The event will strengthen the international projection of the Port of Las Palmas and reinforce its position as a mid-Atlantic logistics hub
The new cruise terminal, the largest in Europe, will host an event bringing together cruise lines, operators and leaders from the international maritime sector
The Port of Las Palmas will become an international focal point for the cruise industry in September 2026 with the hosting of Seatrade Cruise Med, one of the sector’s most important professional events in the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions. The event, scheduled for September 16–17 at the new Las Palmas Cruise Port terminal at Santa Catalina Pier, Port of Las Palmas, represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen the international positioning of the Port Authority and its ports as one of the major maritime hubs in the mid-Atlantic.
The event will bring together representatives from the world’s leading cruise lines, port authorities, logistics operators, tourism destinations, service companies and specialist media in a global business platform. The trade fair will showcase the Port of Las Palmas’ potential, connectivity and the strategic role Gran Canaria plays as a link between Europe, Africa and the Americas.
The hosting of Seatrade Cruise Med will also coincide with a particularly strong moment for cruise tourism in the province. The Port Authority of Las Palmas closed 2025 with a historic record, surpassing two million cruise passengers for the first time in a single year, reaching a total of 2,089,042 cruise passengers. Overall passenger traffic across the province’s five ports amounted to 3,622,329 travellers, consolidating the sector’s growth trend and confirming the destination’s appeal for major international cruise operators.
These figures position the ports managed by the Port Authority of Las Palmas among the leading tourism maritime hubs in the Atlantic and reinforce Gran Canaria’s strategic role in the development of new cruise routes and homeport operations. Sustained sector growth, combined with stable maritime and air connectivity, further strengthens expectations for continued expansion in cruise activity over the coming years.
One of the key highlights of this international event will be the new Las Palmas Cruise Port terminal at Santa Catalina Pier, Port of Las Palmas — an infrastructure project designed to meet the evolving demands of maritime tourism and already considered one of the most significant developments in the mid-Atlantic region. Operated by Las Palmas Cruise Port, part of Global Ports Holding — the world’s largest cruise terminal operator — the terminal covers approximately 14,000 square metres across two levels and will be capable of handling up to four vessels simultaneously.
The infrastructure represents a major leap forward for the port, both in scale and modernization. With an investment exceeding €40 million as part of the province-wide renewal of cruise terminals, the project will reinforce Las Palmas’ positioning as an international homeport and help attract additional cruise calls and higher passenger volumes.
The terminal, regarded as the largest in Europe within its category, will also serve as the main international showcase for the destination during Seatrade Cruise Med. Over the course of two days, the venue will be transformed into a major exhibition and conference space hosting commercial exhibitions, technical conferences, business meetings and professional networking sessions involving the industry’s leading stakeholders. Organisers expect attendance from more than 2,000 industry professionals, over 180 international exhibitors and more than 200 representatives from cruise companies from nearly 100 countries, underlining the global scale of an event that will place Gran Canaria at the centre of discussions on the future of the cruise industry.
Beyond its promotional impact, the hosting of Seatrade Cruise Med is expected to generate significant economic benefits for the island and stimulate activity across sectors linked to tourism, hospitality, retail and specialised services. Organisers also forecast a substantial positive impact for local small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those connected to tourism offerings and destination excursions.
The experience of previous host cities also demonstrates significant growth in cruise traffic following the event. After hosting Seatrade Cruise Med, destinations such as Venice increased from 1.5 million passengers in 2007 to 2.2 million in 2011, representing 45% growth; Marseille recorded a 75% increase, rising from 800,000 passengers in 2011 to 1.4 million in 2015; while Barcelona increased cruise traffic by 12%, surpassing three million cruise passengers following the 2014 edition. Santa Cruz de Tenerife also experienced 9% growth after hosting the event. In Málaga, the city recorded a 37.4% increase following the 2022 edition and eventually achieved cumulative growth of 232% after hosting the fair twice, consolidating its position within the international cruise market.
The selection of the Port of Las Palmas as host of the 2026 edition represents recognition of the port’s evolution and modernization, as well as the island’s capacity to host major international events linked to the blue economy and maritime tourism.
Seatrade Cruise Med 2026 is also supported by a broad group of sponsors and partner organisations whose involvement will be essential in bringing the event to Gran Canaria and ensuring its international dimension. Alongside the institutional backing of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, the Government of the Canary Islands, the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Las Palmas Cruise Port — part of Global Ports Holding — the event is expected to include participation from companies linked to the maritime-port sector, logistics, tourism, services and connectivity, further strengthening the positioning of the ports managed by the Port Authority of Las Palmas, as well as the tourism destinations of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura and their capitals within the international cruise industry.
