#CPExpo--Channel Partners Conference & Expo and MSP Summit 2026, the world’s largest independent, vendor-neutral channel event, concluded its 2026 edition with a record-breaking 7,900+ registran...
Autore: Business Wire
Channel Partners Announces 2027 Return to Las Vegas March 15-18 to Celebrate 30th Anniversary
LAS VEGAS: #CPExpo--Channel Partners Conference & Expo and MSP Summit 2026, the world’s largest independent, vendor-neutral channel event, concluded its 2026 edition with a record-breaking 7,900+ registrants, representing IT and communications channel professionals. With 40% of attendees joining for the first time, this year’s event reflected a surging, increasingly influential channel ecosystem, one that is rapidly redefining its role in driving business growth, innovation and global connectivity.
Across four days of events, including educational sessions and workshops featuring more than 100 speakers, alongside 300+ sponsors and exhibitors, industry leaders from Amazon, Microsoft, Threat Locker, T-Mobile, Verizon, and others delivered a clear message: the channel is the engine powering the future of technology and business outcomes in this new AI era. Channel Partners Conference & Expo and MSP Summit has become the premier destination for partners and suppliers to participate in high-level strategy meetings, attend executive-level keynotes, connect on the expo floor and build skills through educational conference sessions.
“The 2026 Channel Partners event captured a rare and defining moment for the industry,” said Robert DeMarzo, Senior Conference Director, Channel Events Informa. “From AI moving decisively into real-world application to the emergence of satellite as a transformative opportunity, the channel is not just evolving, it is expanding into entirely new frontiers. The senior-most leaders from the supplier, distributor, marketplace and channel community were all here to drive the channel forward.”
Key Trends Defining the Channel in 2026
Satellite Connectivity Emerges as the Channel’s Next Frontier
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology emerged as a breakout opportunity for partners. Timo Bauer, Global Head of Commercial Partner Channels for Amazon LEO’s initiative, announced seven new partners spanning five technology distribution suppliers and two direct-selling agents - signaling rapid momentum ahead of general availability.
“We’re announcing today that we are officially part of this channel, and we signed seven agreements,” Bauer said. “We are working on building up a funnel with some of the TSDs and the core agents, and we have a pre-general availability process where we can also close deals. And, we're closing deals today with customers.”
As global broadband expansion accelerates - with channel-focused partnerships and hundreds of satellites already deployed - industry leaders pointed to LEO as a defining growth frontier for 2027. The takeaway: this is a rare inflection point where new technology is not just shifting market share, but creating entirely new markets.
The Channel Becomes a True Growth Engine
A defining theme throughout the event was the channel’s transformation from cost center to growth driver. Verizon Business leaders increased profitability when “selling across the stack,” moving far beyond traditional cellphone and circuit sales towards more comprehensive business solutions.
As organizations prioritize convergence, partners are being called to deliver holistic business outcomes, not just connectivity. This shift is unlocking new revenue streams and positioning the channel at the core of enterprise growth strategies.
During a panel with telco giants, AT&T Senior Vice President of Partner Solutions, Chad Townes, relayed the company’s ambitious target for 65% of company activity to flow through designated channel partners, supported by $250 billion in network investments over the next decade.
AI Moves from Experimentation to Measurable Reality
Artificial intelligence has crossed a critical threshold. No longer confined to experimentation, AI is now delivering quantifiable business outcomes across customer engagement, operational efficiency and innovation cycles.
In a fireside chat, Microsoft General Manager of Partner and Marketplace Marketing, Kevin LeBlanc, shared that channel strategy focuses on helping customers become “AI-first,” leaping past experimentation to “real quantifiable business outcomes each and every day.”
Furthering that point, Mark Tina, Channel Chief and Vice President of Indirect Partner Sales for Verizon Business shared, “AI has gone from a laboratory to a reality. It’s about the real life use of AI. Verizon has been doing it for decades in different ways, but now it’s at the forefront.”
Next-Generation Leaders Rise Amid M&A and Investment Surge
As Wall Street intensifies its focus on the channel, mergers, acquisitions and private equity investment continue to accelerate. Investor panels revealed that private equity firms are actively seeking growth opportunities across all company sizes.
Kevin Zimmerman, Strategic Partner Manager at Telarus, noted a 60% reduction in traditional meeting structures as emerging leaders adopt inventive operational approaches. Investors emphasized the importance of scale for platform businesses while seeking partners excited about collaborative growth.
From IT Support to Strategic Advisor: The MSP Evolution
The MSP Summit series, which is co-located with the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, featured a dedicated day of conference sessions and keynotes that focused on the future of managed services. One main takeaway became clear: billions of investment dollars are pouring into the MSP market as it evolves from its break-fix roots into an ecosystem of highly specialized, security-led and AI-focused professional service providers.
“The pace of AI change is accelerating, and I think that should be embraced,” said Bryan Smith, CEO at Expedient. “The companies that aren't moving fast now are going to be left behind.”
A Defining Moment for the Channel
With unprecedented attendance, a surge of new participants and a clear alignment around future-defining trends, Channel Partners 2026 marked a pivotal moment for the industry. From AI-driven transformation to the rapid emergence of satellite connectivity and continued investment across the ecosystem, the channel is entering a new phase of expansion and influence.
Channel Partners Conference & Expo and MSP Summit will return to Las Vegas March 15-18, 2027. Marking its 30th anniversary, the event will spotlight emerging technologies and evolving business models - underscoring the channel’s accelerating role as a global growth engine entering an even more dynamic phase. To receive updates on 2027 event registration learn more here.
Additionally, MSP Summit and the MSP 501 Gala will bring 1500+ managed services and channel professionals to Orlando, September 28-30, 2026. This year’s theme is Channel Trust: Limitless Possibilities in the AI Era. You can register now.
Visit channelpartnersconference.com for more information.
For additional information on exhibition or sponsorship opportunities, contact cpsales@informa.com.
ABOUT CHANNEL PARTNERS
Channel Partners Conference & Expo is the leading independent event for technology advisors, MSPs, VARs, and the broader partner ecosystem. Co-located with the MSP Summit, the conference convenes thousands of channel professionals each year for education, innovation, and strategic growth. For nearly 30 years, Channel Partners Conference & Expo has brought together top partners, providers, and innovators to shape what’s next, while the MSP Summit has become a cornerstone for the managed-services community with its expanding year-round programming.
Together, the two events offer the most complete view of the channel’s evolution, delivering expert-led workshops, focused education tracks, and unmatched networking opportunities with more than 7,800 professionals and 300 sponsors. From strategy sessions to award celebrations and can't-miss connections, they blend serious business with serious fun to help the global channel community accelerate what comes next. www.channelpartnersconference.com
Fonte: Business Wire