• 3 min de lectura
• 3 min de lectura
Global Ports Holding (GPH), together with Las Palmas Cruise Port, celebrated the grand opening of the new cruise terminal and venue for Seatrade Cruise Med 2026.
September 15, 2026
Around 1,000 guests experienced an evening inspired by the destination's renowned carnival culture, featuring comparsa and batucada performances, live music, carnival-inspired entertainment, acrobatics and a spectacular drone show.
"A Night at the Terminal," party held on Tuesday evening, brought together cruise industry representatives, partners, local authorities and stakeholders.
Held as the international cruise community gathered in Las Palmas for Seatrade Cruise Med 2026, the celebration officially showcased the new terminal to the wider international cruise industry and marked the first event of Seatrade Cruise Med, which will be hosted at the terminal on September 16-17.
The new 14,000-square-metre Las Palmas Cruise Port terminal represents a major milestone in GPH's investment in the Canary Islands. Designed to strengthen operational capacity and enhance the passenger experience, the terminal can accommodate up to four cruise ships simultaneously and provides a modern gateway to Gran Canaria.
Guests experienced an evening inspired by the destination's renowned carnival culture, featuring comparsa and batucada performances, live music, carnival-inspired entertainment, acrobatics and a spectacular drone show.
Ayşegül Bensel, Vice Chairperson of Global Ports Holding, said:"Tonight is about celebrating much more than the opening of a new terminal. It is about celebrating the cruise industry, our partners and the future of Las Palmas as an increasingly important year-round cruise destination. We are particularly grateful to the local authorities and partners whose collaboration and support have been instrumental in bringing this important project to life."
Beatriz Calzada, President of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, said: "I would like to thank Global Ports for their trust and their firm commitment to our ports. Today we are proud to inaugurate Europe's largest cruise terminal, which reinforces the role of the Port of Las Palmas as a cruise hub for the Mid-Atlantic. Doing so to coincide with the Seatrade Cruise Med event is, moreover, a milestone that allows us to showcase our port and our city to the world."
Susana Gutiérrez, General Manager of GPH Canary Islands Cruise Ports, said: "This new terminal gives us the opportunity to offer an enhanced experience from the moment guests arrive, while creating a gateway that reflects the energy and character of Gran Canaria. Welcoming the international cruise community here for Seatrade Cruise Med is a very special way to begin this new chapter for Las Palmas Cruise Port."
Following the opening, the terminal will host Seatrade Cruise Med 2026, bringing together cruise lines, ports, destinations, tourism authorities and industry suppliers from across the Mediterranean and beyond and giving delegates the opportunity to experience the new facility first-hand.
The event is counting 100+ speakers, 70% of which are Director level or above. Across the two-day programme, delegates can access 25+ sessions and more than 20 hours of content.
224 exhibitors will represent ports and destinations, associations and tour operators from across the world, including some of the returning and most recognisable names in the cruise industry: Cruise Arabia, Ports of Spain, MedCruise, Global Ports Holding, Cruise Italy, Caribbean Village, Cruise Europe, Cruise Britain, Cruise Baltic, Cruise Norway and Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services.
This year, the show is welcoming a variety of new international exhibitors such as Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, Messagenius, Akorn Destination Management, Rennies Ship Agency South Africa, Nordic Port Group, Galataport Istanbul and Whisper.
Fuente: sea-trade cruise
