Tampa hosts first international diplomacy and exchange summit Nov. 16-17 at the Convention Center
Mayor Jane Castor chairs the host committee for TIDES, which lists more than 90 speakers on trade, innovation, diplomacy, education and sustainability.
TAMPA - The first Tampa International Diplomacy & Exchange Summit, known as TIDES, opens Monday, Nov. 16, at the Tampa Convention Center and runs through Nov. 17, the City of Tampa announced Friday.
The summit is produced by Tampa Sister Cities, with Mayor Jane Castor serving as host committee chair. The city says it will feature more than 90 speakers across five areas: trade, innovation, diplomacy, education and sustainability. Other sessions will cover artificial intelligence, defense technology, international trade, startup growth, education and coastal resilience.
Featured speakers listed by the city include Castor; Nick Adams, the U.S. State Department's special presidential envoy for American tourism, exceptionalism and values; USF President Moez Limayem; Dr. Robert Gallo, founding director of the USF Health Institute for Translational Virology & Innovation; Tampa International Airport CEO Michael Stephens; Visit Tampa Bay President and CEO Santiago Corrada; and Tampa Bay Wave President Linda Olson.
“Tampa's connections to the world are creating opportunities that reach far beyond our city limits,” Castor said in the announcement.
Alfred Goldberg, president of Tampa Sister Cities, pointed to the city's port, airport and growing innovation ecosystem as reasons Tampa has long been an international city.
The program also includes international fashion showcases representing Colombia, India and Ukraine, dance performances and a two-day International Expo. The city says the full agenda, speaker lineup and registration details are at TIDESTampa.com.
Source: City of Tampa news release, "The World is Headed to Tampa's Backyard!" (Nov. 13, 2026).