Web Summit Qatar Committee Gathers in Dublin for 2026 Prep

The Permanent Web Summit Qatar Organising Committee met in Dublin this week alongside Web Summit leadership to finalise preparations for the 2026 edition, scheduled for 1–4 February in Doha. The meeting was convened under the support of Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani, Director of Qatar’s Government Communications Office and Chairman of the Permanent Organising Committee, and included representatives from key ministries and state entities as well as senior Web Summit executives.

Organising Committee Session

Committee members from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Qatar Investment Authority and Qatar Airways joined Web Summit Founder and CEO Paddy Cosgrave and his leadership team. Over several sessions, participants reviewed outcomes from the second Web Summit Qatar (February 2025) and established strategic priorities for the 2026 summit, with an emphasis on elevating the event’s regional and global profile.

Strategic Planning for 2026

Building on a 67% increase in attendance in 2025, organisers outlined initiatives to enhance content depth, secure high-impact speakers and broaden international participation. Plans include expanding industry-specific tracks, strengthening collaboration with innovation hubs worldwide and integrating best practices from flagship Web Summit events in Lisbon and other host cities. 

2025 Edition Metrics and Economic Impact

• Attendance and Participation: The 2025 summit attracted 25,747 participants from 124 countries-a record for the Middle East and North Africa’s largest startup gathering featuring 1,520 startups and 723 investors.
• Ecosystem Development: Web Summit Qatar’s 2025 edition contributed to local job creation and facilitated partnerships across finance, government and technology sectors. Analysis indicates that host-city startups experienced increased funding rounds and market access in the months following the event.
• Economic Uplift: Preliminary figures suggest a significant boost to Doha’s hospitality and services sectors, with hotel occupancy and related tourism indicators surpassing the previous year’s levels.

Ecosystem Rankings and Regional Standing

According to the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report, Qatar climbed three places to rank 76th globally and holds the 6th position among MENA ecosystems, with an annual ecosystem growth rate of 13.6 percent. StartupBlink data corroborates Qatar’s standing as the sixth-ranked ecosystem in the region and highlights an average funding per startup of approximately USD 1.57 million. These improvements reflect concerted efforts to nurture talent, attract investment and showcase local innovation.

Web Summit: Global Footprint

Founded in Dublin in 2009 by Paddy Cosgrave, Web Summit has evolved from a 150-attendee gathering into a global technology platform engaging over one million participants across its flagship events in Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver and Doha. The Lisbon conference alone drew more than 70,000 attendees in 2022, cementing Web Summit’s status as one of the world’s largest technology conventions.

Outlook for 2026

With plans to welcome up to 30,000 participants, Web Summit Qatar 2026 aims to further integrate Qatar into the global innovation map, support the country’s National Vision 2030 and foster sustainable growth in its knowledge-based economy. The upcoming summit will serve as a platform for networking, investment and dialogue on digital transformation, aligning with Qatar’s objective to become a leading hub for technology and entrepreneurship.