Startup events in February 2026 – Calendar

Free and open source software developers' conference, covering a wide range of topics and technologies. A major community-driven event for open source enthusiasts and professionals in Brussels.

Community-led cloud conference at CENTQUATRE-PARIS focused on practical engineering sessions over vendor marketing. Strong match for infrastructure startups and DevOps-first teams working on Kubernetes, platform tooling, and secure cloud operations.

World's largest AV and systems integration expo, held at Fira Barcelona with 70,000+ attendees and 1,400+ exhibitors. Covers digital signage, immersive experiences, unified communications, and smart building technology. Strong for creative tech, AdTech, and workplace technology startups seeking enterprise and venue operator partnerships.

Conference and expo at ExCeL London covering enterprise AI, data platforms, and applied machine learning, co-located with IoT and Blockchain expos. Attracts thousands of developers and enterprise buyers. Free expo passes available; paid conference passes about GBP 499-1099. Strong for AI and data startups targeting enterprise customers.

Expo and conference at ExCeL London focused on cloud security, zero-trust architecture, and enterprise cyber resilience, co-located with major tech expos. Attracts CISOs, IT security teams, and solution buyers. Free expo passes available; paid passes about GBP 499-1099. Relevant for cybersecurity startups seeking enterprise and government clients.

Data centre infrastructure conference at ExCeL London exploring sustainable facilities, cloud infrastructure, and edge compute solutions. Brings together data centre operators, cloud providers, and infrastructure investors. Co-located with major tech expos for cross-sector networking. Relevant for startups in cooling tech, energy optimization, and edge computing.

Enterprise-focused conference at ExCeL London featuring sessions on digital strategy, modernization, and technology-enabled organizational change. Co-located with major tech expos attracting thousands of enterprise buyers and IT decision-makers. Valuable for B2B startups offering digital transformation tools, change management platforms, and workflow automation.

Global fresh-produce trade fair with a Smart Agri focus and dedicated startup day. Price: about EUR 48 day ticket or EUR 88 permanent pass. Best for agri-tech founders selling to growers, distributors, and retailers.

Conference track at ExCeL London covering RPA, AI-driven process automation, and the future of work, co-located with major tech expos. Attracts enterprise operations leaders and automation buyers from finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Relevant for startups building intelligent automation, workflow orchestration, and AI-powered business process tools.

Massive IoT event co-located with AI & Big Data and Blockchain expos. Price: free Expo Pass; paid passes about GBP 499-1099. Strong for edge computing, industrial IoT, smart cities, and applied IoT across transport and healthcare.

Networking forum at the Swiss Stock Exchange in Zurich showcasing Italian startups and fostering cross-border partnerships between Italy and Switzerland. Features pitch sessions, investor panels, and structured B2B meetings. Valuable for Italian tech founders seeking Swiss capital, distribution partners, and access to the DACH market.

One-day life sciences convention in Heidelberg featuring biotech keynotes, startup pitch competitions, and investor panels. Organized by BioRN, the Rhine-Neckar biotech cluster, and attended by pharma executives, academic researchers, and VCs. Strong entry point for early-stage biotech and medtech founders seeking funding and strategic partnerships.

Monthly community meetup for French founders, investors, and operators in London. Typically held on the first Thursday of the month at venues like The Arboretum or Huckletree.

Iceland's largest IT conference and expo at Harpa, organized by Sky (Icelandic Computer Society) with the University of Iceland and Reykjavik University. Multi-track program of talks and an exhibition covering software, AI and emerging tech.

Southeast Europe's premier startup investment conference connecting Western Balkan founders with international VCs and corporate investors. Features curated startup pitching, investor panels, and structured 1:1 matchmaking. Attracts 500+ attendees with a high investor-to-founder ratio.

Hospitality and gastronomy trade fair with an innovation area for food tech and digital operations. Price: about EUR 35-50 for trade visitors. Strong for POS, kitchen robotics, and novel food ingredients.

Large-scale IT and networking conference with training labs, cloud infrastructure sessions, and the World of Solutions expo. Price: about EUR 700 expo-only to EUR 2700 full conference. DevNet Zone is strong for developer founders and platform integrations.

Matchmaking event for Horizon Europe mobility calls. Price: free with registration. Focused on 1:1 meetings to build consortia for non-dilutive EU funding.

World-leading organic food trade fair with the Novelty Stand for trendsetting products. Price: about EUR 32-74 depending on booking phase. Essential for organic and plant-based brands seeking retail listings.

Europe's defining energy industry fair with Smart Energy and innovation sectors. Price: about EUR 75 day ticket or EUR 225 for 3-day pass. Great for renewable energy, smart metering, and grid intelligence startups.

Fintech demo conference with a no-slides rule: 7-minute live product demos only. Price: about GBP 2299 general, with startup rates around GBP 799. Audience skews to senior banking decision makers looking for vendors.

Information day on funding opportunities for health-related projects under the Horizon Europe framework programme, specifically for Cluster 1 (Health). Provides guidance for applicants and consortia.

Natural and organic personal care fair running alongside BIOFACH. Price: included with BIOFACH ticket (about EUR 32-74). The Breeze show spotlights newcomers and niche beauty brands.

Specialized bioeconomy and bioenergy event covering biomass, waste-to-energy, and carbon capture. Price: free for verified professionals or about EUR 50-100. Includes startup pitches and B2B matchmaking for industrial pilots.

Nordic/Baltic scale-up conference at Friends Arena with 7,500+ attendees and 400+ investors. Known for stage-specific pitch competitions and a strong sustainability and ESG focus.

Large-scale AI conference at the Palais des Festivals with 10,000+ attendees, 320 speakers, and 220+ exhibitors expected for 2026. Program tracks include AI for Business, AI Governance, and Health AI, making it a high-value venue for founders seeking enterprise pilots and investor visibility.

Focused networking for the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking. Price: free with application/registration. Targets SMEs and startups collaborating on hydrogen and electric flight tech proposals.

Leading European blockchain and Web3 conference in Barcelona, bringing together 3,000+ crypto founders, investors, and enterprise blockchain leaders. Features startup pitching, regulation panels, and fintech innovation talks. Covers DeFi, tokenization, and institutional digital assets. Particularly relevant for Web3 startups seeking European market visibility.

Local pitch battle in Rome as part of Startup Grind's global competition series, with the winner advancing to regional finals. Features jury feedback, networking, and investor exposure. Date TBA (February). Valuable for early-stage Italian founders seeking pitch practice and visibility with Rome's investor community.

Pure B2B expo for e-commerce service providers. Price: free with B2B registration and approval. High ROI for startups selling logistics, payments, marketing automation, or retention tools.

Long-running local startup meetup in Lodz focused on practical feedback, mentorship, and early-stage networking. The #402 edition continues a grassroots format that is especially accessible for first-time founders and local ecosystem participants.

Switzerland's flagship cybersecurity conference in Zurich featuring CISO panels, live attack simulations, and a startup zone for security vendors. Attracts 2,000+ security professionals, government officials, and enterprise buyers. Tickets from CHF 150.

Grassroots networking meetup in Paris for early-stage AI founders, angels, and local builders. Smaller format designed for candid conversations, quick pitches, and co-founder or talent discovery in the pre-seed ecosystem.

Season kickoff event at the Madrid Stock Exchange connecting Spanish startups, investors, and ecosystem partners. Features keynotes, startup showcases, and structured networking for the Iberian tech community. Valuable for founders entering the Spanish market and investors scouting early-stage deal flow from Southern Europe.

Partnering conference focused on Horizon Europe collaboration. Price: about EUR 150 (VAT included). Structured around pitches and 1:1 meetings across health, energy, mobility, and digital tech.

Jewelry and watch trade fair with the Trendfactory forum on retail tech, 3D printing, and wearables. Price: about EUR 34 early online to EUR 79 on-site.

Weekend hackathon and pitch competition in Barcelona for student founders, organized by START Barcelona. Features mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, technical workshops, and jury pitches. Valuable for pre-seed founders and university teams looking to validate ideas and connect with the Barcelona startup ecosystem.

Retail tech hotspot integrated into EuroShop 2026. Price: about EUR 70 day ticket or EUR 120 full event. Focus on checkout-free stores, AI analytics, and omnichannel payment systems.

The world's largest retail trade fair, held triennially in Dusseldorf and attracting 90,000+ visitors from across the global retail ecosystem. Showcases immersive store tech, analytics, digital signage, and next-generation checkout solutions. Day tickets cost about EUR 70-120. Essential for retail tech startups seeking enterprise pilot opportunities.

AI-for-social-good hackathon grand finals in Madrid featuring mentoring sessions, live demos, and awards for impact-driven solutions. Brings together AI researchers, social entrepreneurs, and impact investors. Strong for AI startups building solutions in healthcare, education, and sustainability seeking visibility and pilot partnerships.

Flagship antibody-drug conjugate summit in London bringing together biopharma leaders, biotech investors, and clinical researchers. Covers next-generation ADC design, payload innovation, and clinical trial data from leading oncology programs. Valuable for biotech startups developing targeted therapies and seeking licensing or co-development partnerships.

Investor-focused conference in Vienna connecting LPs, GPs, and family offices across the DACH private equity and venture capital markets. Features structured networking, fund manager presentations, and LP-GP matchmaking sessions. Valuable for startups seeking growth equity and founders looking to understand the Central European investor landscape.

Customer service and contact center event centered on AI, automation, and CX tech. Price: expo-only often free/low cost; congress passes about EUR 1500+. Good for chatbot and voice automation startups.

Coding challenge and networking event at Google for Startups Campus in Warsaw, designed for developers and technical founders. Useful for recruiting, team formation, and early-stage product validation in software and AI-focused projects.

Deep-tech transfer forum connecting research, startups, investors, and public sector partners. Price: about EUR 22 (visitor) to EUR 190 (full networking pass). Ideal for university spin-offs seeking tech transfer partners, grants, and R&D pilots.

Conference-led event on energy efficiency and renewables with 600+ experts from 60 countries. Price: about EUR 390 for full conference, with student discounts. Strong for policy-focused green tech founders.

Infrastructure security forum hosted at Sound Garden Hotel focused on resilience of critical systems in utilities, telecom, and enterprise IT. High-signal venue for cybersecurity startups targeting B2B and public-sector pilots in Poland.

Annual startup pitching event in Oulu, Finland, where founders literally pitch their ideas while standing in an ice-hole cut in the frozen Baltic Sea. Attracts international media attention and a lively audience of investors and ecosystem builders. Memorable entry point for startups seeking Nordic visibility and viral marketing moments.

Expo and conference in Amsterdam focused on the latest trends and innovations in financial technology. Covers payments infrastructure, open banking, embedded finance, and crypto regulation. Attracts fintech founders, banking executives, and investors. Valuable for fintech startups seeking partnerships and market expansion in the Benelux region.

High-level forum in Brussels on EU digital policy, AI competitiveness, and innovation-friendly regulation, bringing together MEPs, commissioners, and tech industry leaders. Features policy debates and networking with European regulators. Essential for startups navigating EU regulatory frameworks and seeking influence on digital policy outcomes.