Portugal’s government and Lisbon city dignitaries gathered to welcome SBC and its expected 40,000 attendees back to the Portuguese capital for the third consecutive year.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas delivered the event’s opening remarks ahead of the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, joined by SBC leadership and key event sponsors.
Moedas reflected on his ambition to create a so-called “unicorn factory” in Lisbon, referring to businesses that reach a valuation of at least $1 billion, and confirmed that goal has now been achieved.
The mayor revealed that 18 such businesses now operate out of the Portuguese capital, marking a significant milestone for the city’s growing technology and business ecosystem.
SBC Summit is taking place from 29 September to 1 October at Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena, making it the most ambitious edition of the event to date.
This year’s summit features a standalone Affiliate Leaders Summit, two brand-new specialist forums, a dedicated Product Innovation Showcase Stage, and a completely rebuilt networking programme.
Delegates are expected from over 150 countries, with more than 11,000 operators confirmed to attend, underscoring the significant buyer-side strength driving this year’s record growth figures.
The event is hosting nine stages in total, with the conference agenda opening at 11:55am local time with greetings from SBC leadership on the first day.
Michael Jordan appeared on stage alongside Sportradar Chief Executive Officer Carsten Koerl and DraftKings Chief Executive Officer Jason Robins, in what promises to be a landmark keynote moment for the industry.
Football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano and UFC champion Charles Oliveira are also among the high-profile names set to take the stage throughout the three-day event.
Attendees can look forward to an Opening Party headlined by multi-platinum-selling band The Script, with DJ Tiësto set to close proceedings at the Infinity Lisbon night.
Brazil has emerged as one of the dominant talking points across the show floor, following President Lula da Silva’s recent announcement of a ban on regulated betting in the country.
