Fortune 500 Europe Launch
The launch marked the unveiling of the 2026 Fortune 500 Europe, ranking the 500 largest companies in Europe by revenue. The list tells a powerful story of scale and resilience: the companies generated a record $15.5 trillion in combined revenue, equivalent to around half of Europe’s GDP, while profits returned to growth, rising 3% to more than $1 trillion.
The London Stock Exchange launch brought that story to life, celebrating the companies and leaders behind the numbers and positioning the list as a lens through which to understand the strength, challenges and opportunities facing European business.
The UK overtook Germany for the first time. Fortune’s coverage points to the international outlook and innovation strength of UK businesses, with the UK more than 30 percentage points above the EU average on the European Commission’s latest Innovation Scorecard.
Fortune CEO Forum
Later that day, the Fortune CEO Forum brought together senior leaders from across Europe and the Middle East for an invitation-only, off-the-record discussion focused on the central question: how does Europe turn its scale and strengths into sustainable growth?
The conversation moved beyond the headline economic numbers into the practical issues CEOs are facing: AI and productivity, competitiveness, energy and the green transition, investment, talent and regulation. Leaders from companies including Microsoft, Volvo Cars, Mastercard, Honeywell, Logitech, Anthropic and EDF shared perspectives on where Europe has genuine advantages and where change is needed.
A particularly interesting thread was that Europe isn’t short of strengths. Its talent, universities, engineering, innovation, financial centres, manufacturing base and progress on sustainability all create significant potential. The question is how to translate those advantages into greater productivity, investment and scale.
The Fortune 500 Europe showed us where European business stands. The CEO Forum asked where it goes next.
The data shows enormous scale and resilience, but also pressure on margins and a slower growth trajectory than the U.S. The leadership conversation then explored what could unlock the next phase: using AI to transform productivity, investing in European talent and innovation, improving competitiveness, securing energy, and building on the sectors where Europe already has an advantage.
Who was in the room
Established corporates, challengers and public-policy voices in one room.
13 HQ countries · 45 of 63 attendees hold Europe-wide, EMEA or global responsibility
30 attendees hold global remits, 15 hold EMEA or Europe-wide remits and 18 are UK-specific. That mix means the agenda can be pitched at European strategy, not UK market detail.
The voices leading the debate
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Beyond the room
Built into the conversation
Join Conveo to explore how AI is transforming customer intelligence—from periodic research to a continuous view of what customers want and why.
A custom lunch with a presentation, plus event branding as Forum sponsor.
A collector car greeted CEOs at the entrance, creating a natural talking point and a curated networking moment between sessions.
Filmed on location at the Forum, with Honeywell also joining the sustainability session and as event sponsor.
A Fortune Brand Studio executive interview filmed at the Forum, amplified to Fortune’s executive audience.
Next September, the Fortune 500 Europe returns and the CEO Forum reconvenes to pick up the conversation where 2026 left off. Partners help shape the agenda, join Europe’s most senior leaders in the room and extend their voice through Fortune Brand Studio and Fortune.com.
Headline, track, supporting and experiential partnerships are now open. Get in touch to discuss how your organisation can be part of it.