Copenhagen’s high level maritime meet-up, compressed into two days. World Maritime Forum is built for decision-led conversations: regulation and decarbonisation pressure, operational safety, digital and AI adoption, cyber risk, shipbuilding and repair, plus an active expo zone for supplier and buyer discussions. If you want a short list of vendors and partners after a fast set of panels, this format fits.
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World Maritime Forum Copenhagen 2026 — Event Snapshot
Feb 17–18, 2026
Dates
February 17–18, 2026
City & Venue
AC Bella Sky Convention Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
This event leans executive and cross value chain, blending a conference agenda with an adjacent expo and networking area so conversations can move from strategy to vendor specifics quickly.
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Broad agenda, practical lens
The published focus spans regulation and decarbonisation, safety, digital and AI, cyber, plus ship repair and shipbuilding. It is designed to keep operations, compliance, and technology decisions in the same room.
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Conference plus expo adjacency
Panels and presentations run in the conference hall while the nearby exhibition area is positioned for networking and follow up discussions, which helps shorten the gap between learning and action.
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Buyer framing is explicit
The organizer highlights 300 buyers within a headline scale of 800 attendees. If you sell into fleets, ports, and operators, it is structured to keep procurement and technical conversations active.
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Awards layer
The program includes awards categories that span environment protection, innovation and technology, digitalisation, HSEQ, and sustainability themes. It adds a strong showcase element for solution providers.
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Venue that supports fast logistics
AC Bella Sky Convention Center is a large convention setup with a clear entrance reference (Entrance 3). For tight two day events, predictable entry points and compact movement matter.
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Best use case
Come with one active topic such as fuel strategy, compliance readiness, digital stack, or maintenance and repair. Use panels to refine your shortlist, then convert on the expo floor the same day.
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Two minute prep that improves meetings
Write your decision in one sentence and define what success looks like in 90 days.
List your constraints: fleet segment, timeline, approvals, and data availability.
Bring one reference vessel profile or project scope so vendors can answer concretely.
Set two meeting windows and protect them from session hopping.
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World Maritime Forum 2026 week game plan
Feb 17–18, 2026 • Copenhagen
Two days moves fast. The winning approach is to arrive with a tight decision list, use the stage program to sharpen your criteria, then convert on the expo floor and in short booked meetings.
Suggested time split for 2 days
Designed for fast shortlisting
Expo floor sweeps
44%
Panels and talks
34%
Booked meetings
22%
Tip: If you are attending with a team, assign one person to sessions and one person to the floor during peak blocks, then swap.
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Day 1: build your shortlist
Do one full expo walk early and tag 10 booths that match active needs.
Use panels to refine your criteria, not to collect generic notes.
Lock two short meeting windows for late Day 1 or early Day 2.
Output: 5 to 7 vendors or partners with a clear next action for each.
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Day 2: de-risk and commit
Run your shortlist through the same 5 questions so answers are comparable.
Ask about implementation friction first: approvals, timeline, integration, crew impact.
Get specific on what you need to receive a firm proposal after the event.
Output: 1 to 3 paths you can move forward internally with owners and dates.
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Five questions that keep meetings useful
1) What breaks first in real deployments and how do you detect it early?
2) What is the longest lead-time item in delivery or integration?
3) What approvals typically slow this down inside an operator organization?
4) What must be true in the first 30 days for this to count as a success?
5) What should we bring so you can give a firm proposal, not a brochure?
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Practical notes for Copenhagen and AC Bella Sky
Entrance 3 • 2300 Copenhagen S
The venue sits by Bella Center Metro Station. The venue guidance points visitors to Metro line M1, and the walk to Entrance 3 runs between the two hotel towers.
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Getting there
Metro: get off at Bella Center Station, then walk between the two hotel towers to Entrance 3.
City center access is quick by Metro; the venue notes about 10 minutes to central Copenhagen by Metro.
If you are coming from the airport, the Bella Center area is close by road, so taxis are typically short rides.
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Hotel zones that keep days simple
Bella Center and Ørestad area for the shortest venue commute.
Islands Brygge for a quick Metro ride and easy evening meetups.
Indre By (city center) if you are hosting dinners and want the classic Copenhagen meeting circuit.
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Dinner and meeting zones
Vesterbro for business dinners and a big range of options.
Nyhavn and the waterfront areas for client hosting and an easy post-meeting walk.
Kødbyen (Meatpacking District) when you want a modern casual setting for team debriefs.
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Two day pacing that works
Block the first 90 minutes each day for the expo floor before schedules fragment.
Keep one late-day slot open for a high value follow up you discover onsite.
Pick one dinner district for the whole team to reduce missed meetups.
Venue map
Venue address used by the organizer: Martha Christensens Vej 10, Entrance 3, 2300 Copenhagen S.
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Night-before checklist
Pick your top 2 panel blocks and your top 10 booths.
Set two meeting windows and protect them from session hopping.
Write your one-sentence decision and your 90-day success definition.
Prepare one page with scope, fleet segment, timeline, and constraints.
Draft a short follow up template you can send the same day.
Choose one dinner district for regrouping to keep the team aligned.