#TBSBBQNIGHT26 - September 10, 2026 - De Warande, Brussels

Payments are being pulled in two directions at once. On one side, regulators and industry bodies are accelerating efforts to build safer, more resilient and more sovereign payment ecosystems through initiatives such as PSD3, Instant Payments, Verification of Payee and digital identity frameworks. On the other, technology risks moving faster than regulation can follow, fuelled by massive global investments in AI, stablecoins, embedded finance and new digital infrastructures.

The questions are not new:

• Who defines the rules?
• Who owns the customer interface?
• Who controls trust?

But the answers are evolving faster than ever before.

Can regulation still steer innovation, or is technology setting the agenda? Is AI transforming payments faster than Open Banking ever did? Are private stablecoin initiatives moving more decisively than central bank digital currencies? And can Europe keep up with the scale and speed of global innovation while preserving trust, resilience and sovereignty in payments?

At The Banking Scene Payments BBQ Night 2026, industry leaders, regulators, banks, fintechs and technology experts will debate one central question: what is truly shaping the future of payments today — regulation or innovation?

Who Should Attend?

This event is designed for banking professionals, fintech leaders, policymakers, and anyone passionate about the payments industry’s future.

Why Attend?

• Inspiration and Insights: Gain forward-looking insights from industry visionaries.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers and experts in a relaxed, informal setting.
• Exceptional Venue: Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of De Warande while engaging in meaningful conversations.
• Delicious BBQ: Experience a culinary delight as you network and discuss the future of payments.

This is what our BBQ Night was like in 2025: