Event Leaders Exchange (ELX) will bring senior corporate event leaders to Donostia / San Sebastián from December 8–10, 2026, as the ELX Summit Series returns to Europe, with a program centred on The Business of Events.
Event Leaders Exchange has announced that its next European Summit will take place in Donostia / San Sebastián from December 8–10, 2026, bringing together an intimate group of up to 50 senior corporate event leaders in the Basque city for two and a half days of peer exchange, practical discussion, and shared experience.
The Summit will be delivered with the support of the San Sebastián Convention Bureau and Hagoos, Incentives & Events, with both helping ELX bring the destination to life for members through experiences beyond the core content program. Members will stay at Palacio Bellas Artes San Sebastian, Curio Collection by Hilton, while daytime content will take place at Palacio Miramar Jauregia.
The gathering forms part of the ELX Summit Series 2026/27, which gives ELX members two opportunities to participate in a smaller-format regional Summit. Donostia / San Sebastián will host the European gathering in December, followed by Chicago on February 8–10, 2027. Each Summit is limited to a maximum of 50 members, creating space for active participation, candid conversation and deeper peer exchange among senior corporate event leaders working at a similar level of responsibility and complexity.
The Business of Events
Content in Donostia / San Sebastián will continue the direction established by ELX’s 2026 theme, The Business of Events. While the detailed agenda is still in development, the program will focus on the business realities of leading corporate event functions and the strategic challenges facing senior event leaders.
The smaller Summit format will create space for members to contribute directly to those conversations, compare perspectives with peers, and explore the issues influencing their organisations and event programs.
As with all ELX events, discussions will take place under the Chatham House Rule, supporting the trusted and candid environment that sits at the heart of the ELX community.
Bringing the ELX Community to Donostia / San Sebastián
Donostia / San Sebastián will give ELX members the opportunity to experience a distinctive European destination through both the Summit program and the city itself. Located on Spain’s northern coast in the Basque Country, the city combines a compact setting with a varied portfolio of venues for professional events. San Sebastián Convention Bureau highlights spaces including KURSAAL San Sebastian | Convention Centre and Palacio Miramar Jauregia, both of which will form part of the daytime Summit program.
The destination’s culinary identity will also be central to the experience. Donostia / San Sebastián is internationally recognised for its food culture, from traditional Basque cuisine and pintxos to its celebrated restaurant scene. This connection between place, food, and experience is one reason the city offers an interesting setting for senior event leaders considering future destinations for their own programs.
Accessibility was another consideration in selecting Donostia / San Sebastián. The city can be reached via Biarritz or San Sebastián Airport, while Bilbao Airport also provides a broader range of international connections.
With support from San Sebastián Convention Bureau and Hagoos, Incentives & Events as event partners, ELX will use the Summit to give members first-hand exposure to the city as both delegates and event leaders.
Registration for the ELX Summit in Donostia / San Sebastián will open exclusively to ELX members on September 17. The ELX Summit in Donostia / San Sebastián will take place December 8–10, 2026. Further program and event details will be announced in the coming months.
Learn more about the event here.
