In September, Lviv will once again become a meeting point for people shaping the future of technology, business, and innovation in Ukraine. This year’s theme, Leading the Way, reflects a world where technology is evolving faster than ever — and where those building, investing in, and scaling new solutions are helping define its direction. IT Arena will bring them together to exchange experience, share ideas, and explore what comes next.
For security reasons, IT Arena 2026 will take place in an updated format. The exact event location will be announced to participants shortly before the event. The dates remain unchanged: September 25–27 and the conference will take place in Lviv.
“IT Arena is a unique space where, year after year, we see how technology in Ukraine and around the world is changing and evolving. In 2026, we will once again bring the tech community together. Despite the war, Ukraine’s IT industry continues to maintain its position in the global market and demonstrate its ability not only to adapt to change but also to set new directions — building products for Fortune 500 companies, testing solutions in real-world conditions, and setting standards that other countries later study,” says Mykhailo Lemak, CEO of Lviv IT Cluster.
The speaker lineup includes experts whose work is shaping global technology and investment markets. Barry M. Katz, IDEO Fellow and design historian, will explore how product teams that redefine entire industries think and work. Dan Tyre, Founder and CEO of Tyre Angel and HubSpot’s first salesperson, will share insights on building a sales organization capable of scaling a startup from zero to unicorn status. Aleksandra Balkova, General Partner at Startup Wise Guys and Founder of Ethix, will offer an investor’s perspective on what makes startups stand out to funds today. Oleksandr Kolb, Co-founder and General Partner at Toloka.VC, and Katherine Hill Ritchie, Senior Director of Venture Funds at TEDCO, will discuss how to build venture portfolios.
The Ukrainian government will be represented on stage by Oksana Ferchuk, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, who will speak about the Agentic State, and Natalia Denikeieva, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. Dominique Piotet, Managing Partner at Ukraine Phoenix Tech Fund, will share his perspective on investing in Ukraine’s recovery economy.
The current speaker lineup is available on the website and is updated regularly.
The IT Arena 2026 program is built around several key tracks. On the Business Stage, entrepreneurs, company founders, and government representatives will discuss global markets and strategic outsourcing. The Dev Stage will focus on engineering, including complex systems architecture, cloud solutions, and practical insights from CTOs at leading companies. The Product Stage will cover market research, product strategy, and expansion into new markets. The Innovation Stage will explore breakthrough technologies, investment, and innovation ecosystems.
As always, a dedicated track will feature participants in the Startup Competition, where teams will pitch their products to a jury, investors, and the media.
IT Arena 2026 will once again host the Startup Competition — Ukraine’s largest startup contest, and an entry point for teams looking to connect with leading investors.
The grant prize pool has already reached $65,000 and continues to grow. The first-place winner will receive $30,000, the second-place winner $20,000, and the third-place winner $10,000. An additional $5,000 special prize will go to the Startup Competition participant who wins the Tequila Night Batch competition by INNOVA.
For investors and conference participants, the Startup Competition is an opportunity to discover promising solutions in the early stages of their market journey. This year, the organizers will select 40 semifinalists, with six teams competing for the prize pool and attracting the attention of global VCs and investors. The competition’s investment fund currently stands at $12.5 million and continues to grow.
In addition to financial support, the winners will have the opportunity to connect with 150+ investors from Ukraine, Europe, the US, and the Middle East, as well as showcase their products at the Innovation Expo.
More details about the event are available on the website, where four types of tickets are offered, from Standard to Top Tier, with different levels of access to networking areas and services.
Companies planning to attend the conference as a team can receive special group ticket rates. Contact partnership@itcluster.lviv.ua for details.
Organizer: Lviv IT Cluster
Exclusive Government Partner: Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
Exclusive Bank Partner: UKRSIBBANK
Exclusive Partners: Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv City Council, Google, EU4Innovation East
Gold Partners: N-iX, TAITRA, SoftServe, EPAM, Ukrainian Startup Fund, JETRO, Aleph, IITD, Crowdstrike, MISTO, Everstar, blago, EveryMatrix
General Media Partner: LIGA.net
The activity is organised by Lviv IT Cluster, with support from the EU4Innovation East project, funded by the European Union, co-funded by the French Government and implemented by Expertise France.
Media accreditation for the event is now open — applications can be submitted via the link and will be reviewed by the organizers.
Press office contact: pr@itcluster.lviv.ua
In September, Lviv will once again become a meeting point for people shaping the future of technology, business, and innovation in Ukraine. This year’s theme, Leading the Way, reflects a world where technology is evolving faster than ever — and where those building, investing in, and scaling new solutions are helping define its direction. IT […]
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