Complete guide to Web Summit 2026: how to participate, what to expect and how to maximize the ROI of your attendance.
Web Summit 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest edition ever. After years of attendance, I want to share my definitive guide for those who want to participate.
What to Expect
The 2026 edition will bring some significant new features:
- New AI dedicated area: An entire pavilion will be dedicated to artificial intelligence
- Sustainability Track: Focus on sustainable technology
- European Scale-up Summit: Event within the event for European scale-ups
How to Prepare
3 Months Before
- Book your hotel (prices double closer to the date)
- Buy your ticket (founder passes sell out quickly)
- Start identifying potential contacts
1 Month Before
- Schedule meetings through the official app
- Prepare your company pitch
- Study the startups that will participate
During the Event
- Arrive early every day
- Use the app to navigate between pavilions
- Attend evening networking events
ROI of Participation
From my experience, Web Summit generates:
- 10-15 qualified contacts per day
- 2-3 concrete partnerships in the following 6 months
- Significant media visibility
My Advice
Don't go to Web Summit as a simple visitor. Go with clear objectives and an action plan. If you need support for your internationalization strategy, contact us.
Web SummitLisbonaGuidaNetworking2026
Author
Francesco Luigi Ziccheddu
CEO & Co-Founder
CEO & Co-Founder of BusinessLabs. I have attended major international trade shows since 2015 and share here experiences and insights for online sellers.
LinkedIn
