iGB Affiliate’s move to Barcelona has quickly become more than a change of scenery. After debuting alongside ICE’s new home city, the affiliate-focused event delivered its strongest attendance to date and signaled growing appetite for a global meeting point where operators, networks, and content-driven acquisition partners can do business face to face.
With 2026 set to expand into additional halls at Fira Gran Via and the agenda sharpening its focus on emerging markets, platform shifts, and AI-driven disruption, the show is positioning itself as a barometer for where affiliate models are headed next.
In this exclusive interview with Yogonet, Naomi Barton, Clarion Gaming Portfolio Director, talks about the first iGB Affiliate Barcelona, outlines the strategic themes shaping the 2026 program, and previews how the event is scaling its networking and business-building infrastructure to match demand.
Just like ICE, iGB Affiliate held its first edition in Barcelona this year. What is your assessment of this year’s landmark event? How has the industry responded to the relocation so far?
The first edition of iGB Affiliate Barcelona was certainly one to remember. The show recorded a total of 9,082 unique visitors, an increase of 24% on the previous highest, which was set in 2024. The growth of iGB Affiliate has been phenomenal, and Barcelona has underlined the popularity and status of the brand as one of the key business events on the affiliate calendar.
The attendance represented the fifth consecutive year of significant growth, demonstrating both the popularity and success of the relocation to Barcelona. As a result of such a successful and well-received debut, iGB Affiliate 2026 will be 20% bigger than in 2025 and nearly double the footprint of the 2022 event.
The expansion, taking the show into Halls 8 and 8.1 at Fira Gran Via Barcelona, reflects unprecedented demand from new exhibitors drawn by the event’s unrivalled business opportunities and established partners scaling up their presence at what is now regarded as the industry’s single most important growth platform.
In which ways does the upcoming edition align with the changing dynamics of affiliate programs? In addition to established markets, what role will emerging regions play in next year’s program?
Following a record-breaking 2025 edition that drew attendees from 119 countries, iGB Affiliate Barcelona is set to extend its global footprint even further in 2026. The changing landscape for affiliates and affiliate programs means it’s more critical than ever to engage with the new, expanding markets.
The content program reflects that commitment and underlines the importance of iGB Affiliate in unlocking the business opportunities that exist. The business-building initiatives and market-entry strategies tailored to affiliates and operators include an analysis of three global markets comprising the United States, LatAm and Africa.
Taking place on 20 January 15:00 – 15:35 on The Pulse Conference Theatre, the Global Markets Head-to-Head session puts the spotlight on the three regions, exploring regulation and compliance, traffic, volume and average deposit values, player behaviour, as well as the small print that impacts ROI potential. Delegates will leave armed with what makes each market tick and where the real growth opportunities lie for affiliates.
The following day, 21 January, 14.10 – 14.40, the focus switches to an interactive game show style session where industry experts debate ‘Is the market hot or not?’ with the UAE, Asia and Pacific put under the microscope.
The stream will provide insights into performance-led affiliate models, emerging traffic sources, regulatory adaptation and compliance breakdowns, a risk and small print review, thoughts on where prospectors should go, and real data on what is driving player volume, traffic value, and confidence across these fast-moving regions. There will also be additional insights into where the convergence of content, localisation and technology is reshaping how brands approach acquisition and retention.
Technology continues to reshape the sector, from affiliate program evolution and innovations such as artificial intelligence in marketing. Which technological themes do you expect to dominate the 2026 edition, and how is the agenda being curated to reflect these trends?
As a professional event organiser, our job is to listen to the industry and shape our content around the specific needs of our stakeholders. Every conversation on technology references AI, and on 21st January (11.05 – 11.20: The Pulse Conference Theatre), we will be exploring the changing landscape through the lens of AI. With Argentic AI, AI-generated end-to-end content, personalised AI agents and a new age of AI black hat and LLM hackers on one end of the spectrum, the world as we know it is changing.
The stream will ask if regulations are driving affiliates to the black market, how can we address the sweeping growth of the grey markets, can the industry support the unwrapping of affiliates from over dependence on certain revenue streams and developing new affiliate arrangements?
On 20th January (11.05 – 11.40), our headline session explores traffic trends and predictions, specifically, how LLMs and algorithmic feeds are reshaping visibility, trust, and audience acquisition. Plus, thoughts on whether personalised service is about to replace customer search.
On 20th January (12.45 – 13.00), we explore how TikTok, Telegram, Reddit, YouTube, Instagram, Slack Channels, Facebook and X are being used by the iGaming community and how to stand out in such a crowded space in order to build trusted and credible content that drives engagement.
What should stakeholders expect from next year’s iGB Affiliate Barcelona? Are there any new developments, expansions, or announcements you can share at this stage?
The momentum behind iGB Affiliate has been extraordinary. Our relocation to Barcelona has supercharged the event, cementing its status as the meeting point where the global affiliate community comes together to collaborate, innovate, and grow.
In less than a year, the sustained demand has been such that we have already outgrown our original space, prompting the move into two new halls with a dedicated entrance, providing enhanced branding opportunities, and delivering an elevated show experience for our international community, which in 2025 travelled to the show from 108 nations. The opportunity to scale in step with our customers and the market was a key driver for choosing Fira Gran Via Barcelona as our long-term home.
Affiliates, operators and industry leaders attending iGB Affiliate Barcelona ’26 will have access to an unprecedented suite of networking hot spots which have been curated to maximise connections, facilitate collaboration and power business growth.
Working in partnership with industry stakeholders, we have created an ecosystem of tailored facilities encompassing pre-bookable hosted meeting spaces, VIP Lounges and dynamic social hubs featuring tattoo salons, live DJs, immersive brand experiences, meeting pods, and complementary drinks.
We are making our biggest investment on record to deliver what the international community has requested, which is more and improved opportunities to network with colleagues and partners, which we have been delighted to deliver. The key at-show networking features comprise the new for 2026 iGB Hangout (sponsored by Bet365 Partners), which will feature tattoo salons, live DJs, immersive brand experiences, meeting pods, and drinks. It is the ultimate social hub for networking, relaxing, and soaking up the show’s vibe. iGB Oasis, also new for 2026, is the outdoor counterpart to iGB Hangout. Based in the Sky Garden, it’s a prime space to relax, socialise, and soak up the show’s energy.
iGB Introducing (sponsored by Eshkol) is a pre-bookable meeting space on the show floor, designed to make networking effortless for all attendees. Using the show’s App, participants can schedule meetings in advance at specific tables, ensuring they connect with the right people.
The VIP Lounge (sponsored by Betfred) is an exclusive luxury space created for VIP guests to network, host meetings, or unwind away from the busy show floor. The Lounge serves complimentary drinks and snacks throughout the day, in a setting designed for comfort and connection.
VIPs also have the option to invite one guest to join them and share the experience. The Affiliate Lounge, now in its 4th edition, is exclusively for Affiliates and represents the perfect space to unwind and meet with colleagues. The Affiliate Bar features a live DJ and complimentary drinks throughout the day.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/12/24/116860–34igb-affiliate-barcelona-is-set-to-extend-its-global-footprint-even-further-in-2026-34
