20-22 April, 2026 | Gran Canaria, Spain | In-Person Event
Bilingual event: English & Spanish
GSIS is designed for participants actively engaged in island-focused work. If your decisions, solutions, or investments impact island communities, this is where the right conversations happen.
GSIS convenes the institutions and partners needed to move island initiatives beyond dialogue and into delivery.
To engage in policy dialogue and peer exchange, advance island energy and climate agendas, and foster regional and international partnerships.
Present innovative solutions, connect with decision-makers and deployment partners, and explore real-world island implementation.
Identify collaboration opportunities, align funding and investment priorities, and engage with credible project pipelines.
Exchange applied experience and case studies, strengthen partnerships for sustainable impact, and connect community-based work to policy frameworks.
Share research insights and applied evidence, connect academic work with policy and implementation, and develop research partnerships and international collaboration opportunities.
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Join island leaders, innovators, and sustainability specialists from around the world as we gather in the beautiful island of Gran Canaria to shape the future of Sustainable Island Development. The Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 will bring together cutting-edge solutions, inspiring stories, and actionable strategies for creating resilient island communities.
Gran Canaria, one of the islands from the Canary Islands region, also a part of the Macaronesia region that encompasses the Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde, has become the focus for Sustainability projects. The island positions itself as a bridge between Europe, Africa and the Americas. The island has been pioneering innovative approaches to climate adaptation, renewable energy and responsible tourism projects.
A point of reference for its fine architecture and functionality in the south of Gran Canaria. This is a multifunctional building with a surface area of 14,000m². Its 24 conference halls, with a total surface area of 9,264 square metres, can host such varied events as congresses, conferences, exhibitions, concerts, sports events, fashion shows and all types of meetings.
Join us in Gran Canaria for the premier event on sustainable island development. Standard registration is now open.
General
€ 465
NGOs & Students
€ 380
General
€ 550
€ 645NGOs & Students
€ 470
€ 550General
€ 645
NGOs & Students
€ 550
Higher rate applies from April 1
Standard rate ends in
Prices are in Euros. All ticket sales are final and non-refundable, except under specific circumstances outlined here
Co-hosted with the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, the Global Sustainable Islands Summit is the premier international forum for addressing sustainable development in island communities. In May 2024, the Summit was successfully hosted in Prince Edward Island, Canada. In 2025 the event was hosted by St. Kitts & Nevis and brought the focus to the Caribbean. Now, it will be held in Gran Canaria, a strategic hub for sustainability in Europe, the Canary Islands, and the wider Macaronesia region.
The 2026 Global Sustainable Islands Summit provides a platform for high-level dialogue, knowledge exchange, and practical collaboration among leaders, policymakers, sustainability experts, and global stakeholders.
The Ecoislas Agenda is Gran Canaria's main sustainability framework, guiding its transition toward a resilient, climate-neutral, and inclusive development model. It brings together key areas such as climate action, energy, water and food sovereignty, biodiversity, circular economy, and sustainable tourism under a unified territorial strategy aligned with European goals. By integrating policy, innovation, and community engagement, Gran Canaria positions itself as a living laboratory for island sustainability. This vision strongly complements the aims of the Global Sustainable Islands Summit (GSIS) and highlights Gran Canaria's leadership in sharing scalable, real-world solutions with islands globally.
Learn more about the Ecoislas Agenda →Mr. Raúl García Brink
At the Closing Session of the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2025, the Climate Counsellor at the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Mr. Raúl García Brink, announced the next edition of the Global Sustainable Islands Summit, in partnership with Island Innovation, to be held in 2026.
Six critical pathways for sustainable island development, bringing together global expertise and local innovation
Pioneering microgrids, pumped hydro and storage integration, offshore wind, affordability and community-scale energy planning and renewable solutions from islands leading the transition
Maritime governance, offshore wind, shipping innovation, marine renewables, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and spatial planning from ocean-dependent jurisdictions
Marine biomass innovation, blue bioeconomy, circular and sustainable tourism, tourism waste valorisation, algae cultivation, and integrated resource recovery, transforming ocean and land constraints into opportunities.
Digital government, workforce development, diaspora engagement, youth pathways into green jobs, participatory governance, and institutional strategies multiplying impact in small jurisdictions
Nature-based solutions, community science, ecosystem restoration, and adaptation where ocean and climate impacts demand immediate action
EU institutional funding and consortia for outermost regions and sub-national island jurisdictions, climate fund navigation, philanthropic partnerships, blended finance, local trust funds and investment-readiness for island SMEs.
Three days of high-level panels, technical deep dives, and networking—exploring how islands lead the global transition in energy, climate, nature, and circular futures.
Draft agenda — subject to updates
DETAILED AGENDAOn the last day of the summit, we are hosting a Forum entirely dedicated to Island Geothermal Energy, happening in parallel to the main conference. The Forum will resume just in time for interested participants to join the Closing Ceremony.
Learn moreLearn more about the inspiring leaders, experts, and visionaries who will share their insights at the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026.
Speaker Nomination Form
Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication and Technology and Posts
Government of St Kitts and Nevis
Minister for Health, Environment & Sustainability
Cayman Islands Government
Minister of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment
Turks and Caicos Islands Government
Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change
Government of Mauritius
President & Former Minister of the Sea
Fundação Carlos Albertino Veiga
Executive Director
Development Bank for Resilient Prosperity (DBRP)
Co-Founder & CTO
SOS Group
Professor of Sociology & Editor, Small States & Territories
University of Malta
Join island leaders, innovators, and specialists from around the world in Gran Canaria for GSIS2026. Sponsorship opportunities are available for your organization.
CONTACT US
Everything you need to know about the summit
The Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 is an event series dedicated to advancing sustainable development on islands worldwide. It brings together a diverse group of professionals, researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and students passionate about creating a more sustainable future for island communities.
The Summit will take place in Gran Canaria, at the ExpoMelomeras conference center, from April 20-22, 2026. Parallel to the main conference, we will be hosting the Geothermal Energy Forum on April 22 (the last day of the Summit), which is included for all GSIS2026 ticket holders.
By purchasing a ticket, you are automatically registered to attend and get email updates about the event. Your ticket grants you access to our three days of conference, including parallel side events, the Geothermal Energy Forum happening on April 22, the exhibition area, Solutions Showcase and the field trips (to be defined and subject to availability).
Yes, discounts are available for groups of 5 or more. Please contact our team for details (bizdev@islandinnovation.co).
You can benefit from our sponsorship opportunities available for organizations that want to showcase their commitment to sustainability and gain exposure to a global audience. Please reach out to our business development team for more details: bizdev@islandinnovation.co.
Registration changes must be requested via our support email (bizdev@islandinnovation.co).
All ticket sales are final and non-refundable, except under the specific circumstances outlined below.
Our team is here to help you with any additional inquiries
info@islandinnovation.coThe 2025 Global Sustainable Islands Summit brought together over 600 participants from 50+ islands, generating powerful insights and new pathways for sustainable economic development. As we look ahead to GSIS 2026 in Gran Canaria, we invite you to revisit the highlights and breakthroughs that emerged from St. Kitts and Nevis.
Keynote presentations, our Post-Summit Magazine panel discussions, success stories, and networking highlights from islands around the world.
Go to the GSIS 2025 WebsiteStay connected with the global islands community
