The EU CBEC Forum 2026 has wrapped up in Liege after bringing together more than 850 industry decision-makers, experts and authorities for three days of discussions around the rapidly changing world of e-commerce and air cargo.
The event attracted representatives from more than 300 companies, including over 100 freight forwarders, 60 cargo airlines and 15 media organisations. The strong turnout underlined the growing importance of cross-border e-commerce to the air cargo industry.
Across the three-day programme, 53 speakers took part in 17 expert panels and 11 keynote sessions. The discussions examined both the current state of e-commerce logistics and the direction in which the sector is heading, with delegates addressing emerging challenges, potential solutions and opportunities for greater cooperation across the industry, including the creation of new working groups.
The forum also extended beyond the conference room. Delegates had the opportunity to network during a cruise along the Meuse River in Liege, combining informal business discussions with an experience of the city’s local culture.
The event ended with a gala dinner and party at the Liege Airport terminal, which was transformed into an entertainment venue for the occasion, complete with live performances and a magic show.
The 2026 edition highlighted the increasingly important role of collaboration between airlines, freight forwarders, regulators and other stakeholders as the global e-commerce logistics sector continues to evolve.
A larger platform for networking and business
Frederic Brun, Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Liege Airport, said the development of the event since its launch in 2019 reflected the growing relevance of the sector.
“It is fantastic to see how the EU CBEC Forum has developed and matured since it first started in 2019, and I am proud that it was already the fourth to be hosted by CARGOLAND,” Brun said.
He described the atmosphere at this year’s event as “amazing” and said the organisers had received excellent feedback regarding both the quality and diversity of the speaker line-up and the choice of venue.
This year’s forum also moved to a larger venue, creating more room for networking and B2B meetings. For the first time, the programme included exhibition space where companies could present their booths, as well as a dedicated press corner. Both additions were well received by participants.
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Keeping pace with e-commerce growth
For Brun, the evolution of the forum mirrors the speed at which e-commerce itself is developing.
Liege is one of Europe’s top five e-commerce gateways, meaning the city and its airport need to remain ahead of emerging developments while actively contributing to the direction of the sector. This, he said, makes an event such as the EU CBEC Forum particularly relevant.
The forum brought together major international e-commerce platforms, regulatory authorities and key players from the air cargo industry for three days of focused discussions.
The exchanges gave participants a clearer picture of the requirements, regulations and challenges currently facing the sector. Brun said the ideas and discussions generated during the event also demonstrated the industry’s ability to react quickly and develop responses to emerging challenges.
Connections and new insights
Brun believes the success of the forum can ultimately be measured in simple terms: participants should leave having either established new connections or gained new insights.
Judging by the numerous LinkedIn posts published by attendees following the event, he believes the 2026 edition delivered on both fronts.
With more than 850 participants, 300-plus companies, 53 speakers and a programme combining expert discussions, networking and business meetings, the EU CBEC Forum 2026 once again positioned Liege as an important meeting point for the cross-border e-commerce and air cargo community.
