VDS 2026: two days when Valencia becomes the tech capital

Mark these two dates: on 21 and 22 October 2026, the City of Arts and Sciences turns into a European tech capital. VDS, the Valencia Digital Summit, returns for its ninth edition, and if you were to attend only one professional event in Valencia this year, this is the one. Here is why, and how to make the most of it.

What is VDS?

Born in 2018 at the initiative of Startup Valencia, the association behind the local tech ecosystem, VDS has become in just a few years one of the major technology gatherings in southern Europe. The idea: bring startups, investors, large corporations and institutions together in one place for two days of talks, business meetings and demos. The setting counts for a lot: the stages sit beneath the white arches of the Museu de les Ciències and the Àgora, arguably the most spectacular congress venue in the country.

The 2026 edition in numbers

Organisers announce more than 12,000 attendees from over 120 countries, around 3,000 startups and scaleups, more than 1,500 large companies and 800 investors managing over 300 billion euros in assets between them. The 2025 edition generated 26 million euros of economic impact for the city, up 29% year on year. In other words, for two days, everything the Mediterranean has in the way of founders, funds and recruiters crosses paths between two pools of the City of Arts.

Why go, even without a startup

VDS is not just for founders raising money. If you are looking for a job in tech, it is a full-scale recruitment fair: local and international scaleups come hunting for developers, product, marketing and sales profiles. If you are a freelancer, it is two days of concentrated prospecting, with a badge and a smile. If you are simply curious, the talks sweep across AI, mobility, health, climate and everything shaking up the sector - most often in English. And the city council backs the participation of local startups, a sign that Valencia plays as a team around the event.

Our practical tips

Buy your ticket early: early-bird passes are noticeably cheaper, and some categories (students, jobseekers) get reduced rates depending on the edition. Plan your schedule in advance: the event app lets you book meetings with other attendees, and the best slots go fast. Do not overlook the side events: during summit week, afterworks, pitches and investor breakfasts spring up all over the city, from the Marina to Russafa, and that is often where the real opportunities are born. Finally, come with a one-sentence pitch in English: "what do you do?" is the most-asked question of the fair.

The takeaway

Two days, a setting unlike anywhere else in the world, and the highest density of professional opportunities of Valencia's year: VDS 2026, on 21 and 22 October, deserves a place in your diary right now. To understand why Valencia draws so much tech, read our panorama of the city on the rise, and if the summit gives you the urge to build something, our guide to the autónomo status and our tour of Lanzadera are waiting for you.

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Sources

• Valencia Digital Summit - official site, programme and tickets (vds.tech)
• Startup Valencia - organiser (startupvalencia.org)
• City of Arts and Sciences - venue information

Information verified in July 2026. Dates, figures and ticket prices may change; check the official VDS site before booking. The Daily Valencia is an AI-assisted publication with human review.