TES Marbella is what happens when 2,000 affiliates decide to temporarily move into one hotel and do deals non-stop. It’s part conference, part reunion, part controlled chaos. This year? Razan and Katerina were at an event that was bigger, busier, and slightly more intense than expected.

📆 Date: 09–11 March, 2026
📍 Place: Marbella, Spain 🇪🇸
🏟️ Venue: Hard Rock Hotel, Marbella

Who Was There and What They Wanted

With Dubai tragically cancelled, the floor was hungry and way busier than usual. TES was the place to be that weekend. The usual suspects showed up: affiliates, advertisers, networks, traffic sources, tech vendors. Everyone was chasing the same thing: growth, scale, and new revenue streams.

But the intent felt sharper this time. People weren’t just browsing. They were collecting contacts like Pokémon cards. Existing clients came in strong, but there was a clear push for reactivation and fresh deals.

And don’t get us started on our calendars, packed before we’d even arrived. And those meetings were good. Proper, targeted conversations with a real strategy behind them. People were in sales mode, and we ate it up.

Key Trends

A few themes kept popping up; some subtle, some impossible to ignore. Firstly, compliance continues to tighten (a lot). Banks are calling the shots. If you’re not jumping through the right hoops, you’re not going to play ball. Pressure from players like Visa and Mastercard is bringing big pressure. Platforms have to adapt fast, or get left in the dust. There are definitely no shortcuts or creative interpretation anymore.

Next up, Telegram ads are creeping in. They’re certainly not widely spread yet, but they’re clearly gaining traction. There’s definitely enough chatter to start taking them seriously.

AI is still being talked about everywhere, surprise, surprise. It’s still trending, but it’s still vague (which is why it’s trending). A lot of questions, not a lot of answers yet. Time will tell of its true impact in the industry.

The Vibe Check

TES Marbella felt like a productive, controlled chaos. The kind where everyone’s slightly overwhelmed, slightly sleep-deprived, and very aware that every conversation actually matters.

It was noticeably busier than previous editions. The room was filled with people who came prepared. Calendars were packed, meetings were back-to-back, and there wasn’t much idle wandering. You either had somewhere to be or you were trying to figure out where you should be next.

The setup didn’t help the subtle conversations. Booths were packed tightly together, so privacy was basically a luxury item. If you wanted to say anything remotely sensitive, you had to get creative.

Outside of that, things ran incredibly smoothly. The event app was the hero. Things wouldn’t have been nearly as organised without it. The talks also delivered real value if you made time for them.

The i-CON party was the jewel in the crown. It brought the release valve everyone needed. Stunning decor, high energy, the best cocktails; what more could you want? 

Overall, TES Marbella worked hard and partied hard in the Spanish sun. Just as we like it. 

TES Marbella 2026: Ratings

Location:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Marbella – stunning location, exquisite weather. We could have stayed forever.)

Networking:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

(High intent. People were hungry and ready to connect.)

Booths:

⭐⭐⭐

(Big, but too close together, and a lot of copycat designs.)

Presentations/Speakers:

⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Great insights, you can always learn a lot if you have the time.)

After-events/Parties:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Hard to find a party that compares. Hit all the right notes.)

Cost (accommodation, food, etc.):

💰💰💰💰

(Marbella isn’t the budget-friendly location it used to be, but worth the price.)

Final Verdict

TES Marbella 2026 was a serious business event disguised as a social one. Less wandering, more purpose. Less noise, more targeted conversations. If affiliates came prepared, they won. If not, you probably spent a lot of time smiling and nodding.

At times, it felt less organised than TES Prague. However, the relaxed Spanish vibes and the stunning weather certainly made up for it. Sometimes, all it takes is a few rays of sunshine to get the conversations (and the confidence) flowing. The Big takeaway? The industry is moving forward and adapting like it always does. Events like this are vital if you want to keep up. Can’t wait to catch you at the next one!