15 April 2026 – On 7 and 8 May, Europe’s ports will meet in Gdańsk for the 22nd edition of the ESPO Conference, the annual summit for the European port industry. As always, the Conference will take place back-to-back with ESPO’s General Assembly.
The theme of this year’s Conference is “Competitiveness as a driver of resilience”. The Conference will be the platform where maritime, port, energy and geopolitical experts will discuss how Europe’s ports are, and should, navigate the current geo-economic and geopolitical storm while keeping the pace towards a net-zero and resilient future for Europe. Europe’s ports are at the centre of today’s challenges and are, at the same time, instrumental in facing them.
Like always, the ESPO Conference will give the floor to a series of inspirational speakers to share their intelligence and views – sometimes critical – with the audience. On top of the economic, energy and geopolitical outlooks, experts will address topics like Europe’s attractiveness for investments, grid congestion, the global scramble for critical raw materials and the role of AI.
During the different port panels, Europe’s port executives will be invited to reflect and share their experience in navigating the shifts and paving their way through the new and changing realities.
Last but certainly not least, the ESPO Conference will discuss EU policy. The recently published EU Ports Strategy has put the finger on the changing role of ports and aims to provide a framework for the future of Europe’s ports. We are thrilled to welcome DG MOVE’s Director General Magda Kopczyńska as well as an excellent line-up of Members of the European Parliament to start the discussion on this Commission paper. The TEN-T coordinator for the European Maritime Space Gesine Meissner will be completing the impressive list of female policymakers!
But, as always, the ESPO Conference is more than speeches and panel discussions, it offers a unique opportunity to meet and network. Also this year, the centre of Gdańsk will offer guests unique ways to enjoy a moment with colleagues. The cherry on the cake will be the exquisite Conference dinner in the heart of the legendary Gdańsk Shipyard, where we will experience the raw, industrial character of this historic district.
As you can imagine, this year’s edition is a popular one, and seats are getting booked quickly.
So, if you want to take part in this year’s Conference and enjoy the Port of Gdańsk’s outstanding hospitality, be sure to visit the ESPO Conference website and book your spot : Gdańsk is waiting for you!
If you have any practical questions or need support with your registrations, do not hesitate to contact us at chiara.mantovano@espo.be
