CLARION GAMING
The Power of Play
Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter talks growth, scale and strategy ahead of ICE Barcelona 2026.
Major industry events such as ICE are always evolving – what is the most obvious change that visitors will notice? ICE Barcelona 2026 will be the largest and most progressive edition in the event’s history, with more than 65,000 attendees expected across World Gaming Week. While the relocation to Barcelona was a landmark achievement, the 2026 edition further elevates both its scale and the visitor experience. The most significant enhancement that visitors will notice is the expansion of ICE into Hall 1, adding 14,000m² of additional floor space. This enables iGB Affiliate to extend into Halls 8.0 and 8.1 with its own dedicated entrance. Together, the shows will now occupy 143,000m² - up from the record 100,000m² achieved at the final edition of ICE in London.
What do you mean by World Gaming Week and how is it being marked?
World Gaming Week reflects the new reality of ICE, which now sees industry professionals arriving in Barcelona days before the exhibition opens and remaining in the city well into the following weekend. This creates a full week of high-value business and networking. World Gaming Week will commence with an exclusive ICE takeover of Time Out Market, one of Barcelona’s most iconic food and entertainment destinations. This will be followed by the invitation-only World Gaming Gala at the newly renovated Casa Llotja de Mar. Bringing together regulators, operators and senior executives, the Gala will deliver an exceptional blend of gastronomy, entertainment and executive- level networking - setting the tone for a flagship week for the industry.
High professional standards and delivering an outstanding hospitality experience are central to the casino sector. How are these being celebrated at ICE Barcelona? The land-based casino community remains fundamental to ICE, and its representation continues to strengthen. Leading global suppliers will feature prominently on the
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show floor, supported by our longstanding partnership with key organisations such as the European Casino Association (ECA), which represents 700 casinos across 29 countries.
In 2026, the ECA will utilise the global platform provided by ICE Barcelona to host the ECA Slot Floor Excellence Awards, recognising excellence in hospitality, professionalism and team performance. Categories include Outstanding Slot Team of the Year, Slot Floor Employee of the Year and Slot Floor Rising Star of the Year. Judging will be undertaken by an independent panel of ECA representatives and senior slot manufacturers, overseen by ECA Honorary President Ron Goudsmit. The awards ceremony will take place on Day Two, 20 January 2026, at 5:00 PM on the Enterprise Stage at Fira Barcelona Gran Via.
How will the casino sector be covered at ICE World Gaming Forum?
The ICE World Gaming Forum serves as the industry’s most influential strategic platform,
bringing together senior decision-makers from across the global gaming ecosystem. In 2025, it hosted 1,200 delegates from 79 countries, reflecting its position as the leading forum for high-level dialogue, policy discussion and knowledge exchange. The 2026 programme has been developed in close consultation with operators, suppliers and industry bodies to ensure relevance across jurisdictions and verticals. Among its six core themes, Looking to the Edge on Land-Based Growth in Europe will spotlight the evolving role of casinos. It will explore growing competition from integrated resorts and digital channels, and debate how land-based operators can generate growth through omni-channel strategies, innovation and enhanced entertainment integration.
The WGF is centrally located within Fira Gran Via, and will feature a members-club- style VIP lounge, a dedicated networking garden and expanded concierge services. It will run from Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 January.
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