Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026

20–22 Apr 2026 | Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain

20 April 2026 - 22 April 2026

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain

Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026

Welcome to the Future of Sustainable Islands

the Global Sustainable Islands Summit is the premier international forum for addressing sustainable development in island communities. The Summit provides a platform for high-level dialogue, knowledge exchange, and practical collaboration among leaders, policymakers, sustainability experts, and global stakeholders.

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.

Content Tracks

Six critical pathways for sustainable island development, bringing together global expertise and local innovation**:**

  • Resilient Island Energy Systems

    Pioneering microgrids, pumped hydro and storage integration, offshore wind, affordability and community-scale energy planning and renewable solutions from islands leading the transition

  • Ocean, Blue Economy & Maritime Innovation

    Maritime governance, offshore wind, shipping innovation, marine renewables, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and spatial planning from ocean-dependent jurisdictions

  • Circular Economy & Sustainable Tourism

    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.

  • Building Capacity: Talent, Technology & Institutional Innovation

    Digital government, workforce development, diaspora engagement, youth pathways into green jobs, participatory governance, and institutional strategies multiplying impact in small jurisdictions

  • Climate Adaptation, Biodiversity & Natural Area Management

    Nature-based solutions, community science, ecosystem restoration, and adaptation where ocean and climate impacts demand immediate action

  • Mobilising Finance for Sustainable Economic Development

    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.

Global Participation

Islanders from Fiji, Hawaii, Cabo Verde, Barbados, Tierra del Fuego and the Galápagos are among those set to come to Gran Canaria.

Explore the Legacy of GSIS 2025

The 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.