Valletta, Malta, October 6, 2026.– The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has unveiled the full program for its 26th Global Summit, bringing together more than 100 international speakers in Valletta for two days of high-level discussions on the forces shaping the future of the global Travel & Tourism sector.

Under the theme FUTU[RE]SET, the Summit will gather ministers, parliamentarians, European commissioners, tourism authorities, international organizations, investors and senior executives from airlines, airports, hotels, cruise companies, technology firms and destinations.

Confirmed political leaders include Justin Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada; José María Aznar, former President of the Government of Spain; and Nick Adams, U.S. Tourism Minister and Presidential Envoy. Representatives from the European Commission, African Union and governments across Spain, Italy, India, Greece, Croatia, Türkiye, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Guatemala and Mexico will also participate.

The Summit will open with senior Maltese officials, including Prime Minister Robert Abela, Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg, Tourism Minister Jo Etienne Abela and Malta Tourism Authority CEO Carlo Micallef, alongside WTTC Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio and WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara.

"The WTTC Global Summit brings together an extraordinary diversity of voices at a time when Travel & Tourism is being transformed by AI, technology, evolving traveler expectations, geopolitics and new patterns of investment and growth," Gloria Guevara said.

The business leadership lineup includes Christopher J. Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton; Elie Maalouf, Global CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts; Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group; Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group; Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor; Alejandro Reynal, President and CEO of Four Seasons; Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel; and Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

The program will focus on eight WTTC strategic priorities: safe and seamless travel, responsible destination management, sustainability, emerging technologies and AI, crisis preparedness, connectivity, future workforce development, and investment and economic growth.

Sessions will address topics including digital identity and the future of border experiences, AI and the new era of travel, SME opportunities, resilience in an era of disruption, responsible destination management, the future of mobility, accessible tourism, and the next trillion-dollar public-private investment opportunity.

The Summit will also launch the WTTC Youth Movement, bringing together around 90 students and 10 faculty members from 16 partner institutions representing more than 30 nationalities. The initiative will give younger generations a stronger voice in shaping the future of Travel & Tourism.

In addition, WTTC will promote Together in Travel, a global initiative designed to connect and support small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for approximately 85% of the global Travel & Tourism community.

The Summit will conclude with “Moving Forward Together”, featuring Gloria Guevara, Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio and Carlo Micallef, followed by the announcement of the host destination for the 2027 WTTC Global Summit.