eMerge Americas 2026 returns to Miami Beach with a program that reflects some of the sectors drawing the most attention from founders, investors and corporate leaders right now.
The event takes place April 22 to 24, 2026 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, with the main conference on April 23 and 24 and extra programming earlier in the week. Organizers expect more than 20,000 attendees, 60-plus countries, 300-plus exhibitors, and 250-plus speakers.
That is not what makes it interesting.
What makes it interesting is that eMerge seems more focused this year. The 2026 edition is built around areas where companies are actually spending money and making decisions: AI, national security, fintech, cybersecurity and health. You can see that in the agenda, the partnerships and the people on stage.
This year feels more serious
The clearest change is the weight given to defense and security.
eMerge will host its second National Security Demo Day on April 21 at PortMiami, bringing selected startups in front of senior national security leaders. It will also host the U.S. Army xTech|Live pitch competition, with up to $600,000 in prizes for companies working on military and dual-use technology.
That changes the tone of the event. This is not just founders pitching to other founders. It is a clearer meeting point for startups, investors, operators and public-sector buyers.
The speaker list tells the story
One of the top names this year is Emil Michael, who is set to appear in conversation with Francis X. Suarez, now president of eMerge Americas. Their discussion is expected to focus on AI adoption inside U.S. defense systems and the push to move important technologies from pilot programs into real use.
That matters because it shows where eMerge wants the conversation to go. Less talk about AI as a buzzword. More talk about who is buying it, who is deploying it and what it is actually being used for.
Fintech here means security
The Mastercard and Recorded Future partnership says something similar.
This is not being framed as consumer fintech or startup glamour. It is being framed around fraud, cyber risk, identity, digital trust and resilience, with an opening keynote and a major presence on the expo floor.
That is more grounded in reality. In 2026, any serious fintech conversation has to include cybersecurity.
The agenda has some shape
The format also helps.
The week starts with Market Entry programming on April 20, followed by the National Security Demo Day on April 21. On April 22, eMerge runs AI and Quantum workshops, technical sessions and Founders’ Day before the main conference opens. The core event on April 23 and 24 includes six stages, industry tracks, investor programming, healthcare sessions and the Opening Night Block Party on Lincoln Road.
That gives people different reasons to show up. Some will come for workshops. Some for investment meetings. Some for defense tech. Some for enterprise AI. That is a better setup than a conference that tries to push everyone into the same experience.
GLOBALS Tech Festival 2026 also reflected the increasingly international character of the GLOBALS community. Delegations and participants from multiple ecosystems joined the event in Barcelona, including a notable presence from Argentina, represented by Dario Genua, Secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology, reinforcing the city’s role as a bridge for global innovation, cross-border relationships and strategic opportunity during MWC week.
“GLOBALS Tech Festival is about creating the right connections before the week begins,” said Mario Paladini, CEO and Co-Founder of Club GLOBALS. “We brought together people who are not only building companies, but building ecosystems, partnerships and long-term value. Those are exactly the conversations we want to make happen in Barcelona.”
“When companies enter a growth phase, the challenges become very concrete,” said Nicolás Ventura, COO and Co-Founder of Club GLOBALS. “Our role is to bring the right people together in the right context and create enough trust to move from conversation to action. That has always been the intention behind GSTF26. We are deeply grateful to every speaker, partner, attendee and community member who made this edition so special.”
He continued: “GLOBALS Tech Festival is the annual festival of the GLOBALS ecosystem. It is a reflection of the community around GLOBALS and of the relationships, trust and ambition that have been built over time.”
Miami has earned a bit more credibility
Miami still gets over-marketed, but there is more substance behind the story now.
According to eMerge’s 2025 annual insights report, Florida brought in $5.83 billion across 575 deals in 2025, ranking fifth in the U.S. by deal count. The same report says South Florida captured 71 percent of the state’s venture dollars, while AI-focused companies in the Miami metro area raised $1.23 billion. Startup Genome’s 2025 report ranked Miami No. 22 globally among startup ecosystems.
That does not make Miami the capital of tech. It does make the city more relevant than the old jokes suggest.
A practical role for GLOBALS On Tour
This is also where GLOBALS On Tour can fit naturally.
A good move would be to take people from eMerge and lead them into the Lincoln Road Opening Night Block Party through a curated netwalking activity, weather permitting. Not a side event trying to compete for attention. Just a smart way to extend the day with the right people in the right setting.
That works because walking gives people room to talk properly. The conversations are usually better than what happens when everyone is stuck in a crowded hall trying to exchange LinkedIn QR codes.
If the group is well selected, the value is simple. A few strong introductions, a better social setting, and a smoother path from conference talk to actual relationship.
Bottom line
eMerge Americas 2026 looks better because it looks more deliberate.
The event is putting real weight behind defense, cyber, applied AI and fintech infrastructure. The agenda is more thought through. The partnerships make sense. The programming feels closer to what executives, investors and operators are actually dealing with.
That is why eMerge deserves attention this year.
Not because Miami knows how to host people.
Because the event is starting to reflect where business is really being done.
Are you interested attending? Get your ticket for eMerge Americas with 15% discount using code: 26PRTCOMM
Are you ready to start GLOBALS on Tour?
GLOBALS on Tour is a global networking series designed to connect startups, investors, and industry pioneers ahead of the GLOBALS Tech Festival in Barcelona. The journey kicked off in Porto Alegre as the first stop in a series of networking events leading up to the festival on February 28, 2027, in Barcelona! Now we are continuing our journey in Miami joining Startup Olé, eMerge and Mana Tech!
📍 Miami – April 20-28, 2026
🎟️ Join Club GLOBALS for Exclusive Access
🔎 Explore More Events: GLOBALS Event Agenda
Hop on the tour — See you in Miami!
