Looking ahead to welcoming the gaming universe to Barcelona, Stuart Hunter, Managing Director of Clarion Gaming, stated that the scale and international reach of the events underline their unique position in the global calendar.

“Although ICE and iGB Affiliate take place over three days, we officially celebrate World Gaming Week from January 18 to 23, with a series of special events across the city of Barcelona,” Hunter said. “With more than 65,000 delegates expected from over 180 countries, there is no doubt this is the most important week in the gaming calendar.”

He added: “World Gaming Week is packed with opportunities to foster connections and collaborations that drive regulated gaming across the industry. Based on the number of meetings already scheduled through the ICE app, we anticipate the week will generate around 1.5 million business encounters, both planned and spontaneous. These conversations—featuring suppliers, operators, regulators, politicians, and policymakers—will help define the future of gaming across all continents in 2026 and beyond, once again confirming that ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona are where the global gaming community comes together to do business.”

ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona will jointly feature an unmatched lineup of more than 750 exhibitors, reinforcing their reputation as the year’s most important opportunities for operators to discover the latest product launches and innovations across all gaming sectors and regulated jurisdictions.

“We maintain ongoing dialogue with our exhibitor community and understand how they plan their R&D cycles around ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona,” Hunter explained. “On that basis, we anticipate around 25,000 products and services will be showcased at the fairs, many incorporating the latest implementations of new technologies that are transforming how the industry engages with players and conducts business.”

Hunter also highlighted the role of the Enterprise Stage, the fair’s renamed content hub, as a focal point for the industry’s most important technology-driven conversations. “On January 20, the Enterprise Stage will host the final of the Innovator Challenge, organized in collaboration with Microsoft,” he said. “This is the first time a global tech leader has partnered directly with the gaming industry in this way, marking a significant milestone for the sector.”

“Focused on accelerating innovation in responsible gaming, the challenge invites operators and their partners to leverage artificial intelligence to help build a sustainable future. By bringing together global tech leaders, innovators, and thought leaders from the gaming industry, our goal is to help the sector better understand how AI, cloud, and fintech will shape the next generation of gaming.”

He concluded: “Whether showcasing the latest launches in the gaming universe, highlighting innovation, providing a platform for new and exciting business, promoting best practices in player protection, recognizing industry stalwarts through the ICE Landmark Awards, tackling illegal gambling, outlining the latest trends in both land-based and online gaming, or helping companies enter new territories, ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona 2026 represent the heart of the global gaming industry and an invaluable source of inspiration for organizations of all sizes, across all sectors and jurisdictions.”

To register for ICE Barcelona, Fira Barcelona Gran Via, and be part of the world’s largest gaming celebration, visit: https://www.icegaming.com Affiliates wishing to secure their place at iGaming Affiliate Barcelona can unlock their entry at: https://igb-affiliate.reg.buzz/?utm_campaign=bigba26-partner