TNW Conference 2026

Overview

TNW (The Next Web) is Europe’s leading tech festival and conference, first established in Amsterdam in 2006 by Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten and Patrick de Laive. The 2026 edition continues TNW’s rich legacy by combining interactive tech discourse, startup showcases, and cultural engagement, all set within a festival-style experience that cultivates innovation through dialogue and connection.

Key Highlights

• Founder-Centric Festival: Tailored for startups and scaleups, with curated investor meetings, masterclasses, and matchmaking.
• Investor & Corporate Engagement: Hundreds of VCs, CVCs, and corporate innovation teams gather to source new technologies and partnerships.
• Policy & Ecosystem Leadership: Government officials, ecosystem enablers, and NGO leaders partake in strategic panels fostering public–private innovation .
• Multi-track Programming: Features thematic stages like AI, blockchain, sustainability, digital culture, creative tech, and deep dives into emerging trends .
• Festival Atmosphere: Combines business with a cultural festival vibe—venue spills into city spaces as Amsterdam’s urban energy complements conference activities.

Why It Matters

• Tech & Culture Fusion: Delivers an ecosystem-centric event where business meets creativity and community energy.
• Ecosystem Accelerator: Brings together founders, investors, corporates, and policymakers to forge strategic partnerships and testing grounds for pilot projects.
• A Platform for Discovery: Ideal for spotting future unicorns and emerging technology integrations across industries.
• European Tech Catalyst: Rooted in Europe’s startup ecosystem, offering a launchpad into European markets and global technology channels.

Dates: Tentatively June 2026 
Venue: NDSM Docklands, Amsterdam — integrated into the wider FutureFest celebrations