Established as Latin America’s largest gathering of ideas, the Gramado Summit closed its 2026 edition by reaffirming its role as a driver of innovation and economic development. Over the three days of the event, the innovation festival recorded a historic total of 24,000 people visiting the pavilions at Serra Park, exceeding initial attendance expectations. Compared to the previous year, the Gramado Summit saw a 35% increase in the number of structures set up across the two pavilions at Serra Park, featuring 10 stages, over 500 exhibiting companies, and a robust program spread across 18 content tracks. In total, more than 700 speakers shared their insights on technology, management, and behavior under the theme “Make It Human.” Economic Impact and Regional Prominence The 2026 edition not only revitalized the innovation ecosystem but also transformed the dynamics of the Serra Gaúcha. Preliminary data from the Hortensias Region Hospitality Union (SindTur) indicate that hotel occupancy reached 81%. For Gramado Summit’s general director, Marcus Rossi, the consistent public turnout since the opening was this year’s major highlight. “The 2026 edition was a milestone in our history.”
“Historically, we’ve seen our highest attendance on the second day, but this year we maintained record turnout from the very start.” “This shows that people have begun to view the Gramado Summit as an experience to be savored to the fullest,” she notes.
Ana Paula Renault and her historic appearance: in addition to networking opportunities and technical discussions, the 2026 Gramado Summit focused on the convergence of entertainment and digital strategy. One of the major highlights was the surprise appearance of journalist and influencer Ana Paula Renault, who kept an audience of about two thousand people engaged until the very end of the event during her debut as a speaker at the program’s closing session. “Traditionally, the main stage audience tends to thin out on the third day of the event. This is largely due to logistical issues for the audience, most of whom come from outside the state. However, Ana Paula’s debut kept the room full until the very last seconds of the Gramado Summit, which, for us, was historic,” says Rossi.
Ana broke with the traditional conference format by handing the microphone over to the audience to engage in conversation with attendees. CONTENT AND EXPERIENCE - Focused on the human element amid the Artificial Intelligence revolution, the event also featured speakers such as Luís Justo, Luiza Helena Trajano, Maria Homem, and Sérgio Sacani. In addition to familiar stages, new content verticals ensured the diversity of the debates, ranging from geek culture to in-depth discussions on the future of work and consumption. In the New Ventures Arena, matchmaking between startups and investors reinforced the event’s entrepreneurial focus, promoting investment rounds and the traditional Startup Battle, which are fundamental to fostering Brazil’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The winners of this edition were two young women, aged 24 and 25, who created a cream to protect tobacco farmers’ skin from poisoning when handling the plant. GRAMADO SUMMIT 2027: the next edition of Latin America’s largest ideas summit already has a confirmed date: it will be held from May 5 to 7 at the Serra Park pavilions. Tickets are now available at https://www.gramadosummit.com/gs-2027/home.
Text: Israel Padrinho.
Photos: Rede FeedMe - Publicity / Gramado Summit
