Gran Canaria is preparing to consolidate its position as a center of excellence in sustainability by hosting the Global Sustainable Islands Summit (GSIS) 2026, an event that is shaping up to be the continuation of a successful precedent. The meeting, which will take place from April 20 to 22, 2026, at the Expomeloneras at Lopesan MICE, builds on the momentum of the last summit, held in St. Kitts and Nevis. That 2025 event brought together more than 600 participants from 50 islands, generating a rich conversation about paths to sustainable economic development.
For the Gran Canaria edition, the Island Council is partnering with Island Innovation to foster collaboration between political leaders, researchers, and experts in developing innovative approaches. The summit will address topics such as renewable energy, biodiversity, and climate finance, drawing inspiration from the insights of leaders such as Dr. Joyelle Clarke and Premier Mark Brantley. The island's focus on climate adaptation and responsible tourism was key to its selection as the host.
The GSIS 2025 St. Kitts and Nevis post-summit magazine will serve as a reference document for the next edition. With its inspiring stories from young leaders and expert analysis, the Gran Canaria summit will seek to delve deeper into solutions to the unique challenges facing island communities in a constantly changing world.
Among the entities represented at Expomeloneras are NEVLEC, SKELEC, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, the CARICOM Development Fund, the OECS Commission, the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), the UK Envoy to Small Island Developing States, Ormat Technologies, the University of the West Indies, the University of Oxford, Dominica Geothermal Development Company, EDA Renováveis, the Global Centre for Climate Mobility, Blue Planet Alliance, the Renewable Energy Sector Development Project (Saint Lucia), members of the Nevis Island Administration Cabinet and representatives from the governments of Grenada and Hawaii.
Gran Canaria Island Councillor for Energy, Raúl García Brink, announced at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Sustainable Islands World Summit that the next edition of the event will be held on the island in 2026. This new summit will be held in collaboration with the organization Island Innovation.
