The organizers of the world’s largest affiliate marketing conference, Affiliate World, have announced the postponement of Dubai Edition 2026, which was scheduled to take place on March 4–5 in Dubai, to spring 2027. The decision comes amid a sharp escalation of regional conflicts, airport closures across the UAE, and widespread disruptions to air travel.
In an official statement addressed to attendees (“Affiliate World Famiglia”), the team described the move as an “incredibly difficult and painful” decision. Over the past year, significant resources had already been invested in the event’s preparation, including venue rentals, production, booths, printing, logistics, staffing, and more. The organizers emphasized that they fully understand how much time, money, and effort attendees and exhibitors have already invested in flights, visas, hotels, and scheduling.
“We cannot responsibly move forward while safety and accessibility remain uncertain,” the statement reads. The safety of the team, attendees, and the broader community has been made the top priority.
What happens to tickets and booths:
- All purchased tickets will be automatically transferred to the new Affiliate World Global: Dubai Edition dates in spring 2027. No action is required from attendees.
- All booked booths and sponsorship packages will also be automatically transferred to spring 2027. Organizers will contact exhibitors individually in the coming days to clarify details.
Compensation and bonus:
As a gesture of appreciation for their support, all ticket holders, exhibitors, and sponsors will receive a $1,000 credit to use on Affiliate World Forum — an on-demand video library featuring recordings from past conferences. This will allow the community to access part of the Affiliate World experience now, while preparations continue for the full-scale event in 2027.
The exact dates for spring 2027 will be announced once the venue and schedule are finalized.
Affiliate World Dubai traditionally brings together thousands of professionals from the affiliate marketing, e-commerce, and performance marketing industries worldwide. The postponement marks one of the first major impacts of the current regional crisis on large-scale business events, as airspace closures, mass flight cancellations, and ongoing instability have already caused significant disruption to global travel.
The organizers expressed hope for understanding and thanked the community for prioritizing safety.
