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Portugal officials welcome SBC Summit back to Lisbon for third year

By jili tutorial · September 30, 2026

SBC Summit 2025: Lisbon Officials Celebrate Third Edition with Record Growth and Global Star Power

Portugal’s capital city once again rolled out the red carpet for the global gaming and sports business industry as the SBC Summit returned to Lisbon for its third consecutive year. With an estimated 40,000 attendees descending on the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL), the event kicked off with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a milestone moment in the city’s calendar and reinforcing a partnership that continues to deepen year after year.

The presence of some of the highest-ranking officials in the country—from the Mayor of Lisbon to the heads of national tourism and major public institutions—underlined the strategic importance the summit holds for Portugal. The event is no longer just a conference; it has become a major economic driver and a fixture on Lisbon’s international events scene.

Lisbon’s Grand Welcome: High-Level Support from the Start

The opening ceremony was a show of force from the city and national government. Mayor Carlos Moedas delivered the opening remarks, personally welcoming the global delegation before joining SBC leadership and key sponsors for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

Following the ceremony, the officials embarked on a comprehensive VIP tour of the exhibition floor, meeting with industry leaders, exhibitors, and partners. The scale of the engagement highlighted the mutual investment between the summit and the city.

Key Dignitaries in Attendance

The delegation reading like a who’s who of Portuguese civic leadership included:

Industry Titans Align with City Leaders

The SBC Summit also drew the full support of its major sponsors, whose senior leadership attended the opening ceremonies. Their presence signals a long-term commitment to the ecosystem SBC has built in Lisbon.

Major sponsors represented at the ceremony included Vigen Badalyan (SoftConstruct), Vardges Vardanyan (Digitain), Alex Tomic (Alea), Vladimir Dokov (EGT), and Ivo Georgiev (Amusenet).

Reflecting on the journey of the summit, Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, highlighted the strength of the partnership:

“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.”

A Landmark Keynote at the MEO Arena

Before the official ceremonies, a truly historic event took place at the MEO Arena, Lisbon’s largest indoor venue and one of the biggest in Europe. City officials and select guests were hosted for a Leadership in Sports Business keynote that cemented Lisbon’s place in sports business history.

The conversation, moderated by broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher, brought together a trio of titans from vastly different corners of the sports and data universe:

The panel provided a rare glimpse into the convergence of elite sports ownership, data analytics, and the regulated gaming market—a combination almost unprecedented on a European stage.

An Economic Powerhouse: €100M Impact and Growing

The support from city officials is no coincidence. The SBC Summit has quickly become one of the most economically significant events in Lisbon’s calendar.

This pattern of high-level engagement from city and government officials extends beyond this year. When the event first relocated from Barcelona, both Mayor Carlos Moedas and the then-Minister of Economy Pedro Reis attended in person, setting the tone for this deep-rooted partnership.

A Festival of New Summits and World-Class Entertainment

The SBC Summit has evolved into a multi-track festival, and the third year in the city is introducing plenty of significant firsts.

New Track Summits

To cater to specific verticals, the event has added several dedicated summits:

Star-Studded Keynotes & Entertainment

Beyond the business tracks, the summit has created a festival atmosphere:

Looking Ahead: SBC Summit Returns in 2027

The success of the partnership has been solidified with a forward-looking announcement. The global event is set to return to the Feira Internacional de Lisboa and the MEO Arena on 21-23 September 2027.

This early commitment provides a stable runway for exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees to plan for the future, signifying that the SBC Summit has found a true home in Lisbon.

For more information, visit sbcevents.com/sbc-summit. For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, reach out to [email protected]. For general enquiries, contact [email protected].