NEXT Summit Valletta 2026
When
Where
Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, Malta
Event type
About the event
NEXT Summit Valletta is a two-day iGaming conference in Malta. The 2026 edition is expected to host 6,000 attendees, around 40% of whom are operators.
The conference runs across three stages, covering leadership, global markets, and professional development. Festival week kicks off on May 25. Three pre-conference summits open it: NEXT Focus Affiliate, NEXT Focus Startup and Investment, and NEXT Focus Crypto.
There will be two networking events on the Grand Harbour Terrace at the end of each conference day. Attendees can go to a closing after-party on the evening of May 28.
Key Topics:
- AI in customer engagement, compliance, and game design
- Crypto payments, AML risks, and rules around digital assets
- Player retention vs acquisition-led growth
- Licensing and compliance in Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania
- Regulation in LATAM beyond Brazil, including Peru, Colombia, and Mexico
Key Speakers: Pontus Lindwall, President and CEO, Betsson; Hilary Stewart-Jones, Chairman and CEO, Skywind Group; Francesco Postiglione, CEO, Casumo; David Natroshvili, CEO and Founder, Spribe; Lahcene Merzoug, CEO, PressEnter Group; Corinne Valletta, General Counsel, Betsson; Russell Mifsud, Head of Gaming Europe, KPMG; Tim Heath, Founder, Yolo Investments
Exhibition & Format: The main auditorium, Republic Hall, seats 1,400. Sessions also run across David Bruce Hall, Vassalli Hall, and Michel’Angelo Grima Hall. Side events and focused summits take place at The Phoenicia Malta and other Valletta venues on May 25 and 26.
Organizer
NEXT.io is a Malta-based events, media and publishing company built around the iGaming industry. It runs two recurring flagship summits: NEXT Summit Valletta and NEXT Summit New York. Both are known for a high concentration of operators in the room. Alongside the main summits, NEXT.io runs focused one-day events on topics including affiliates, investment and crypto. The company also produces news, podcasts and video content year-round.