Stake’s Head of Affiliate Marketing, Wasim Khan, says January’s iGB Affiliate Barcelona will provide a high-impact start to 2026 —delivering a concentrated opportunity to meet partners, fast-track deals, and turn conversations into measurable business results.

“iGB Affiliate is where we turn relationships into results,” stated Khan. “It gives us face-to-face time with existing partners to deepen trust-based relationships, negotiate commercial terms, and map growth plans. It’s also a proven source of new, high-quality partners. Success for us is having a strong pipeline of the right affiliates, a number of signed and scalable deals, as well as clear follow-ups that convert within the quarter.”

Khan described the event as one of the most efficient platforms in the affiliate marketing calendar. “It’s the most time-effective way to meet a critical mass of partners, negotiate face-to-face, and accelerate decisions that would take weeks over email,” he explained.

With the 2026 edition of iGB Affiliate Barcelona set to be 19% bigger than when it debuted in Barcelona in 2025 Khan believes the event’s continued expansion reflects the vitality of the affiliate ecosystem. “The growth of iGB Affiliate matters for us,” he said. “The big players will always show up, but a larger show brings fresh, niche affiliates and new vertical angles. That mix keeps conversations productive and helps us discover partners we wouldn’t meet otherwise.”

Although he’s cautious about predicting the full tone of the year from one event, Khan sees strategic timing as a key advantage. “January lets us align calendars early, lock Q1–Q2 campaigns, and move quickly on new opportunities,” he noted. “It’s a great time to set momentum and build confidence for the year ahead.”

Highlighting the key topics that will be showcased in Barcelona Khan pointed to regulation and artificial intelligence as the two defining trends. “More markets are moving towards regulatory frameworks which are maturing the ecosystem,” he said. “Alongside that, AI is reshaping operations, from content workflows to analytics. It speeds up content production, improves targeting and reporting, and automates repetitive work, freeing people to focus on creativity, partnerships, and compliance quality.”

Stake sees major opportunities in emerging markets, particularly across Latin America. “LATAM is one of our most promising regions,” Khan confirmed. “There’s a fast-growing appetite for sports and entertainment, driven by a mobile-first audience and a strong cultural passion for football and UFC — which aligns perfectly with our brand and ambassador portfolio.”

Looking ahead to iGB Affiliate 2026, Khan stated: “We are going to Barcelona with an agenda to meet with our partners face-to-face, negotiate smart, scalable deals, and open new opportunity streams — that’s what we’re there for.”

The 2026 edition of iGB Affiliate will occupy 17,815 sqm, a 19% increase on 2025 and nearly double the footprint of 2022 (9,153 sqm). The expansion—taking the event into Halls 8 and 8.1 at Fira Gran Via Barcelona—reflects unprecedented demand from new exhibitors and long-term partners alike. Established industry leaders are scaling up their presence, while new entrants are seizing the opportunity to be part of what has become the iGaming affiliate sector’s most influential growth platform.

Affiliates looking to secure their place at iGaming Affiliate Barcelona can unlock their complimentary entry at: https://igb-affiliate.reg.buzz

Quelle: Clarion Gaming