MedCruise Brings 18 Exhibitors to Seatrade Cruise Med 2026
MedCruise was founded in Rome on June 11, 1996, by sixteen ports in seven countries; it now represents twenty-two countries as it marks its thirtieth anniversary.
MedCruise will assemble 18 exhibiting members at Seatrade Cruise Med 2026 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where it will operate the event’s second-largest pavilion from September 16. More than 20 specialists affiliated with the association are also scheduled to participate in over 15 conference sessions during its 30th-anniversary program.
The association now represents 22 countries, up from 16 founding ports across seven countries when it was established in Rome on June 11, 1996. Seatrade Cruise Med also began in 1996. Its first edition was held in Genoa.
What MedCruise is bringing to Las Palmas
The MedCruise Pavilion will occupy booths 1E31 and 1E40 in the Main Event Area & Exhibits, providing space for business meetings and networking. Only the host, Las Palmas Cruise Port, will have a larger pavilion.
Exhibitors will include Marseille, Corsica Ports, Bay Ports of Toulon La Seyne-Var Provence, Volos, Gibraltar, Barcelona, Wilhelmsen, GSTS, Gulliver Destination Management Company and Tura Turizm. The roster also includes Amalfi Cruise Terminal, PortArgentario, Heraklion, Koper, Global Cruises, Catalan Ports, Croatian Cruise Ports and Cruise Portugal.
Before the exhibition opens, MedCruise will hold its members-only 69th General Assembly in Las Palmas on September 15.
MedCruise President Theodora Riga will deliver welcoming remarks and join the opening session, “The State of the Mediterranean Cruise Industry,” on September 16 in Lanzarote Hall. Mary Bond, group director of Seatrade Cruise, will moderate the discussion.
“Ports give character to cruise itineraries and, for 30 years, MedCruise and Seatrade Cruise have worked together to give them a stronger voice,” Riga said.
MedCruise board members Joosko Supe, Lorenzo Vera Franco, Luz Marina Espiau Moreno, Dario Barbari, Valeria Mangiarotti and Anne-Marie Spinosi are among the scheduled speakers. Other participants will represent the Port Authority of Valencia, Tura Turizm, Cruise Terminals International, Global Cruises, Dubrovnik Port Authority, Portos dos Acores, Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services and Valletta Cruise Port.
Conference discussions will cover port infrastructure, artificial intelligence, community relations, expedition cruising and development of the Atlantic cruise region. Sessions will also address destination storytelling, responsible shoreside experiences, brand differentiation, destination readiness and the long-term economic value of cruise calls.
Las Palmas prepares to host
Global Ports Holding, which has operated Las Palmas Cruise Port since 2022, opened a new terminal at Santa Catalina Pier in October 2025 as part of a €40 million ($43.3 million) modernization program.
“Hosting Seatrade Cruise Med places our port at the centre of the cruise industry’s most important conversations,” said Susana Gutierrez, general manager of Global Ports Holding Canary Islands. She said the event would give cruise lines, partners and other stakeholders an opportunity to see the port’s new infrastructure and expanded operating capabilities.
MedCruise’s Economic Impact Assessments Working Group will meet on September 17 under the leadership of board member Lorenzo Vera Franco. Later in 2026, former MedCruise presidents are due to participate in a special edition of the Seatrade Cruise Talks podcast.
