🇦🇹 ViennaUP

You’ve heard that ‘Vienna waits for you’, right? Well, so does ViennaUP! Emerging businesses can explore Vienna’s “ecosystem of opportunity,” covering subjects like Impact to Smart Cities, creative industries, life sciences, manufacturing, and more. It’s a decentralised experience, with investors and entrepreneurs from across the world meeting and networking at events throughout the city – a great opportunity to check out the different faces and facets of the city. 

In 2024, Vienna welcomed over 10,000 participants from 90+ countries to more than 80 events across 33 locations in 11 of the city’s districts. That’s enough to fill all the city’s high society cafes!

More exciting than Before Sunrise, if you ask us!

Where: 🇦🇹 Vienna, Austria
When: 18-22 May 2026
More info: https://viennaup.com/

🇸🇮 PODIM

Get ready to rock the world with ideas and innovation inspired by your time at PODIM! Based in Slovenia, PODIM is one of the most important startup & tech events in the Alps-Adriatic & Western Balkans region. Attendees have long been encouraged by PODIM to study, develop, and consider new ideas, resulting in developing innovative company concepts that are prepared to change the world.

We’ve scanned reviews, testimonials and their website and can conclude that everyone that has made the trip to Slovenia has not regretted it! And if you needed another second opinion, it’s recognised by EU Startups as a top event. If you need more, check out their own blog post on how the 2024 edition went. See you there in 2026?

Where: 🇸🇮 Maribor, Slovenia
When: 11-13 May 2026
More info: https://podim.org/

🇵🇱 Infoshare 

Infoshare does what it says on the box, and we love them for that! But for good measure, here’s a quick run-down. This once-small gathering has evolved into one of CEE’s largest technology conferences throughout the years, with a mindblowing array of CEE investors. Thousands of people gather at the picturesque city of Gdansk in the North of Poland annually to share knowledge, form connections, and grow, grow, GROW!

Since 2014, Infoshare also organises a startup contest in which the startup with the best sustainable development initiative gets a prize of €20k in cash. Business Insider called it “amazing”, Computer World “a celebration of the digital world”. Gdansk you very much!

Also, Infosharing is caring, so here is their promo video with mandatory aerial views of the city and the must-have robot dogs:

Where: 🇵🇱 Gdańsk, Poland
When: 20-21 May 2026
More info: https://infoshare.pl/ 

🇬🇧 SXSW London

In case you’ve been living under a rock and didn’t hear the big news, SXSW landed in Europe in 2025 for the very first time! And it’s bringing its iconic blend of creativity, tech, and groundbreaking ideas. Hosted in the heart of Europe’s biggest tech hub, SXSW London promises a high-energy convergence of industry leaders, boundary-pushing startups, and top investors. And there’s even a music festival!

The Austin event has been a springboard for Twitter, Airbnb, and other transformative platforms. Hoping to do the same in London, it will feature keynote talks, tech showcases, live performances, film screenings, and immersive experiences, making it a must-attend for anyone looking to connect, collaborate, and innovate. Expect over 400 international speakers, exclusive networking opportunities, and curated spaces for discussing the future of connectivity, AI, and digital business. With London’s vibrant creative and tech scenes blending together and setting the stage, SXSW London is primed to help startups and VCs discover Europe’s next big thing. What a chance to be part of history!

Where: 🇬🇧 London, UK
When: 1-6 June 2026
More info: https://sxswlondon.com/

🇪🇸 South Summit

We really don’t need an excuse to head to Spain, but if you were looking for one – what better than a startup event! After its eleventh trip around the sun, South Summit has clearly established itself as the premier Spain-based international event for the top corporations, startups, businesspeople, investors, and institutions to accelerate innovation, create lasting relationships, find commercial possibilities, and produce revenue.

Head through for the chance to pitch your project to the attending foreign investors, to study under the greatest CEOs of unicorn companies, and connect with and meet hundreds of prospective customers – “​​the most valuable network for entrepreneurship and business.”

You want numbers, you say? South Summit brings together more than 30,000 startups in 30+ international & sector-specific events. Over $16 billion was invested in South Summit finalists (that’s a good sign, by the way) and reps come from all over the world (more than 130 countries to be precise). Head over to their website for loads more information and tickets! Que esta de la ostia!

Where: 🇪🇸 Madrid, Spain
When: 3-5 June 2026
More info: https://www.southsummit.co/

🇫🇮 Arctic15

What’s one of the most successful startup events in Northern Europe when it comes to matchmaking, you ask? Well, it’s Arctic15! This event is centred around various markets, technologies, and subjects, from AI and Digital Health to Social Impact and Scaling. Participants can make good use of the time by congregating with a global group of entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, media, and influencers.

Where: 🇫🇮 Helsinki, Finland
When: 11-12 June 2026
More info: https://arctic15.com/    

🇳🇱 Hello Tomorrow Global Summit

Calling all deep tech startups! This event is for you. The Hello Tomorrow Global summit prides itself on a niche focus on cutting-edge deep tech startups, dubbing itself the “epicentre of deep tech.” In fact it’s part of “Deep Tech Days” and under the high patronage of Monsieur Emmanuel Macron, President of France and of the French Tech unofficial fans’ association.

The event is designed to help attendees explore exclusive business/collaboration opportunities and connect with like-minded people to share advice, success stories, best practices and build networks! Global deep tech investors will share their insights; entrepreneurs will offer pro-tips; side events will be on offer, and the Deep Tech Expo to experience the technologies enabling change in a wide range of industries.

The 2026 edition is moving to Amsterdam!

Where: 🇳🇱 Amsterdam, France
When: 11-12 June 2026
More info: https://hello-tomorrow.org/global-summit/

🇬🇧 London Tech Week

London calling also in 2025! London is widely regarded as the hottest startup location in Europe, and in case they weren’t there already, London Tech Week will bring together motivational founders, top business executives, policymakers, investors, and up-and-coming stars.

Main events, side events, startups, scaleups, corporates, politicians, operators, founders – London Tech Week’s “thing” is that it brings them all together. Which is not an easy task.

Previous speakers included the very top of public bodies, corporates, and startups, with Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Google, Klarna to give you an example of what to expect. In addition, there are dedicated stages for startups, scaleups, impact, and “NextTech” (metaverse, web3, quantum, and other frontier tech). Impactful innovation and visions of the newest technological frontiers continue to be at the forefront of London Tech Week, with UK enterprise solutions, inclusion, and entrepreneurship setting the pace.

London Tech Week has a ridiculously good website full of videos, resources and other content on its previous editions.

Where: 🇬🇧 London, UK
When: 8-12 June 2026
More info: https://londontechweek.com/ 

🇵🇱 Perspektywy Women in Tech

Let’s hear it for the ladies and the largest conference for women in technology! With an array of speakers, mentors, workshops, and much more, we can’t wait for the sixth international Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit. Two days of inspiration that, last time around, gathered more than 14,000 participants from 85+ different nations, 500 speakers, 32 side events and 300 mentoring sessions over 5 stages.

BONUS: It’s Poland’s first climate-positive event. With the negative news about declining investment in female founders, we hope they break all records this year and discuss ways to tackle inequality challenges in the startup world. We need more startup events like this. Let’s go in search for tech-life balance!

Where: 🇵🇱 Warsaw, Poland
When: 10-11 June 2026
More info: https://womenintechsummit.pl/

🇩🇪 Hinterland of Things 

Sometimes – you gotta swim upstream! Sometimes – you gotta take the path less travelled! Challenge the status quo by immersing yourself in an ecosystem of fascinating people and innovative ideas. Hinterland will be your go-to for B2B in 2025 thanks to its strong focus and carefully curated material, and outstanding speakers. Expect 300+ of Europe’s leading VCs with €30bn+ of managed assets, as well as more than 1,000 family business decision-makers (aka future clients). The most sought-after thought leaders gather at the heart of the German Mittelstand (and Technologiestand) in Bielefeld, at the Hinterland of Things Conference. Pre-register now on their site!

Where: 🇩🇪 Bielefeld, Germany
When: 18 June 2026
More info: https://hinterlandofthings.com/

🇫🇷 Viva Technology

Allow us to introduce you to one of Europe’s top startup events, VivaTech. It’s France’s number one international startup event, one that most international investors, journalists, and thought leaders tend to mark on their calendars. And with speakers such as Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Yann LeCun, Vitalik Buterin, Satya Nadella, Melanie Perkins, and Nik Storonsky, it’s easy to understand why. 

The conference and exhibition are devoted to startups and technology, showcasing new ideas and upcoming technologies. Over 91,000 people came to VivaTech in person in 2022 to learn about innovations and attend live presentations. The VivaTech Awards have been given out since 2019, and the chosen ones always have always done well. So hop on the Eurostar, fly to Charles De Gaulle or find another way to get to Paris; don’t let VivaTech 2023 slip by! Vive la république! Et vive la French Tech!

Where: 🇫🇷 Paris, France
When: 17-20 June 2026
More info: https://vivatechnology.com/ 

🇷🇴 Techsylvania

A whole decade old! We’re keeping our beady eyes on Techsylvania. People come to this conference for inspiration, to learn about the latest in technology, and pick up dos and don’ts from some of the brightest minds. Cluj-Napoca and Romania as a whole has been rising in tech ecosystems has been astronomical in the past few years, which is reflected in the number of awesome startup events held there. Techsylvania’s Conference scene is the heart of the community, hosting ground-breaking ideas and debating some of the most important issues that occur when business and technology collide.

Transylvania is often referred to by Romanians as the most beautiful region in their country. And no vampires are allowed in the conference, promise!

Where: 🇷🇴 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
When: 24-25 June 2026
More info: https://techsylvania.com/

🇩🇰 TechBBQ

Comfy? Cozy? Contentment? If those words appeal to you, then Tech BBQ is right up your alley! This annual conference in Scandinavia brings together tech and hygge, allowing attendees to discuss the newest trends, network in a comfortable setting, hear from inspirational speakers, all while chowing down on delish barbeque. Over time, TechBBQ emerged to, together with Slush, become one of Europe’s most important international startup events in the Nordics.

They are expanding and turning the heat up at Lokomotivvaerkstedet (which translates to The Train Workshop in English) It is a significant Copenhagen structure of both cultural and historical value. It was first used in 1907 to examine and maintain steam locomotives. Now, TechBBQ’s friendly environment makes it the ideal place to meet new people. TechBBQ employs tech to enhance the event experience.

Look forward to not just one but multiple startup pitch competitions: the North Star Pitch, where 10 Nordic and Baltic startups compete for the title and (usually) prize money, a life sciences contest and a hardware one. Being Danish and all, sustainability is extremely important at TechBBQ – the event is carbon-neutral. We do hope they are able to turn on the grill, though!

Where: 🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark
When: 26-27 August 2026
More info: https://techbbq.dk/ 

🇭🇷 Infobip Shift

Not just another developer event, this one. The IT community from across the world will come together for this experience to learn, network, and make new memories over the course of two days in beautiful Croatia. Professionals, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, disruptors, and visionaries gather at Infobip Shift – with a  goal to change the world!

The 2025 edition promises to go “beyond the code” (escaping the Matrix?) promising more energy, more meaningful connections and more!

Where: 🇭🇷 Zadar, Croatia
When: 13-15 September 2026
More info: https://shift.infobip.com/

🇱🇹 Startup Fair

The biggest startup event in Lithuania, Startup Fair, tends to take place in September! Over the last two years, we’ve learned how crucial it is to connect, forge close bonds, and work as a team to accomplish big things. Always an opportunity to discover Lithuania, the home of Vinted and NordVPN, to connect with many incredible people, companies, investors, and other like-minded professionals! In the past, Vilnius’ Startup Fair has had the themes of “Recharge” and “Connect”. In 2024 it’s back with “Pulse” and will be help in the epic Paupio Turgus in Vilnius’ new neighbourhood of Paupys. Pending

Where: 🇱🇹 Vilnius, Lithuania
When: 17 September 2026
More info: https://www.startupfair.lt/ 

🇩🇪 Bits & Pretzels

Grüss Gott und Servus! 🥨 Bits & Pretzels is called ‘The Founders Festival’ for a reason: it began as a modest founders brunch (Bavarian breakfast, white sausage aplenty, we imagine) in 2014 with only 80 attendees. Today, hundreds of founders, the most successful businesses in the world, and the most motivational speakers participate in our annual festival, all of whom share the conviction that entrepreneurship can lead to positive change in Germany, Europe, and the rest of the world.

Bits & Pretzels has become the best known German startup event, and has even attracted some of the most influential figures in politics and startups from the other side of the pond, including Barack Obama and Reid Hoffman. Speakers from the 2024 edition included Klarna’s Sebastian Siemiatowski and Aleph Alpha’s Jonas Andrulis.

Also: did you know that on the third day they take 5,000 founders to the real Oktoberfest in Munich to network? Is there a better way to get to know your future investor / portcomp? Time to get your lederhosen on!

For more, check out their recap from 2023:

Where: 🇩🇪 Munich, Germany
When: 28-30 September 2026
More info: https://www.bitsandpretzels.com/

🇷🇴 How To Web

All roads lead to Rom…ania. After the success of UiPath all eyes are on the Southeastern European country and the next generation of startups. There is a lot brewing there, including another top event. Big wheels keep on turnin’, right? Right! That’s why this event is geared around moving things forward. How to Web has become a classic that attracts international stakeholders and journalists to discover the latest from Romania and the region. And, according to them, it’s the leading conference in Eastern Europe. 

Join entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders to learn how to navigate the future, and keep movin’ and groovin’. The How To Web conference is returning for another busy conference of learning about the most recent developments in the biz. They’re committed to bringing forward-thinking brains together with the opportunities of the future, as well as the most recent product insights, startup know-how, and brisk entrepreneurial energy under one roof.

As with other top European startup events, How to Web has a pitch competition called Startup Spotlight in which startups stand to win significant cheques, with €880k going to the winner in the 2023 edition (FYI, it was Collabwriting).

We were there in 2023 with JJ moderating one of the VC panel sessions. How to Web is one of our favourites. If you are into CEE startups, unmissable really! They say Romania is the next hot thing in the region… if you don’t believe us, ask them:

Where: 🇷🇴 Bucharest, Romania
When: 6-8 October 2026
More info:https://www.howtoweb.co/ 

🇮🇹 Italian Tech Week

The Italians ain’t kiddin’ around here! Italian Tech Week is an annual event that celebrates innovation and technology. And it gets exponentially better and better with each year, just like the Italian startup ecosystem itself.

Organized by the GEDI’s content hub Italian Tech (you should check out the startup outlet!), the event is set to take place at OGR Torino, a centre dedicated to contemporary culture, innovation, and business acceleration. With the patronage of the City of Turin, home of Italy’s automotive industry and football giants Juventus, the event has the brightest minds from the startup and VC community in Europe and beyond – you can definitely expect some global heavyweights! In 2024, Sam Altman was the big name, but the lineups were littered with big brands with reps from the biggest VC houses and iconic Italian brands like Ferrari. And they had the coolest rotating stage (we’ve not seen that one before).

The event features three areas for panels, presentations, debates, and workshops and event offers a series of Masterclasses, which are workshops with free access by reservation, where specialists will share their in-depth experience with attendees. There will be awards with a stellar panel of judges including Luca Ferrari from Bending Spoons. Unmissable!

Check out the 2024 aftermovie:

Where: 🇮🇹 Turin, Italy
When: Yet to be announced for 2026
More info: https://italiantechweek.com/en

🇬🇧 Sifted Summit

Sifted Summit was humming with panels, lectures, and interviews covering all facets of the tech and startup industry in 2022 and 2023, from establishing resilience in a downturn to addressing climate change and sustaining cohesion in hybrid workplaces. Over the past few years, the Sifted media brand has established a reputation for cutting through the noise with in-depth and critically-minded discussions of the startup world.  Likewise, its event aims to be innovative and challenge-focused, while providing close-knit networking, and a curated agenda you won’t find anywhere else.

In 2023, they provided us with material to learn and enjoy while bringing together 3,000 of the best startups in Europe for two unforgettable days in London. Over 1,700 investors, founders, and operators attended and we have higher expectations each year. In its third edition in 2024 edition, Sifted Summit is already one of the ‘unmissable’ startup events in Europe. Expect 3,000 attendees, 200+ speakers and more than 50 countries represented. There are already some stars confirmed in the lineup, including Anne Boden of Starling Bank. Even the London Eye is keeping an eye on this one! 

Where: 🇬🇧 London, UK
When: 7-8 October 2026
More info: https://www.summit.sifted.eu/ 

🇧🇬 Crossroads

Crossroads is bringing together more than 3,000 founders, investors, and business leaders from across the globe to Sofia, Bulgaria! The event is designed to accelerate entrepreneurship by connecting under-the-radar talent with capital, know-how, and global visibility.

Startups from South-Eastern Europe (SEE) – meaning Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Turkey- but also other countries will take part in a high-energy, content-rich program featuring 30+ interactive formats. From the Startup Expo, Hackathon, and Idea Lab, to the Founders’ Brunch, Co-founder Speed Dating, and practical workshops and sessions. Looks like there will be something for everyone.

A highlight of the conference is the pitching competition, where a winning team will be selected to attend the final of the Startup World Cup in San Francisco, with the chance to compete for $1M in investment. The competition also unlocks €2M+ in investments, term sheets, products, and services from their partners.

In case you were wondering about investors. Interest in the region continues to grow in 2025, with strong participation expected from investors coming from the US, Japan, the Middle East and Western Europe. Crossroads is positioning itself as a gateway to the SEE region’s most promising ventures, and given what they’re sharing about the event, it seems that’s exactly what we can expect in October.

Where: 🇧🇬 Sofia, Bulgaria
When: 29-30 October 2026
More info: https://www.startupcrossroads.com

🇳🇴 Oslo Innovation Week

A WHOLE WEEK to innovate? YES PLEASE. You’ll encounter passionate company founders, scaleup professionals, researchers, and investors all surrounded by Oslo’s expansive cityscape. Attend 60 events to expand your network and acquire insightful knowledge on issues including investing, luring top personnel, and international growth.

Recently, Norway has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons when it comes to startups. Let’s hope this changes!

Check out the event’s video teaser for the 2024 edition with a focus on pioneers (aka, startup folks):

Where: 🇳🇴 Oslo, Norway
When: 19-23 October 2026
More info: https://oiw.no/

🇪🇸 Valencia Digital Summit

Immerse yourself in the epicentre of innovation while enjoying Mediterranean weather all at once at the Valencia Digital Summit 2023! Hosted in the breathtaking City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, this tech and startup event stands as a beacon for thought-leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and tech-enthusiasts worldwide.

Now in its seventh edition, Valencia Digital Summit has grown exponentially, with more than 12,000 attendees in the previous year, and anticipation is higher than ever for the upcoming event. Over two days, you’ll have the opportunity to explore 140+ sessions, engage with 450+ distinguished speakers, network with representatives from 1500+ cutting-edge startups, and discover the latest breakthroughs from 200+ exhibitors.

Featuring a strong focus on technology, innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, the summit will showcase the future trends that will shape our world. Dive deep into engaging discussions, learn from the brightest minds in the industry, and collaborate with key decision-makers and influencers. Previously, the event has attracted speakers from the biggest startups, scaleups and VCs in Spain and beyond, as well as big tech like Google and Microsoft, and journalists from the likes of TechCrunch and Tech.eu.

With support from 65+ prestigious sponsors, the Valencia Digital Summit offers an unmatched platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and inspiration. Don’t miss out on sun, paella and an opportunity to be part of the digital revolution.

Where: 🇪🇸 Valencia, Spain
When: 21-22 October 2026
More info: https://valenciadigitalsummit.com/

🇺🇸 TechCrunch Disrupt

TechCrunch. It’s a biggie! If you don’t want to miss out on this absolute game-changer event, make sure you join the worldwide startup community that assembles annually to share knowledge, work together, and celebrate successes that have shaped founder’s paths so far and those that will be achieved in the future.

While we are not able to detect an upcoming TechCrunch Disrupt in Europe (held in Berlin until the pandemic), why not head to the birthplace of venture and the home of the world’s largest tech companies if you can? One of the OG startup events. You might run into the likes of Sam Altman, Reid Hoffman and Marc Andreessen (even if he’s a bit skeptical of media as of late).

Where:  🇺🇸 San Francisco, US
When: 13-15 October 2026
More info: https://techcrunch.com/events/

🇵🇹 Web Summit

Web Summit brings together decision-makers, chiefs of state, and the founders and CEOs of technology firms and rapidly expanding startups to address a straightforward question: Where to next? At a time when many industries, as well as the entire world, are facing significant uncertainty.

We were there in 2024 and 2025, and had a blast, with JJ MCing two stages, participating in startup pitch judging and the team leading a PR mentoring session. It was a true build-your-own-adventure event with side events aplenty, serendipitious meetings and an entire city that became a playground for startup lovers.

But don’t just take it from us! The Atlantic, whose CEO and legendary journalist Nicholas Thompson could be seen walking around in the last edition, called Web Summit “where the future goes to be born.” Politico called it “the world’s premier Internet conference,” and the New York Times called it “a big gathering of the tech industry’s high priests.” Whatever it is, it doesn’t harm that it takes place in still-sunny-in-November Lisbon. 

The company behind Web Summit also runs other huge startup events, such as Web Summit Rio in Brazil or Collision in Toronto, and has so much experience that it sells its software to big events such as CES and organisations like the UN. These guys know how to run large events.

Lisbon truly turns into a startup fiesta during the event days, which makes it ideal for informal networking, although for some in the latest edition it has resulted in some question marks, and whether such large events are for them. With more than 70,000 expected in Portugal’s capital, its size and gravitas are undeniable. And while most of Europe starts freezing, the still-warm Lisbon weather in November makes Web Summit hard to resist. In a way, its many startup events in one, in the frame of a bigger city-wide festival. And guess what? Yours truly was there in 2025, and likely also in 2026.

Highlights from 2024 for your pleasurable viewing:

Where: 🇵🇹 Lisbon, Portugal
When: 9-12 November 2026
More info: https://websummit.com/

🇫🇮 Slush

Slush marks the peak of the European startup events calendar, as well as the last major event in the calendar. If you head to Slush, you’ll find the largest collection of venture capital in the world and therefore great opportunities. But also the creme de la creme of startup founders, investors and other speakers, (with a slight home advantage for Finnish tech).

A bit smaller than its warmer and broader November counterpart Web Summit, many in the game consider Slush to be more focused and a more productive event. And therefore, the true king of startup events. Slush also runs an insights-packed content platform and newsletter, and the event is one of those key moments in the year when startuppers can get a feel for the pulse of the industry.

The opening speaker could be none other than Anton Osika of Lovable, who got to $200M ARR with record speed and is one of Europe’s biggest AI promises. And let’s not forget, it’s a Nordic poster child. Of course AI was one of the main topics in 2025 in general, with reps from OpenAI closing the main stage. The other main topic? Defence. While the vertical saw investments surge since 2022, it was at this edition that defence finally became a central topic. For many more years to come?

In 2025, Slush expected 5,500 startup founders and operators as well as 3,300 investors from pre-seed to growth to join. Slush is also a priority for media, with more than 250 media reps including many top tier publications. Of course all your known tech and startup media peeps were there. But also the new media folks from etn and Scaling Europe, who held true interview marathons (check out their stuff!). There are lots of stages and tracks, side events (more than 300!) and workshops.

If you were active on LinkedIn during those days, you will have seen that people also raved about the design, lights and animation, but also the overall organisation and dedication of their team.

Slush also runs what is probably the biggest startup pitch contest with the biggest award money of an incredible €1 million from top European investors (startups from Europe and North America that were founded in 2022 or later and have raised less than €2 million in funding are eligible to apply).

The best part? You’re automatically a badass for coming to Helsinki in November!

Where: 🇫🇮 Helsinki, Finland
When: 18-19 November 2026
More info: https://www.slush.org/events/helsinki/