ViennaUP 2026 - The startup festival
May 25, 2026|NH
Thousands gathered for ViennaUP startup and innovation festival 2026
More than 14,000 participants from over 90 countries and 28 international delegations
ViennaUP returned with record momentum in 2026. More than 1,000 CEOs, founders, investors and startup enthusiasts from around the world flocked to Vienna City Hall to network and celebrate the opening of ViennaUP. Over five main festival days (as well as the preceding “WarmUP Weekend”), more than 14,000 participants took part in a packed programme that included over 65 events at 43 different locations; most events were fully booked out. These preliminary results were reported by the Vienna Business Agency, which initiates the annual startup festival and organises it in cooperation with 45 programme partners from the local and international startup sector.
For two female founders, a dream came true: Julia Reisinger and Maria Zahlbruckner from the Vienna-based deep-tech startup factorymaker secured a ticket to Silicon Valley at the Austrian finale of the Startup World Cup. They won over the jury with an AI-supported planning platform for industry. The founders will represent Austria at the global finale in San Francisco and pitch for a grand prize of one million US dollars in investment.
“More than 14,000 businesspeople from all over the world visited ViennaUP to initiate new partnerships and explore Vienna as a potential business location. The festival strategy has proven effective: last year alone, 7.6 million euros in investments triggered by companies that settled here can be attributed to ViennaUP,” says Barbara Novak, Vienna’s Deputy Mayor and City Councillor for Economic Affairs, in her assessment. “At the same time, ViennaUP shows what modern economic policy should be about: innovations that create economic strength while also serving human well-being. Many of the startups that took part this year are working on solutions that show clear social benefits.”
Strong focus on growth, health tech and digital sovereignty
This year, ViennaUP placed a particular emphasis on scaling and growth. Future technologies such as AI and health tech were in focus, as were social impact and financing. Formats such as Connect Day, Impact Days and the Female Founders Experience brought together founders, investors, companies and experts from various sectors. This year, ViennaUP also highlighted the issue of digital sovereignty: at the World Summit Awards Global Congress, digital solutions were presented that create added social value and show how Europe can become less dependent on major global platforms. With the AI startup mytalents, a Vienna-based innovation also made it into the 40 projects recognised worldwide by the World Summit Awards.
In addition, 28 international delegations were guests in Vienna. They came from far and wide: from Central and Eastern Europe, but also from as far afield as India and Korea. The festival enabled them to develop useful contacts, explore new markets and establish partnerships. Through the Vienna Business Agency’s Vienna Startup Package, 15 international startups participated in the festival – including the startup CheckEye from Ukraine, which uses AI to analyse retinal images and detect diseases such as diabetic retinopathy at an early stage.
About the Vienna Business Agency
The Vienna Business Agency is mandated by the city to shape Vienna’s economic future. It develops key sectors that sustainably secure the transformation and competitiveness of Vienna as a business location. Through proactive initiatives, the agency ensures Vienna’s local, regional and international visibility while supporting economic development, the creation of high-quality jobs and the establishment of innovative companies. In addition, the Vienna Business Agency supports the settlement of international companies in Vienna as well as the growth and scaling of local businesses. To that end, the Agency also designs tailor-made services and funding instruments and provides modern production and laboratory space for industry and commerce, particularly in the life sciences.
Watch the video recap in the Aftermovie