO, Four Seasons Yachts.
Balancing Seasonality: The Year-Round Tourism Economy will unite aviation and cruise together on one stage, for the first time ever in the event’s history, in collaboration with Routes, Low Season Traveller & the Tourism Seasonality Summit.
Seatrade Cruise Ambassador, Figen Ayan, Founder at Ayan Consulting – Consultancy Beyond Boundaries, will moderate the session Beneath the Luxury Itinerary: What the Med & Atlantic Demand of Ports & Destinations Now, sponsored by Forbes Travel Guide. A sharp expansion has seen the cruise market grow from 28 luxury vessels sailing in 2010 to 97 in 2024 however, is the Mediterranean ready for the next era of luxury? Panellists Justin Poulsen, Head of Itinerary Planning, Destination Experiences & Ground Handling at Explora Journeys, Crystal Morgan, Senior Director Deployment & Itinerary Planning at Seabourn Cruises & Expeditions and Sacha Rougier, VP, Itinerary Planning and Destination Experience at Orient Express Sailing Yachts, will weigh in on this question.
Oxford Economics will uncover the data behind cruise growth, deployment decisions and the Atlantic’s emergence as one of the Mediterranean’s most compelling success stories at Cruise Outlook: Growth, Deployment & the Atlantic Opportunity. Followed by a panel dedicated to The Atlantic Advantage, where Susana Gutierrez, General Manager, Canary Islands Cruise Ports, including Las Palmas, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura & Malaga Cruise Port at Global Ports Holding, will be joined by experts from TUI Cruises, Carnival Maritime and MedCruise to uncover what role the Atlantic can play in expanding capacity, relieving pressure on established ports and strengthening the wider Mediterranean cruise ecosystem.
Explore the full conference programme here.
Register to attend Seatrade Cruise Med here.