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Port and regional officials gathered at a press conference to emphasise Las Palmas' growing importance as a cruise hub ahead of Seatrade Cruise Med 2026, scheduled for September 16-17.
President of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, Beatriz Calzada, said: "The selection of the Port of Las Palmas as the venue is the result of our commitment to sustainable, innovative and modern infrastructure which, together with the terminals in Arrecife and Puerto del Rosario, places our province at the forefront of port efficiency within the cruise sector. The Port of Las Palmas is home to the largest cruise terminal in Europe, reflecting the strong momentum currently being experienced by the industry across our ports."
Calzada described the port as offering "a uniqueness and authenticity that continues to inspire confidence among cruise lines. Proof of this can be seen in our forecasts for the next season, with more cruise operators, new homeport operations and an increasing number of premium cruise brands choosing our ports."
Ports managed by the Port Authority of Las Palmas exceeded two million cruise passengers in 2025.
General Director of Global Ports Canary Islands, Susana Gutiérrez, said that "the Canary Islands represent a strategic location within our European growth plans thanks to their privileged geographical position between Europe, Africa and the Americas."
Gutiérrez said that hosting Seatrade Cruise Med at Las Palmas Cruise Port will help position both the city and the port as key players in the future development of cruise routes and itineraries across the Mediterranean and the mid-Atlantic.
Mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Carolina Darias, highlighted the city's integral role in the event's success, describing it as "not merely a backdrop." She said: "The success of Seatrade Cruise Med is also built on the contribution of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria as a complete urban experience."
Seatrade Cruise Med expects more than 2,000 attendees, around 180 international exhibitors, and around 220 executives from the world's leading cruise lines. The event will transform the Santa Catalina terminal into a dedicated exhibition and conference space to connect the industry through an exhibition, conference sessions, business meetings and networking activities.
Mary Bond, group portfolio director, Seatrade Cruise, said: "Mediterranean cruise ports have shown extraordinarily positive growth by reaching 39.75 million passenger movements in 2025, representing a 10.5% increase compared to the previous year. We are delighted to bring Seatrade Cruise Med to Las Palmas and further contribute to this growth by attracting more than 2,000 industry professionals from over 90 countries in September."
Emma Bond, global events director, Seatrade Cruise, added: "In 2026, Seatrade Cruise Med, which runs as a biennial event, is celebrating its 30th milestone anniversary, representing a truly significant opportunity to partner with the Las Palmas Cruise Port, the Port Authority of Las Palmas as well as Global Ports Holding.
"Together, we look forward to delivering an unforgettable event by exceeding expectations, bringing value to our attendees and leaving a positive impact for the local community."
Significant economic return is expected for Gran Canaria – participant accommodation spending alone will exceed 400,000 euros.
The experience of previous Seatrade Cruise Med host cities demonstrates that hosting the gathering acts as a catalyst for cruise activity growth. After hosting the event, Venice increased its passenger traffic by 45%, rising from 1.5 million cruise passengers in 2007 to 2.2 million in 2011. Marseille recorded 75% growth, going from 800,000 passengers in 2011 to 1.4 million in 2015, while Barcelona increased its traffic by 12% to exceed three million cruise passengers after the 2014 edition.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife also experienced a 9% increase in the years following its hosting of the gathering.
The case of Málaga constitutes one of the most notable examples. After hosting Seatrade Cruise Med in 2022, the city recorded 37.4% growth in its cruise traffic and, after having been the host twice, achieved a cumulative increase of 232%, establishing itself as one of the industry's reference destinations in southern Europe.
Fuente: sea-trade cruise
