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DES2026, taking place in Malaga, will host four events on AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and e-commerce to strengthen the competitiveness of businesses and public institutions.

The gathering will also feature the Digital Business World Congress, bringing together top global experts to reveal the digitalization trends set to transform key economic sectors

Madrid –  DES – Digital Enterprise Show 2026, the leading event in Europe dedicated to exponential technologies and AI, will arrive in Malaga, Spain, from June 9 to 11 in an edition full of new features. On its tenth anniversary, the summit is evolving into a multi-specialist platform that will host, for the first time, themed sub-events dedicated to the technologies that are transforming companies and their business models, in addition to those it already offers.

In this way, the more than 15,000 executives attending the gathering will find a diversified ecosystem, making it easier to identify the tools they need to strengthen the competitiveness of their company or operational area. In the words of Sandra Infante, director of DES, “we hyper-specialize to become more expert in the solutions that are making an impact today and to improve the visitor experience. With this goal in mind, we will be an ‘event of events,’ focused on connecting innovation, knowledge, and talent to foster the transformation of organizations and generate new opportunities”.

In this context, the human element will play a particularly important role, as reflected in the slogan chosen for this occasion: ‘Machine Learn, People Lead’. The aim is to highlight the value of professionals’ talent in guiding AI’s machine learning so that it effectively supports the achievement of their strategic goals.

DES2026 events

Continuing with its innovative formula, DES2026 will include seven events centered on the most disruptive solutions with the greatest potential of the moment. This is the case of the new The AInomics, exploring advances in artificial intelligence; CyberXponential World, which will underscore the key role of security, defense, and quantum computing as levers for competitiveness; and Cloud to Sky Connect, which will address the current era of cloud with a global vision.

These three proposals will be added to Retail Tech Fest, which, together with Adigital and The New Retail News, will become, for the second consecutive year, the main hub for the consumer and digital commerce ecosystem. An exclusive forum will be organized to examine the challenges and possibilities of e-commerce in the business world. Last year's edition saw the participation of leaders from companies such as Miravia, Just Eat, Ikea, Destinia and Leroy Merlin, who shared their strategies for boosting online sales.

At the same time, DES2026 will continue to promote España Empresa Digital, where the technologies and methodologies that SMEs are adopting in order to become more resilient will be presented, as well as Digital Marketing Planet, which will showcase initiatives based on immersive environments that are changing the field of communication and persuasion, including AI, virtual reality, and augmented reality.

Moreover, there will be a space dedicated to entrepreneurial talent with The Scale-Up! World Summit, a gathering that attracts the most innovative startups to present their competitive advantage, aimed at different industries, in front of investors.

All in all, this “DES Universe” will bring together more than 400 companies exhibiting over 700 innovations, which will boost the profitability and efficiency of businesses and public administrations.

High-level inspiration at the Digital Business World Congress

DES2026 will also host the Digital Business World Congress, the largest forum on digitalization at the European level, which will convene more than 500 international experts to share trends and perspectives about technological development in different economic areas. Maintaining the approach of hyper-specialization, the congress will feature nine verticals dedicated to the sectors that are experiencing the greatest evolution: banking and insurance, manufacturing, education, sports and entertainment, health, tourism and hospitality, defense, e-commerce and public administration. It will also incorporate agendas designed for different professional profiles such as CEOs, CIOs, CMOs, CDOs, CISOs, Human Resources Directors and AI Directors.

Over the course of a decade, prestigious figures such as Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States; Zondwa Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela and President of the Mandela Legacy Foundation; or Margaret Mitchell, founder of Google's AI Ethics Department and Director of Ethics at the technology company Hugging Face, among many others, have graced the stages of the Digital Business World Congress.

China, Guest Country at DES2026

China has established itself as one of the world’s leading technological powers, consolidating its leadership in key areas such as AI, telecommunications, and industrial development. In this context, Chinese companies are increasingly pursuing global expansion to compete with other international players, driving progress in sectors like robotics and electric vehicles. For this reason, DES2026 has selected China as its Guest Country, with a delegation set to highlight the nation’s initiatives and strategies shaping the emerging global technological landscape.