The top 8 start-up events for founders to attend in 2026

Starting a new business can be exciting, but it can also be tough. You’re going to need a lot of information, advice and support, as well as that all-important funding. You’ll also need to be making connections to find new clients and partners, and help your startup grow.

This is why it’s a good idea for startup founders to attend industry events, but which are the best ones to be adding to your calendar?

Read on for a rundown of all the top startup events for founders to attend in 2026. This includes networking events, conferences and industry-specific events, some of which are free to attend.

And if you’re exploring financial solutions for your startup, make sure to check out Wise Business. It’s ideal for companies of all sizes, especially if you have big plans to go global.

💡 Learn more about Wise Business

8 startup events to sign up to today

As the founder of a startup, your time is precious. This means that if you’re taking time out to attend an industry event, it needs to be worth your while.

However, attending business events can potentially be a springboard to something bigger for your startup - whether it’s a valuable new contact, a lead on funding or advice and support from industry experts who’ve been in your shoes.

Let’s take a look at some of the best start-up events founders should attend over the next 12 months so that you can plan your calendar.

1 - American Dreams, London

Date: 18th February 2026

Wise Business is teaming up with SeedLegals, Ellis Porter - The Immigration Attorneys and Perlego to host ‘American Dreams: How to expand your startup to the US’ - the definitive networking event and panel discussion for UK startups ready to go global.

Join us to learn:

• How to create a US entity
• How to hire a local team in the US The best way to manage your multi-currency finances
• How to navigate US immigration for your global talent

Want to be in the room? Apply for your spot now here.

2 - START Summit 2026, Switzerland

Dates: 19th and 20th March, 2026

The START Summit is one of Europe’s largest and most established start-up conferences, organised by students at the University of St. Gallen. It focuses on building connections between early‑stage founders, investors, corporates and tech talent from around the world.

Across two days, 6,000+ participants will take part in thousands of scheduled meetings. ¹ Expect a mix of keynotes, panels, workshops and curated networking, ideal for founders looking to raise visibility and land partnerships.

There’ll also be dedicated sessions for pitching, investor introductions, collaboration opportunities and talent recruitment, making it one of the most action‑packed opportunities before mid‑2026.

3 - Tech.eu Summit London 2026, London

Dates: 21st to 22nd May 2026

Estonia’s flagship start-up and tech conference is ideal for founders ready to scale internationally or those who are ready to explore European ecosystems. Not to mention, those seeking investor exposure.

Expect 3,500+ attendees from 70+ countries with around 800+ investors.² There are L59 Pitch Competitions and past winners have even secured millions in follow-on funding. Plus, workshops, side sessions and themed discussions that cut across tech, policy, investment and sustainable innovation.

4 - Latitude59 2026, Estonia

Dates: 2nd to 3rd December, London

If your startup operates in or adjacent to the finance sector, these twin events held at Excel London are well worth attending.
Tokenize: LDN focuses on showcasing technologies, platforms, and investment strategies unlocking institutional adoption of tokenized RWAs.

It brings together institutional investors, blockchain developers and Web3 founders, banks, fintechs, venture capitalists and early stage accelerators all under one roof.

It runs alongside FinTech Connect, which in 2025 celebrates its 10th anniversary. The event has become known as a flagship fintech event for the UK, and one of the most powerful hubs for financial and asset innovation in Europe.

5 - South Summit, Madrid

Dates: 3rd to 5th June 2026

As one of Europe’s most established start-up and innovation festivals, South Summit connects start-ups with global investors, corporations and media. It’s ideal for those seeking international visibility and investor introductions, and will likely leave you inspired with your next scaling strategy.

As well as start-up competitions with finalist pitches and potential investor follow-ups, there are keynotes and expert panels, networking zones and curated meet-ups designed for high-quality conversations.

6 - Viva Technology, Paris

Dates: 17th to 20th June 2026

VivaTech is one of Europe’s largest innovation festivals, and a major hotspot for start-ups, corporates and VCs.

The four-day event promises panels, masterclasses, talks and more on trends across AI, sustainability, biotech and future tech.

There will be brand activations and showcases where start-ups can demo their products and pitch for partnerships. This makes it a great option if you want to build awareness or secure pilots.

7 - Web Summit, Lisbon

Dates: 9th to 12th November 2026

Possibly the largest tech conference in the world, Web Summit draws founders, investors, media and corporate leaders from across the globe.

Over the four days, you can expect talks and masterclasses covering everything from AI and sustainability to business growth and growth hacking. There’s a specialist start-up programme and pitch stages where founders showcase to investors and partners.

Plus, dedicated areas for mentorship sessions and themed lounges.

8 - FinTech Connect & Tokenzie: LDN 2026, London

Dates: 1st and 2nd December 2026

This dual event focuses on fintech innovation and institutional digital finance. First, FinTech Connect showcases payments, banking tech and financial services trends, while Tokenize LDN focuses on asset tokenisation and digital capital markets infrastructure.

It’s perfect if your start-up operates in fintech or finance infrastructure, or if you’re targeting enterprise and institutional partners.

Panel discussions and product showcases will dive into emerging technologies, while networking opportunities with banks, asset managers, VCs, regulators and fintech founders will provide the chance to ask your burning business questions.

💡 You may also like: must-see Venture Capital events

Grow your company and go global with Wise Business

Researching funding options for your startup? You’ll also want to make sure you’re set up with the right business account.

Open a Wise Business account and you can hold and exchange 40+ at once. You can send fast, secure payments to 140+, and get account details (only with Wise Business Advanced), to get paid in 8+ like a local. Whenever you need to send, spend or exchange foreign currencies, you’ll benefit from the mid-market exchange rate, with low, transparent fees.

You’ll also benefit from all of these features with Wise Business:

• No ongoing fees, minimum balance requirements or foreign transaction fees
• Debit and expense cards for you and your team, which you can use in 150+
• Multi-user access for team members, with ways to control and manage permissions
• Pay up to 1,000 people at once with the Wise batch payments feature
• Integrate with your favourite cloud accounting solutions
• Use the powerful Wise API for automation and streamlining workflow
• Take advantage of Wise Interest to make your funds work harder when you’re not using them (capital at risk).

With a truly global account, you’ll be all set to grow your business worldwide.

Register with Wise Business🚀

Investments can fluctuate, and your capital is at risk. Interest is offered by Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise Payments Ltd. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you're uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.

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2026 is set to be a full year of business events - all of which offer excellent opportunities to build relationships, learn from industry leaders and explore international investment prospects.

It goes without saying that you’ll leave inspired and energised for the next stage of your growth. But attending these events can also help you stay ahead of industry trends and spot opportunities before they become mainstream. Beyond networking and funding, you’ll gain insights into emerging technologies, regulatory changes, innovative business models and potential growth ideas.

In fact, whether you’re seeking mentorship, partnerships, inspiration or more, these conferences and events provide the perfect environment to accelerate your start-up’s growth and global reach.

But tickets are being snapped up fast, so if one takes your fancy - don’t delay reserving your place.

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*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QuickPay QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.

Sources used:

1. My Switzerland - START Summit
2. Latitude59 - About the event

Sources last checked on date: 29-Jan-2026

*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QuickPay QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.