Palma de Mallorca will once again become the epicenter of the debate on the future of marinas in Spain with the 20th Symposium on Marinas, scheduled for May 28 and 29, 2026. The event, organized by ASMAR and the Balearic Islands Port Authority, will bring together government agencies, port authorities, legal experts, marina operators, and companies in the nautical sector to address the industry’s main challenges from strategic, technical, and sustainability perspectives.
A leading forum for the nautical and port sector
Established in 1989, the Marina Symposium will mark its 20th edition in 2026, having established itself as the leading forum for analysis and reflection in Spain’s nautical and port sector. Under the slogan “The past guides us, the future drives us,” the conference will also celebrate nearly four decades of promoting knowledge exchange and the evolution of Spanish marinas toward more efficient, competitive, and sustainable models.
The event will receive institutional support from organizations such as Puertos del Estado, the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine, the Balearic Government’s Department of the Sea and Ports, Marinas de España, ANEN, ACNB, and the Real Club Náutico de Palma, among other entities linked to the blue economy and port development.
Sustainability, management, and digitalization: the program’s key pillars
The planned program will address some of the most critical issues for the future of Spanish marinas and yacht harbors. These include environmental sustainability, port-city integration, digital transformation, new concession models, and the legal framework governing port management.
The symposium will also examine issues related to the international competitiveness of Spanish marinas, infrastructure modernization, and the economic impact of recreational boating on tourist destinations and coastal regions.
A program with strong institutional representation
According to the program released by the organization, the Palma event will feature the participation of the presidents of several Spanish port authorities, representatives from Puertos del Estado, and experts in the legal, environmental, and technological fields.
Expected participants include Javier Sanz Fernández, president of the Balearic Islands Port Authority; Mar Chao López, president of the Valencia Port Authority; Iván Jiménez Aira, president of the Bilbao Port Authority; and representatives from the ports of A Coruña, Las Palmas, Seville, Santander, and Almería.
Experts in port regulations, administrative concessions, marine sustainability, and maritime safety will also speak, with presentations focusing on legislative developments in the sector, concession management, and the adaptation of recreational boating infrastructure to new environmental and technological challenges.
Port-City Integration and the Blue Economy
One of the highlights of the event will be a session dedicated to port-city projects and the role of marinas as spaces for urban integration, innovation, and economic revitalization. The symposium will focus on how marinas can contribute to the sustainable development of coastal cities and establish themselves as strategic infrastructure within the blue economy.
The organization also plans to hold panel discussions on marina management models, the digitization of services, and new technologies applied to port security and environmental monitoring.
Palma, a strategic hub for Spanish sailing
The choice of Palma de Mallorca as the host city reflects the Balearic Islands’ status as one of Europe’s major hubs for recreational boating and nautical tourism. The Port Centre of the Balearic Islands Port Authority will host an event that aims to bring together many of the key public and private stakeholders in Spain’s maritime and port sector.
With this new edition, the 20th Symposium on Marinas will reinforce its role as a strategic platform for anticipating trends, sharing experiences, and defining the future direction of Spanish marinas in a context marked by innovation, sustainability, and the transformation of nautical tourism.
