Preparations for the third edition of Web Summit Qatar

Doha, Qatar - The Permanent Web Summit Qatar Organizing Committee has intensified preparations for the third edition of Web Summit Qatar (WSQ), scheduled to take place from 1–4 February 2026 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).

During its latest regular meeting, the committee reviewed progress on several core tracks for the 2026 edition, including the confirmation of high-profile speakers, the expansion of strategic international partnerships, and efforts to attract global trade and investment delegations. These updates build on the rapid growth of Web Summit Qatar, which in 2025 welcomed 25,747 attendees from 124 countries, 1,520 startups and 723 investors, making it the largest startup gathering in the Middle East.

The committee’s work aims to ensure that the 2026 event continues this upward trajectory, with a particular focus on deepening links between regional founders and global capital, media and technology partners.

Momentum from Web Summit Lisbon 2025

The meeting also reviewed the outcomes of Qatar’s recent participation at Web Summit Lisbon 2025, which concluded last week. Qatar’s national pavilion, branded under Startup Qatar, recorded more than 4,000 visitors over the course of the summit, attracting investors, entrepreneurs and technology experts interested in the country’s innovation landscape.

The delegation showcased a wide range of investment opportunities, incubation and acceleration programmes, and national initiatives supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and the digital economy. This engagement generated hundreds of expressions of interest from startups seeking to join the Startup Qatar programme or register with the Qatar Financial Centre, reinforcing Qatar’s positioning as a competitive destination for technology companies and founders.

Insights, networks and partnerships developed in Lisbon are now feeding directly into the planning for Web Summit Qatar 2026, helping to refine programme themes, partner activations and startup outreach ahead of the event.

IBM confirmed as official AI partner for Web Summit Qatar 2026

As part of its latest update, the committee confirmed that IBM will serve as the official artificial intelligence partner for Web Summit Qatar 2026.

This partnership forms part of a broader agreement under which IBM acts as the Official AI Partner across all Web Summit 2026 conferences in Qatar, Vancouver, Rio de Janeiro and Lisbon. IBM will support a series of on-floor activations and curated content programmes focused on AI and quantum technologies for business, reinforcing the central role of emerging technologies in the conference agenda.

For Doha, the collaboration is expected to enhance the depth of technical sessions, startup engagement opportunities and enterprise-focused use cases showcased at Web Summit Qatar 2026, particularly in sectors where AI adoption is accelerating across the region.

Launch of the IBM Sports Tech Challenge

The committee also announced the launch of the IBM Sports Tech Challenge at Web Summit. The competition is designed to spotlight startups building enterprise-grade sports technology and AI solutions, from athlete performance analytics and injury prevention to smart venue operations and enhanced fan engagement.

The first stage of the challenge will be hosted at Web Summit Qatar 2026, where selected startups will pitch their solutions to expert judges and potential partners. Subsequent regional rounds are planned for other Web Summit events in Vancouver and Rio, culminating in a global final at Web Summit Lisbon 2026.

By anchoring the opening phase of the competition in Doha, the organisers aim to position Qatar as a key launchpad for next-generation sports technologies, leveraging the country’s strong track record in hosting major sporting events and investing in advanced digital infrastructure.

Strengthening Qatar’s role as a global innovation hub

The continued build-up to Web Summit Qatar 2026 comes on the back of two successful editions that have significantly raised Qatar’s profile on the global technology map. The 2025 conference, held at DECC, was sold out and confirmed Web Summit Qatar’s status as the region’s largest startup-focused event, with strong participation from global partners such as Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, TikTok and Huawei, and a notable rise in women-founded startups.

These developments align with national efforts to accelerate digital transformation, attract high-growth companies and diversify the economy under Qatar National Vision 2030. With IBM’s AI partnership and the new Sports Tech Challenge anchored in Doha, the 2026 edition of Web Summit Qatar is being positioned as a key platform for shaping the future digital economy in the Middle East and beyond, while deepening Qatar’s role as a convening point for founders, investors, policymakers and technology leaders from around the world.