The global maritime community has gathered in Athens this week at a moment of acute strategic significance: with the Strait of Hormuz still closed to commercial traffic and energy supply chains under severe strain, the industry’s mandate to keep the world fed and moving has never been more visible – or more tested.
Against this backdrop, and amid intensifying pressure from evolving environmental compliance regulations, Posidonia 2026 opened on Monday as the most anticipated edition of the exhibition in its nearly 60-year history.
In the presence of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Union of Greek Shipowners President Melina Travlos, ministers and deputy ministers from maritime nations around the world, the Secretary-General of the IMO Arsenio Dominguez, and the President of Panama José Raúl Mullino and members of his cabinet, the official opening ceremony of Posidonia 2026 took place at the main conference hall of Metropolitan Expo.
Posidonia 2026 is the largest edition in the exhibition’s history, with 2,227 exhibitors from 83 countries and territories and a record 24 national pavilions – including the official return of Germany and Italy after a long absence – spread across 45,000 square metres of gross leasable area at the Athens Metropolitan Expo. The 2026 conference and seminars programme comprises some 70 shipping conferences, forums and seminars, many of which are being held outside the exhibition venue for the first time due to unprecedented demand.
