The biggest tech event of the year kicks off next week, and the current and a former Vancouver mayor will be helping to kick off the festivities.
Web Summit 2026 begins this coming Monday, and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and former mayor Gregor Robertson, who’s the current Canadian housing minister, will be sharing a stage to kick off the festivities.
It’s probably the biggest event of the year that isn’t named FIFA World Cup, and it takes place between May 11 and May 14.
Last year, Web Summit came to Vancouver for the first time, and it brought over 100 of the world’s top leaders in tech to the city.
The 2025 event saw over 15,000 people attend, and this year’s event could draw over 20,000, along with over 1,500 startups, 700 investors, 350 speakers, and delegates from over 120 countries, according to Innovate BC.
Opening remarks take place on Monday, May 11, at 6 pm, and along with Sim and Robertson will be Web Summit CEO and Founder Paddy Cosgrave, and B.C.’s minister of finance, Brenda Bailey.
Other notable speakers who’ll be speaking at the event include Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of AI and Digital Innovation. B.C. Premier David Eby will also be speaking on a panel about growing the province’s tech sector.
Beloved physician Gabor Maté is also going to be in attendance as a speaker.
Some of the biggest brands and organizations that will be represented include Sony Imageworks, Walt Disney Animation Studios, CNN Business, Forbes, the Harvard Business Review, Aston Martin, and Microsoft.
Last year’s Vancouver event marked the first time a North American city hosted Web Summit.
You can see a full list of speakers and exhibitors, view the full Web Summit schedule, and also buy tickets on the Web Summit website.
While Web Summit is a massive tech event, it won’t draw in as many people as the huge Alcoholics Anonymous Convention that took place last year.