Port Week 2026 will analyze the new geostrategy and rail-port mobility in Santander

Port Training and Strategy

The Port Authority of Santander, the UIMP (International University Menéndez Pelayo), and Puertos del Estado (State Ports Authority) have opened registration for Port Week 2026, which will be held from September 8 to 11. The event will address the transformation of Ibero-American port cities, sustainable mobility, global geostrategy, and new leadership models in the sector.

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La Autoridad Portuaria de Santander (APS), in collaboration with the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (UIMP) y Puertos del Estado, has opened the registration period for the Meetings of Port Week 2026The event, which will take place from September 8th to 11th in the Palacio de La Magdalena de SantanderIt will focus on analyzing the key challenges facing the logistics and port sector, such as the new global geostrategy and the push for rail-port intermodality.

The president of the APS, César Díaz, has presented the program, highlighting that the selected theme is “a true reflection of the rapid changes that ports must undergo today and the need to adapt to them with the tools at their disposal”The event is designed as a high-level summer school for managers, industry professionals, and students who wish to orient their careers towards the port industry.

According to DíazThe objective is "to contribute, through training, to building a more agile, flexible, and robust port sector, capable of facing continuous challenges, both managerial and environmental, technological, and geostrategic." In this regard, he described the Semana Portuaria , the “a unique opportunity” to discuss these challenges from the experience of the professionals who face them in their daily work.

The program is aimed at managers and executives in the port and logistics sector, both public and private, as well as researchers and professionals interested in these critical infrastructures. Semana Portuaria from the UIMP "It has become an unmissable event on the annual agenda of the Spanish port system due to its tireless search for answers to the present and future dilemmas that concern the industry," concluded the president of the APS.

Port Week 2026 Agenda: Strategic Pillars

The program is structured into four thematic sessions, each led by leading experts in the Spanish port and logistics sector. The agenda will cover topics ranging from urban regeneration to security in a changing geopolitical environment.

Date	Meeting and Theme	Address
Tuesday, September 8	The Ibero-American port city: New horizons in port-city relations and waterfront regeneration.	Teófila Martínez Saiz, President of RETE and the Autoridad Portuaria de la Bahía de Cádiz.
Wednesday, September 9	Ferroportuaria: sustainable and smart mobility. Analysis of intermodality, rail-port highways and low-carbon logistics chains.	Álvaro Rodríguez DapenaDeputy Director of Strategy and Business Development of Puertos del Estado.
Thursday, September 10	Ports in the emerging new geostrategy. Analysis of the dual role of ports as commercial and defense/security hubs. The book “National Defense and State Ports” will be presented.	Alberto Camarero OrivéProfessor of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
Friday, September 11	Leadership School. A new management model for ports and Port Authorities adapted to the objectives of the 2030 Strategic Framework.	César Díaz Maza, Presidente de la APS, and Clara La Calle López-GaySecretary General of Puertos del Estado.

Practical Information: Registration and Enrollment

Registration for each meeting is managed through the Student Services Office UIMPThe cost per day is €47,50, including administrative fees. Those interested must register and complete their enrollment online through the university's official website. The organizers recommend booking accommodation in advance due to the expected high occupancy. Santander on those dates.

Key points and frequently asked questions about Port Week 2026

How does the theme of Port Week affect a Spanish manager?

For an executive in the foreign trade sector, this meeting offers a crucial strategic perspective. It allows for an understanding of the geopolitical changes affecting supply chains, anticipating new sustainability (ESG) requirements related to rail-port mobility, and adapting management and leadership models to a more volatile and competitive global environment.

What business opportunities arise from rail-port mobility?

Boosting rail freight transport from ports opens up opportunities to optimize logistics costs, reduce carbon footprints, and improve supply chain efficiency. For Spanish exporters and importers, it represents a competitive advantage by offering a more sustainable and resilient alternative to road congestion and volatile transport costs.

Why is the new approach to geostrategy crucial for Spanish ports?

In the current context, with Donald Trump in the presidency of EEUU With the reconfiguration of global alliances, ports are no longer just commercial hubs. They have become critical infrastructure for national security and strategic autonomy. Understanding their dual role (commercial and defense) is vital to ensuring the resilience of Spanish and European supply chains in the face of potential disruptions or conflicts.