Europe's Payments Future Takes Center Stage at ACI's Exclusive London Event

ACI Worldwide has announced Payments Unleashed EMEA, an exclusive event for senior payments leaders. It will take place in London on 29-30 June 2026. The gathering aims to address major challenges facing Europe’s payments sector, including sovereignty, regulation, and AI-driven commerce. The event kicks off on 29 June at the 12th Knot rooftop bar at Sea Containers London. A full day of sessions follows on 30 June at the Hilton London Bankside. Executives from ACI Worldwide, Mastercard, Santander, Amazon, NVIDIA, PayPal, Rabobank, and Nationwide will attend, alongside regulators, analysts, and fintech leaders.

A mainstage session will explore key industry questions. These include who controls payment infrastructure, who bears the cost of fraud, the future of card payments, and the rise of AI making purchases. Dr. Leda Glyptis, a well-known fintech author, will also deliver a keynote speech.

The programme features dedicated tracks for banking and merchant discussions. Four central questions will shape the conversations, focusing on board-level decisions. Europe’s policymakers are also pushing for greater payment independence through projects like the digital euro and Wero.

New rules now shift fraud losses onto banks. At the same time, AI agents are beginning to carry out transactions. This raises concerns about authentication, liability, and who truly owns the customer relationship. Payments Unleashed EMEA will bring industry leaders together to tackle pressing issues. The event will highlight the impact of regulation, AI, and sovereignty on the future of payments. Decisions made here could influence how Europe’s financial systems evolve in the coming years.