Date
1-2 November 2026
Time
08:30
Location
Parklane Resort & Spa, Limassol
Language
English
THE EUROPEAN ALTERNATIVE FUNDS LANDSCAPE
The global investment landscape is entering a new cycle. After a decade of low interest rates and abundant liquidity, capital markets are adjusting to structurally higher financing costs, slower exit environments and greater scrutiny of investment performance. In this environment, alternative investment funds (AIFs) are evolving from a diversification tool into a key financing mechanism for the real economy — supporting corporate growth, infrastructure development and innovation beyond traditional banking channels. What began primarily as private equity has expanded into a broad private markets ecosystem including venture capital, private credit, infrastructure and real assets, with assets under management expected to continue growing as institutional investors and private wealth increase their allocations.
Europe sits at the centre of this transformation. A sophisticated regulatory framework, an expanding investor base and increasing demand for cross-border structures are strengthening the region’s role in global private markets. Structural shifts — such as pension fund allocation changes, the rise of semi-liquid investment vehicles and the rapid growth of private credit — are reshaping how capital is raised and deployed. At the same time, regulatory developments such as AIFMD II and technological innovation, including AI-driven portfolio management and tokenisation, are redefining governance, distribution and operational models across the European alternative investment ecosystem.
FACTS AND FIGURES
THE SUMMIT
The 12th Cyprus International Funds Summit 2026 will take place in Limassol, Cyprus, bringing together a distinguished group of fund managers, institutional investors, policymakers and industry leaders from across Europe, the Middle East and international markets. Organised by the Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA) and IMH, the Summit continues to serve as the leading annual forum for the funds and asset management industry in the region, providing in-depth analysis of market developments, regulatory evolution and emerging investment opportunities within the alternative funds space.
As global capital markets adjust to a new economic cycle characterised by higher financing costs, evolving liquidity conditions and increased regulatory scrutiny, alternative investment funds are assuming an even more prominent role in the global financial system. Once viewed primarily as niche vehicles, private equity, venture capital, private credit, infrastructure and real asset strategies have become central to institutional portfolio construction and the financing of the real economy. Private markets assets under management are projected to continue their structural expansion, reinforcing the strategic importance of alternative investments in the years ahead.
This year’s Summit will provide a forward-looking platform for examining the European alternative funds landscape and the investment outlook for 2027. Discussions will focus on capital raising and cross-border distribution under the updated AIFMD II framework, the rise of private credit and liquidity solutions, evolving value creation strategies in private equity, and the integration of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure within fund management. The programme will also address the competitive positioning of European jurisdictions in attracting and servicing international capital.
WHO WILL ATTEND
The Cyprus International Funds Summit 2026 is addressed to senior finance and investment professionals from Europe and the MENA region.
Who will attend?
- Asset Managers
- Fund Managers
- Fund Administrators
- Custodians
- Professionals operating in the fields of private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds
- Professionals specializing in private wealth management
- Family office representatives
- Representatives of endowment trusts
- Legal and Tax consultants specializing in the area of asset management and fund administration
- Senior officials from banks and other financial institutions
- Senior professionals operating in the wider financial services sector
previous Speakers
Key Topics
Opening Remarks & Introductory Keynotes
THE EUROPEAN ALTERNATIVES MARKET — INVESTMENT OUTLOOK 2027
- Macroeconomic environment shaping private markets in Europe
- Interest rates, liquidity and valuation reset across asset classes
- Allocation shifts by pension funds and institutional investors
- Private markets vs public markets — the structural rebalancing
- Europe’s competitiveness in the global capital ecosystem
- Key risks and opportunities for the next investment cycle
REGULATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS
- How regulation is adapting to the growth of private markets
- AIFMD II implementation and the new EU loan origination regime
- The role of regulators in enabling innovation
- Cross-border distribution and European supervisory convergence
- Digital assets and tokenised fund structures
- The long-term vision for Cyprus as an international funds hub
PRIVATE CREDIT: THE MATURATION OF A EUROPEAN ASSET CLASS
- Direct lending as the backbone of private credit financing
- Asset-backed finance (ABF) and specialty finance strategies
- Private credit for infrastructure and real-asset projects
- Distressed and special situations credit opportunities
- Measuring and assessing credit risk in a higher-rate environment
- AIFMD II implementation and the EU loan-origination framework
PRIVATE EQUITY: VALUE CREATION IN A NEW MARKET CYCLE
- Value creation in a lower-leverage environment and extended holding periods
- Pressure on Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and the growing importance of Distributions to Paid-In Capital (DPI) and cash realisation
- The evolving exit environment: trade sales, sponsor-to-sponsor transactions and recovery of public listings
- General Partner (GP)-led secondaries and continuation funds as liquidity solutions
- When to hold versus sell — balancing DPI and IRR trade-offs
- Capital structure innovation and the use of Net Asset Value (NAV) financing
- Limited Partner (LP) expectations and the shift toward operational value creation
AIFS: CAPITAL RAISING & CROSS-BORDER DISTRIBUTION
- Strategic Distribution Architecture for Alternative Funds
- AIFMD II — A New Operating Reality
- Domicile & Jurisdictional Competition
- Passporting & Market Access in Practice
- Beyond the European Union
INDIA AS A GLOBAL INVESTMENT DESTINATION
- Growth of private markets in India
- Key sectors attracting international capital (technology, infrastructure, renewables, healthcare)
- Institutional and sovereign participation in Indian assets
- Regulatory evolution of India’s fund landscape
- Use of Cyprus Alternative Investment Funds for India-focused strategies
AI, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION IN ALTERNATIVE FUNDS
- AI in Investment Decision-Making
- Technology in Fund Operations
- Innovation in Investor Experience & Distribution
- Digital Assets & Emerging Infrastructure
- Strategic Impact on the Industry
- The next generation of alternative investment platforms
Key Topics
Opening Remarks & Introductory Keynotes
THE EUROPEAN ALTERNATIVES MARKET — INVESTMENT OUTLOOK 2027
- Macroeconomic environment shaping private markets in Europe
- Interest rates, liquidity and valuation reset across asset classes
- Allocation shifts by pension funds and institutional investors
- Private markets vs public markets — the structural rebalancing
- Europe’s competitiveness in the global capital ecosystem
- Key risks and opportunities for the next investment cycle
REGULATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS
- How regulation is adapting to the growth of private markets
- AIFMD II implementation and the new EU loan origination regime
- The role of regulators in enabling innovation
- Cross-border distribution and European supervisory convergence
- Digital assets and tokenised fund structures
- The long-term vision for Cyprus as an international funds hub
PRIVATE CREDIT: THE MATURATION OF A EUROPEAN ASSET CLASS
- Direct lending as the backbone of private credit financing
- Asset-backed finance (ABF) and specialty finance strategies
- Private credit for infrastructure and real-asset projects
- Distressed and special situations credit opportunities
- Measuring and assessing credit risk in a higher-rate environment
- AIFMD II implementation and the EU loan-origination framework
PRIVATE EQUITY: VALUE CREATION IN A NEW MARKET CYCLE
- Value creation in a lower-leverage environment and extended holding periods
- Pressure on Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and the growing importance of Distributions to Paid-In Capital (DPI) and cash realisation
- The evolving exit environment: trade sales, sponsor-to-sponsor transactions and recovery of public listings
- General Partner (GP)-led secondaries and continuation funds as liquidity solutions
- When to hold versus sell — balancing DPI and IRR trade-offs
- Capital structure innovation and the use of Net Asset Value (NAV) financing
- Limited Partner (LP) expectations and the shift toward operational value creation
AIFS: CAPITAL RAISING & CROSS-BORDER DISTRIBUTION
- Strategic Distribution Architecture for Alternative Funds
- AIFMD II — A New Operating Reality
- Domicile & Jurisdictional Competition
- Passporting & Market Access in Practice
- Beyond the European Union
INDIA AS A GLOBAL INVESTMENT DESTINATION
- Growth of private markets in India
- Key sectors attracting international capital (technology, infrastructure, renewables, healthcare)
- Institutional and sovereign participation in Indian assets
- Regulatory evolution of India’s fund landscape
- Use of Cyprus Alternative Investment Funds for India-focused strategies
AI, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION IN ALTERNATIVE FUNDS
- AI in Investment Decision-Making
- Technology in Fund Operations
- Innovation in Investor Experience & Distribution
- Digital Assets & Emerging Infrastructure
- Strategic Impact on the Industry
- The next generation of alternative investment platforms