In September, Lviv will once again become a meeting place for those who determine the development of technology, business and innovation in Ukraine. The theme of IT Arena 2026 is Leading the Way. In an ever-changing world, the event brings together those who develop technological solutions to share experiences and determine what the future will be.
In September, Lviv will once again become a meeting place for those who determine the development of technology, business and innovation in Ukraine. The theme of IT Arena 2026 is Leading the Way. In an ever-changing world, the event brings together those who develop technological solutions to share experiences and determine what the future will be.
For security reasons, this year’s IT Arena will take place in an updated format: the organizers will announce the specific location to participants immediately before the event. The dates of the event remain unchanged — September 25-27, and the conference itself will, as before, be held in Lviv.
"IT Arena is a unique space where every year we see how technologies in Ukraine and the world change and develop. In 2026, we will unite the tech community again. Despite the war, the Ukrainian IT industry maintains its position in the global market and demonstrates the ability not only to adapt to changes, but also to set new approaches: create products for the Fortune 500, test solutions in real challenges, and set standards that other countries then study," comments Mykhailo Lemak, CEO of the Lviv IT Cluster.
The program features speakers whose expertise shapes global technology and investment markets. IDEO Fellow and design historian Barry M. Katz will share how product teams that are changing entire industries think. Dan Tyre, founder and CEO of Tyre Angel and HubSpot’s first salesperson, will share how to build a sales force that can scale a startup from zero to unicorn.
Oleksandra Balkova, General Partner at Startup Wise Guys and founder of Ethix, will share an investor’s perspective on which startups are attracting the attention of funds today. Oleksandr Kolb, Co-founder and General Partner at Toloka.VC, and Catherine Gill Ritchie, Senior Director of Venture Funds at TEDCO, will talk about building venture portfolios.
The state will be represented on stage by Oksana Ferchuk, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, who will give a presentation on Agentic State, and Natalia Denikeeva, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. A look at investments in the Ukrainian recovery economy will be presented by Dominique Piote, Managing Partner of Ukraine Phoenix Tech Fund.
The IT Arena 2026 program is built around several areas. On the Business stage, entrepreneurs, company founders, and government representatives will discuss global markets and strategic outsourcing.
The Dev stage will focus on engineering — architecture of complex systems, cloud solutions, and practical cases from CTOs of leading companies. The Product stage will focus on market research, product strategies, and entering new markets. The Innovation Stage will focus on disruptive technologies, investments, and innovation ecosystems.
A separate section is traditionally given to Startup Competition participants — this is where teams will present their products to the jury, investors, and the media.
Within the framework of IT Arena 2026, the Startup Competition will again take place — the largest startup competition in Ukraine, which every year becomes an entry point for teams into the circle of leading investors.
The grant prize fund is already $65,000 and continues to grow: the team that takes first place will receive $30,000, the second — $20,000, the third — $10,000. An additional special prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the Startup Competition participant who wins the Tequila Night Batch from INNOVA.
For investors and conference participants, the Startup Competition is an opportunity to be the first to see solutions that are just entering the market: this year, the organizers will select 40 semi-finalists, and six teams will compete for the prize pool and the attention of investors with a portfolio of $12.5 million. The winners will receive not only financial support, but also networking with 150+ investors from Ukraine, Europe, the USA, and the Middle East, as well as a stand at the Innovation Expo.
Details of the event can be found on the website, where tickets for the event are also available — in four formats, from Standard to Top Tier, with different levels of access to networking zones and services.
