Web Summit has confirmed that its Qatar edition will return to Doha for a third time in 2026, reinforcing the country’s growing role as a regional and global technology hub driven by smart-city innovation, digital transformation, and economic diversification beyond oil.

The organisation made this known, in a statement made available to pressmen, announcing that the Web Summit Qatar 2026 startup programme is officially sold out, with more than 1,600 startups from around the world confirmed to attend.

Web Summit said the event floor has also reached full capacity, with major global companies including IBM, Microsoft, TikTok, Huawei, Snapchat, and Qatar Airways confirmed as partners. It added that tickets for the event are expected to sell out in the coming weeks due to sustained international demand.

According to the organisers, over 30,000 attendees from more than 120 countries are expected at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center between February 1 and February 4, 2026, alongside 700 investors and 600 international media representatives.

A Web Summit spokesperson said the level of interest in the 2026 edition has been unprecedented, particularly from startups, which the organisation described as the future of the global technology ecosystem.

The spokesperson said Web Summit has long been where the next generation of influential founders, investors, and leaders meet, adding that the event continues to play a critical role in driving technological and economic progress.

Web Summit said discussions in Doha will focus on how technology can address global challenges such as financial inequality, healthcare gaps, and climate change, aligning with its mission to unite people and ideas capable of delivering real-world impact.

The organisation noted that artificial intelligence will dominate the agenda, influencing conversations across healthcare, finance, energy, manufacturing, sports, and space. It said the programme will also examine the rise of quantum computing, alongside innovation in fintech, clean energy, government technology, and health.

These discussions will be delivered across 14 dedicated tracks, including the AI Summit, Fintech Summit, New Energy Summit, Government Summit, Sport Summit, Machine Summit, and Health Summit, according to Web Summit.

Web Summit added that its Meetups programme, powered by its proprietary Summit Engine software, will return to Qatar, designed to create more personalised and meaningful connections among attendees through curated small-group meetings.

The organisation also confirmed that global technology leaders will speak at the event, including Canva co-founder and chief operating officer Cliff Obrecht, whose company now serves more than 260 million users worldwide.

Web Summit said its return to Doha forms part of its wider global event series spanning Lisbon, Vancouver, Rio de Janeiro, and Qatar, adding that the Qatar edition reflects the country’s ambition to position itself at the centre of global technology conversations and innovation beyond oil.