COA symposium in Miami will focus on Latin America’s AI economy

More than 500 business and government leaders will gather in Miami on Nov. 19 for the 2026 COA Symposium and 31st BRAVO Business Awards. The event will center on growth, investment and artificial intelligence as Latin American companies and policymakers confront economic, technological and geopolitical change.

Why it matters: - The Council of the Americas is using its flagship gathering to spotlight the next phase of Latin America’s business agenda. - The event will bring together CEOs, founders, investors, policymakers and academics as the region weighs AI adoption, security risks and cross-border growth. - The BRAVO awards will also recognize companies and executives shaping investment, innovation and economic development across the region.

What happened: - More than 500 CEOs, company founders, industry pioneers, government officials and other regional leaders will meet in Miami on Nov. 19 for the 2026 COA Symposium and 31st BRAVO Business Awards. - The Council of the Americas will host the event at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel. - The symposium is centered on the theme “Latin America’s Next Chapter: Growth, Investment & the AI Economy.” - The program will open with private roundtables for C-suite executives before moving to public panels, fireside chats and afternoon sessions.

The details: - The agenda includes infrastructure for the AI economy, AI adoption as a source of competitive advantage, leadership during crises, banking innovation and Latin American expansion into the U.S. market. - Afternoon sessions will cover security risks across the Americas, the digital transformation of Latin American consumers and the investment and institutional conditions needed to rebuild Venezuela. - Private roundtables will focus on implementing AI at scale, the evolving role of corporate affairs, public affairs and government affairs teams, and geopolitical shifts likely to affect Latin America in 2027. - Speakers will include executives from PepsiCo, The AES Corporation, Bank of America, Philip Morris International, Amazon Web Services, Anthropic, LATAM Airlines, Banco do Brasil, Embraer, Globant, SAP Americas, Despegar and Habi. - The symposium’s listed panels include Latin America’s opportunity in a changing global economy, power for the AI economy, the AI roadmap, leading through crisis, banking beyond digital, Latin American companies in the U.S. market, security risks in the Americas, the digital transformation of the Latin American consumer and rebuilding Venezuela. - The event will also feature leaders from Chile’s energy ministry, CAF, FIU, CNN en Español, Bloomberg Línea and McKinsey & Company. - Sponsors include Amazon, CAF–Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, Chubb Latin America, LLYC, Philip Morris International, Bank of America, Castillo Hermanos, Citi, Moody’s, Salesforce, The AES Corporation, BlackRock, FedEx, Grupo Mariposa, SBA Communications and Tower Strategy. - McKinsey & Company is the knowledge partner. - Media partners include Americas Quarterly, Bloomberg Línea, CNN en Español, El País and Exame. - More information is available in the company’s announcement.

Between the lines: - The symposium reflects how Latin American executives are balancing growth opportunities with structural constraints around power, capital, security and geopolitics. - The heavy AI focus signals that regional business leaders see digital infrastructure and deployment speed as competitive advantages, not side topics. - The awards lineup also points to a broader effort to highlight companies that have scaled beyond domestic markets and helped shape the region’s investment profile.

What’s next: - Leaders will use the Miami meetings to compare strategies on AI, capital allocation, regional expansion and policy risk. - The BRAVO awards will follow the symposium and honor executives and companies for leadership, innovation and long-term contribution to Latin America’s development. - Roberto Alvo of LATAM Airlines will receive the BRAVO CEO of the Year Award. - Banco do Brasil will receive the BRAVO Legacy Award. - Rappi will receive the BRAVO Beacon of Innovation Award. - Carlos Barrera of Atlas Renewable Energy will receive the BRAVO Innovative CEO of the Year Award.

The bottom line: - COA’s Miami event is positioning AI, investment and regional resilience as the defining issues for Latin America’s next business chapter.