Michael Jordan, Carsten Koerl, Jason Robins, Fabrizio Romano and Charles Oliveira to headline SBC Summit 2026 Super Stage

Basketball icon Michael Jordan, football journalist Fabrizio Romano, UFC star Charles Oliveira, Sportradar Founder and CEO Carsten Koerl and DraftKings Co-Founder and CEO Jason Robins are among the headline names set to take over SBC Summit’s Super Stage in Lisbon this September. Hosted inside the MEO Arena, the Super Stage will bring together some of the biggest names in global sport with leading founders, CEOs and decision-makers from across the gaming industry. Across two days of headline sessions, delegates will hear first-hand perspectives on leadership, performance, innovation, business growth and the forces reshaping sport and gaming. Since launching in 2024, the stage has welcomed figures including Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Tony Hawk, Oleksandr Usyk and Gary Vaynerchuk, establishing itself as one of SBC Summit’s most high-profile conference experiences. Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said: “What makes the Super Stage special is the people you get to hear from. These are people who have reached the very top of their fields, and there is something really valuable about hearing them speak openly about the decisions, challenges and experiences that shaped them. “That is what the Super Stage is about: giving people access to those stories, lessons and moments of inspiration.” Leadership in sports business opens the Super Stage SBC Summit’s Super Stage will open on Tuesday, 29 September, at 12:00-13:00 with the session Leadership in Sports Business. Bringing together basketball icon, investor and philanthropist Michael Jordan, Sportradar Founder and CEO Carsten Koerl and DraftKings Co-Founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board Jason Robins, the conversation will explore the evolution of sport, technology, media, data and fan engagement through the perspectives of three leaders who have helped shape the modern sports ecosystem. The session will be hosted by broadcaster and journalist Kirsty Gallacher. Gaming’s biggest decisions take centre stage Following this will be the Super CEO Panel: The Industry Speaks, taking place from 12:30-13:20. The session will bring together some of gaming’s most senior decision-makers for a rare opportunity to hear strategic debates usually reserved for the boardroom. The panel will feature Aris Dimarakis (Deputy CEO, Kaizen Gaming), Dieter John (Group CEO, FEG), Albert Simsensohn (CEO, Super Technologies), Kresimir Spajic (CEO, Allwyn Digital), Jesper Svensson (CEO, Betsson Group) and Tom Bowry (Chief Strategy Officer, Flutter International), with Dinos Stranomitis (Director & CEO, Altenar) moderating the discussion. The group will tackle some of the biggest strategic questions facing the industry, from AI and regulation to prediction markets, responsible growth, and expanding into new markets. Charles Oliveira brings championship mentality to the Super Stage On Wednesday, 30 September at 12:00, UFC star Charles Oliveira will take to the Super Stage as an Aviator brand ambassador, courtesy of award-winning game developer SPRIBE. The former UFC lightweight champion will draw on his experience competing at the highest level of professional sport, exploring performance under pressure, resilience and the routines behind sustained success. The session will also look at the future evolution of UFC, MMA and wider sport, alongside how authentic athlete-brand partnerships can help businesses connect with new international audiences. Here We Go: Fabrizio Romano takes to the Super Stage Also on Wednesday, 30 September, football journalist and transfer market insider Fabrizio Romano will headline the Super Stage in the session Here We Go: Trust, Speed and the Business of Breaking News. Joined by Lasha Machavariani (Founder, SMH Global), Romano will explore how he has built one of football’s most recognisable media brands around speed, accuracy and trust, while also examining creator partnerships, the relationship between football audiences and betting brands, and where fan attention is heading next. The session will begin at 13:15 at the MEO Arena. Founder stories from the top of the industry The Super Stage will also put entrepreneurship in the spotlight through a series of Founder Stories, giving delegates an inside look at the journeys behind some of gaming’s best-known businesses. David Natroshvili (Founder & CEO, SPRIBE) will trace an entrepreneurial journey spanning Georgia, Estonia and the US, culminating in the creation of one of the industry’s leading game developers. Gustaf Hagman (CEO & Co-Founder, LeoVegas Group) will reflect on his entrepreneurial journey, from building LeoVegas into a leading Swedish gaming business to launching his latest venture, Avantii Studios. Vigen Badalyan (Co-Founder, SoftConstruct) will explore how the creation of SoftConstruct became the foundation for dozens of further businesses, developing into an entrepreneurial ecosystem of its own. Building a global football brand with the Argentine Football Association The Super Stage will also turn to sports brand expansion during the session The Global Expansion of the AFA Brand. Featuring experts Sergio Goycochea (AFA Legend, Argentine Football Association) and Leandro Petersen (Former Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, Argentine Football Association), the session will explore how the organisation has grown its international presence since 2017 and the lessons other sports brands can take from its expansion into new regions and markets. The discussion comes at a particularly significant moment for the Argentine Football Association, with the national team having won the 2022 FIFA World Cup before returning to the final in 2026, where they finished runners-up. How to Access the Super Stage Access to all Super Stage sessions is included for Conference, Business and VIP Pass holders. Attendees without one of these ticket types can also purchase a dedicated Super Stage Pass or Super Stage Golden Circle Pass. The Super Stage Pass, priced at €199, includes access to all Super Stage sessions alongside the SBC Summit exhibition floor. The Super Stage Golden Circle Pass, priced at €499, includes the same access with seating in one of the exclusive front rows, as well as entry to INFINITY Lisbon, headlined by Tiësto and Blasterjaxx. Taking place from 29 September to 1 October 2026 at Feira Internacional de Lisboa and the MEO Arena, SBC Summit will bring together more than 40,000 professionals from across betting, gaming, payments, affiliation, marketing, technology and media. Explore Super Stage ticket options here.