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The Affiliate Leaders Summit will take its next major step in 2026, evolving into a standalone global event dedicated entirely to affiliate and performance marketing.
Co-located with SBC Summit in Lisbon from 29 September to 1 October, the event reflects growing demand for dedicated affiliate-focused environments as acquisition strategies become increasingly shaped by creators, AI, first-party data, and multi-channel traffic models.
Originally launched in 2024 as a dedicated zone within SBC Summit, the Affiliate Leaders Summit quickly gained traction among affiliates, operators, and technology providers. In 2025, the exhibition floor expanded by 40% while affiliate registrations increased by nearly 50% year-over-year, driving its evolution into a standalone event with its own exhibition, conference programme, academy sessions, awards, and event experiences.
Built entirely around affiliate and performance marketing, the Affiliate Leaders Summit will bring together affiliates, media groups, creators, influencers, affiliate networks, operator acquisition teams, and the technology providers supporting the ecosystem. More than 10,000 delegates from over 150 countries are expected to attend.
At the heart of the event sits a 15,000 sqm exhibition floor featuring more than 150 exhibitors and sponsors, designed as a high-intent commercial marketplace. The audience spans every layer of the acquisition ecosystem, from SEO and paid media specialists to streamers, tipsters, creator-led publishers, and enterprise-level operators.
The three-day conference programme will explore the future of affiliate strategy, omnichannel marketing technology, adtech innovation, and evolving acquisition models. Sessions will focus on practical challenges, including geo expansion, compliance in regulated markets, AI-driven optimisation, attribution, first-party data strategies, and the evolving relationship between operators, affiliates, and creators.
New for 2026, the Affiliate Leaders Academy will run alongside the main conference, offering three full days of hands-on, skills-based training. Structured around SEO, emerging channels, and next-generation data management, the Academy is designed to give delegates practical frameworks, workflows, and tools they can apply immediately to their acquisition and performance strategies.
Affiliate Leaders Summit attendees will also gain access to SBC Summit’s wider conference programme, including sessions across six dedicated stages and keynote presentations at Lisbon’s MEO Arena Super Stage. The combined experience offers delegates both specialist affiliate-focused insight and broader perspectives from leaders across gaming, sport, business, technology, and entertainment.
The Affiliate Leaders Awards will return as a standalone ceremony celebrating excellence in affiliate marketing and traffic acquisition, recognising the campaigns, technologies, networks, and programmes shaping the future of performance marketing.
Beyond the exhibition and conference, Affiliate Leaders Summit attendees will gain access to the dedicated Affiliate Leaders Summit SBC Connect app, launching on 24 August, enabling delegates to schedule meetings, manage connections, and build partnerships before, during, and after the event. Affiliate Leaders Summit ticket holders will also gain access to SBC Summit experiences such as the Food Festival, Festival Square, and Infinity Lisbon.
Co-located with SBC Summit, which attracts more than 40,000 delegates, the Affiliate Leaders Summit combines the focus of a specialist affiliate event with the scale, seniority, and international reach of the wider SBC ecosystem.
Affiliates can apply for a complimentary pass to the Affiliate Leaders Summit, equivalent to the Affiliate Leaders Summit VIP Pass. Non-affiliate attendees can secure tickets at the Early Bird rate of €419 until 5 June, after which the price will increase to €599.
The Affiliate Leaders Summit VIP Pass includes access to the full SBC Summit exhibition, conference programme, and event experiences. For a full breakdown of inclusions, visit the Affiliate Leaders Summit VIP Ticket page.
