Malta to host 2026 World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has officially announced that its 26th Global Summit will take place in Valletta in 2026.

The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of this year's edition, in Rome, on Tuesday afternoon. The WTTC Global Summit is recognised as the leading gathering of global tourism leaders, including ministers, key industry players, destination management organisations and international media.

Hosted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism and the Malta Tourism Authority, this flagship event will be the largest tourism summit ever held in the Maltese Islands. Over three days, the Summit will unite influential figures from the public and private sectors to forge partnerships, drive sustainable investment, and reaffirm the essential role of travel and tourism in the global economy.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg, welcomed the announcement as a proud moment for the people of Malta, confirming the country's growing role as a thought leader in the global tourism industry.

"It is an unparalleled opportunity to showcase the cultural heritage, innovation, and hospitality of our destination, empowering local players to explore collaborations with leading international brands, while positioning Malta at the forefront of discussions on sustainability, community engagement, and resilience in international tourism development," he affirmed.

Dr Borg thanked the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism and the Malta Tourism Authority for securing this achievement.

WTTC Interim Chief Executive Officer Gloria Guevara said that "we are thrilled to bring the WTTC Global Summit to Valletta, one of Europe's most beautiful capitals. Malta will provide an extraordinary setting as leaders from around the world come together to shape the future of Travel and Tourism.

This industry provides a backbone to Malta's economy. This year, WTTC is forecasting that Malta's travel and tourism will contribute €3.6 billion to the economy, 43.5% above 2019 levels. We are also projecting that the sector will support one in five jobs in the country this year, growing 18% over 2019."

Carlo Micallef, Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Tourism Authority noted that hosting the WTTC Global Summit in Valletta is a powerful statement about Malta's role on the world tourism stage. "This summit reflects the commitment of our tourism industry to drive quality, embrace resilience, and lead with vision.

Beyond the immediate returns of such an event, the Global Summit will also solidify Malta's reputation as a centre of excellence in tourism, with lasting benefits for our industry, our economy and our people," he said.