SiGMA World 2026 Opens in Rome with 30,000 Delegates and Four Co-Located Events

SiGMA World 2026 opened its doors at Fiera Roma in Rome on November 3, bringing together more than 30,000 delegates for a four-day event that combines gaming, technology, finance and affiliate marketing.

The event features more than 1,200 sponsors and exhibitors, 550 expert speakers and spans approximately 120,000 square metres across nine halls.

For the first time, SiGMA World shares the venue with three other events: AIBC, focused on artificial intelligence and blockchain; FX World, covering financial markets and fintech; and AGS, the Affiliate Grand Slam.

"Rome represents that vision on a global scale by bringing SiGMA, Affiliate Grand Slam, AIBC, and FX together," SiGMA founder Eman Pulis told Yogonet.

"We are creating an environment where gaming, affiliate marketing, emerging technologies, and financial markets can interact while retaining their own identities."

The exhibition layout is organised by segment. Hall 1 is dedicated to B2C, Hall 2 to the Affiliate Grand Slam, Hall 3 to B2B2C and hosts the main stage and Media Zone, while Halls 4 and 6 are for B2B.

Hall 5 houses the new Italy Stage, a dedicated space focusing on the Italian market, and the Positive Impact Village, a space co-hosted by the SiGMA Foundation for charities and social-impact initiatives.

"The Positive Impact Village gives charities, NGOs, social enterprises and companies with active social-impact initiatives a dedicated space within the main exhibition," Pulis said.

Hall 7 is dedicated to AIBC and Hall 8 to FX World, while Hall 9 houses a padel court.

The opening day's program began with a speech by Tim Draper, founder of Draper Associates, who discussed his investments in Tesla, SpaceX and Bitcoin.

A panel titled "AI vs. Complexity: Can Tech Simplify Cross-Border Growth?" featured Valentina Bagniya, CMO of SOFTSWISS, and Gil Soffer, CCO of Digitain.

The official opening ceremony featured Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, Inter-Parliamentary Union President Tulia Ackson and SiGMA founder Eman Pulis.

Regulatory discussions included "Europe’s Enforcement Era: Regulation Is Winning But At What Cost?" with panelists including Mikel Arana Etxezarreta, general director of the Spanish Gaming Authority, Pierre Tournier, senior director at the European Gaming and Betting Association, and Tomas Bures from the Czech Ministry of Finance.

Other sessions addressed Brazil's regulatory changes and Africa's regulatory frameworks, with speakers including Erastus Johannes, CEO of the Gambling Board of Namibia.

On the Italy Stage, sessions included "Italy’s New Online Gaming Regime: One Year Later," assessing a framework that reduced licence holders from around 90 to 46, and a discussion on responsible advertising featuring Moreno Marasco, chairman of LOGiCO.

The event runs through November 6 and includes four industry awards ceremonies, three Startup Pitch competitions, a go-kart track sponsored by SOFTSWISS and the Bloko Padel Tour.

Delegates can use the SiGMA Match app to browse the floor plan and arrange meetings.

"We want people to leave Rome with new partnerships, practical insights and opportunities that translate into real business," Pulis said.

"Scale is valuable only when it creates opportunities."