2026 marks a special year for Seatrade Cruise Med and MedCruise, as the two organisations celebrate a major milestone: 30 years of partnership. A long-standing relationship that has helped support the growth and evolution of the Mediterranean cruise industry, accompanying the sector through its transformations and new challenges.
The anniversary celebrations will take centre stage at the 2026 edition of Seatrade Cruise Med, which opens on 16 September in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. MedCruise will have a prominent presence at the event, not only through a substantial exhibition area but also through the participation of numerous industry professionals and experts. The Association will host the second-largest pavilion at the event, surpassed only by that of the host Las Palmas Cruise Port.
Today representing 22 countries, MedCruise will bring 18 member organisations as exhibitors and more than 20 speakers to Seatrade Cruise Med, contributing to more than 15 sessions across the conference programme. This strong representation further underlines the Association’s importance within the international cruise industry.
The MedCruise Pavilion will bring together a number of leading industry players, providing an international showcase for ports, companies and cruise stakeholders. Participants include Marseille, Corsica Ports, Bay Ports of Toulon La Seyne–Var Provence, Volos, Gibraltar, Barcelona, Wilhelmsen, GSTS, Gulliver Destination Management Company, Tura Turizm, Amalfi Cruise Terminal, PortArgentario, Heraklion, Koper, Global Cruises, Catalan Ports, Croatian Cruise Ports and Cruise Portugal.
Located in the Main Event Area & Exhibits, at stands 1E31 and 1E40, the pavilion will serve as a dynamic meeting place for professional exchanges. Throughout the event, it will provide a dedicated space for B2B meetings, networking and dialogue among cruise industry stakeholders.
MedCruise’s activities in Las Palmas will begin on 15 September, when the Association will hold its 69th General Assembly, an event reserved exclusively for members.
On 16 September, MedCruise will also take part in the Seatrade Cruise Med conference programme. MedCruise President Theodora Riga will deliver the welcome address and participate in the opening session of The State of the Mediterranean Cruise Industry, moderated by Mary Bond, Group Director at Seatrade Cruise. The session is scheduled for 10:45 at the Lanzarote Hall.
Several members of the MedCruise Board will also contribute to the conference programme. Joško Šupe, Lorenzo Vera Franco, Luz Marina Espiau Moreno, Dario Barbarić, Valeria Mangiarotti and Anne-Marie Spinosi will take part in discussions addressing some of the key issues shaping the future of the sector, including community engagement, expedition cruising, the development of the Atlantic region, artificial intelligence, shoreside infrastructure and the future of Mediterranean cruising.
The programme will also feature other MedCruise members representing the Port Authority of Valencia, Five Senses Consulting and Development, CEO Boats Advisor Hub & Events, Tura Turizm, Cruise Terminals International (CTI), Global Cruises, Dubrovnik Port Authority, Portos dos Açores, Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services and Valletta Cruise Port.
Their sessions will focus on increasingly important issues for destinations and cruise operators, including destination storytelling, technological innovation, responsible shoreside experiences, brand differentiation, cruise readiness and the long-term value generated by cruise calls.
The celebrations marking 30 years of MedCruise and Seatrade Cruise Med will continue beyond the Las Palmas event. On 17 September, the Association’s Economic Impact Assessments Working Group will meet under the leadership of Lorenzo Vera Franco, a member of the MedCruise Board of Directors. As part of the anniversary programme, a special edition of the Seatrade Cruise Talks podcast is also planned for later in the year. The episode will bring together former MedCruise Presidents to look back at the history of the Association and its long-standing collaboration with Seatrade Cruise.
The anniversary therefore represents not only an opportunity to celebrate three decades of cooperation, but also a moment to reflect on the future evolution of the cruise industry. As Theodora Riga underlined, “Ports give cruise itineraries their character”, and over the past 30 years, MedCruise and Seatrade Cruise have worked together to strengthen the voice of ports within the industry.
Giorgia Lombardo