Liege set to host Europe's biggest e-commerce gathering

Liege is preparing to once again take centre stage in the European e-commerce and air cargo calendar, as the EU Cross-Border E-Commerce Forum (EU CBEC) 2026 opens its doors from 8 to 10 September at the Palais des Congrès. Hosted by Liege Airport and AWEX, the Wallonia Export and Investment Agency, this year's edition is on track to be the largest yet, with more than 1,000 registered attendees expected — nearly double the close to 600 professionals who attended the previous edition.

The three-day forum will bring together e-commerce leaders, airlines, freight forwarders, shippers, customs authorities, technology providers and supply chain professionals from across the globe to explore the challenges and opportunities reshaping cross-border trade. Organisers describe the event as a platform for insight, innovation, networking and business development, and this year's numbers back up that ambition: 53 confirmed speakers, representatives from more than 300 companies, 60 cargo airlines, over 100 freight forwarders, and 15 media outlets and press magazines will converge on the Belgian city, taking part in 17 expert panels and speeches.

“Each edition of the EU CBEC is better than the one before because we continuously build on experience and market feedback. What makes the EU CBEC so unique, is its singular focus on every angle of the e-commerce business and the fact that it draws in so many dedicated professionals and top decision-makers,” says Frederic Brun, VP Sales & Marketing at CargoLand by LGG.

A packed three-day programme
The forum kicks off on 8 September with a pre-event networking afternoon, including a "Discover Liège" activity and an evening welcome reception. The main conference programme begins in earnest on 9 September, with an official opening and welcome speeches at 09:00, followed by a full day of keynotes, expert panels and parallel sessions, alongside a networking lunch, exhibition and one-to-one business meetings. The day closes with a gala dinner running from 19:00 to 01:00. Forum sessions resume on the morning of 10 September at 09:15, with further keynotes, panels and industry insights before the event officially concludes at 13:00.

Five themes will shape the discussions this year: marketplace growth and platform evolution; customs reform, regulation and compliance; cargo diversification and logistics resilience; AI, digitalisation and operational innovation; and data quality's growing role in international trade. Together, they reflect the pressures currently facing the sector — from tightening regulatory expectations and shifting consumer behaviour to the push for greater automation and transparency across supply chains.

"What makes the EU-CBEC Forum so unique, is its singular focus on every angle of the e-commerce business and the fact that it draws in so many dedicated professionals and top decision-makers."Frederic Brun, CargoLand by LGG

A heavyweight speaker line-up
The confirmed speaker roster reads as a who's who of global air cargo and e-commerce logistics. Among those set to take the stage are Jeffrey van Haeften of Emirates SkyCargo, Mohanned Badri of Saudia Cargo, Wolfgang Meier of Silk Way West Airlines, and Peter Scholten of Air One Aviation, alongside Stanislas Brun of Etihad and Steven Polmans of Swissport. The freight forwarding and logistics side is well represented too, with Philippe Uhlmann of CEVA, Stefan Krikken of DSV, Henk Venema of DHL and Asok Kumar of Morrison Express all confirmed. E-commerce platforms will have their say through Remon Moes of Alibaba International, while industry bodies TIACA and IATA will be represented by Roos Bakker and Valentina Abplanalp respectively. Local hosts Liege Airport and AWEX will also contribute perspectives from Frédéric Brun, Alexis Lapot and Michel Kempeneers. Organisers note that the full speaker lineup is available on the official EU CBEC Forum website.

Who should attend
The forum is designed to draw a broad cross-section of the industry, with organisers specifically targeting e-commerce business owners and managers, supply chain and logistics professionals at C-suite, senior and VP level, marketing and sales executives, legal and compliance officers, and technology and innovation leaders. Airlines, freight forwarders and ground handlers — again at C-suite, senior and VP levels — round out the target audience, underlining the event's positioning as a meeting point for both strategic decision-makers and operational specialists.

Hosted at the heart of Europe
The choice of Liege as host city is no accident. Home to CARGOLAND by LGG, one of Europe's leading cargo airports and a major logistics hub, the city sits at the heart of the continent's air freight network. CARGOLAND specialises in air freight and e-commerce logistics, developing infrastructure, services and tailor-made solutions for global economic partners. Co-host AWEX, meanwhile, is the public agency dedicated to strengthening Wallonia's international presence, supporting Walloon businesses in their international development through strategic guidance, market intelligence and operational support.

With registration, exhibition and accommodation enquiries already being handled through dedicated contacts, and press and media partnerships coordinated separately, the organisers appear to be gearing up for an edition that not only surpasses last year's attendance but cements EU CBEC's position as a fixture on the European cross-border e-commerce calendar. For an industry navigating regulatory change, geopolitical uncertainty and rapid technological shifts, Liege in September looks set to be the place where many of those conversations will happen face to face.