IT Future Fest 2026: The Fifth Edition Gathered Those Who Build Ukrainian IT in Lviv 

On April 24, Lviv became the epicenter of cross-generational career and technology networking. The fifth IT Future Fest brought together a record 7,000 participants, both onsite and watching online streams — along with 20 companies and 8 educational institutions from Kyiv and Lviv. This year’s event reinforced its role as the largest platform for dialogue among schoolchildren, students, educators, and tech companies.

“We need exceptional engineers now more than ever — professionals ready to counter large-scale cyber threats, create world-class products, and win in global markets. What you do today matters for Ukraine. And honestly, you won’t find a more powerful opportunity than being here at this event,” said Andriy Moskalenko, First Deputy Mayor of Lviv.

Fundamental Education vs. Fast Skills

Much of the event’s discussion centered on the university’s role as a bridge between school and a first job. The high school reform launching in 2027 is designed to address the growing talent shortage by changing the very logic of education. According to Dmytro Zavhorodniy, Deputy Minister of Education, the transformation of upper secondary school into specialized lyceums will finally give students true ownership of their educational path. With the freedom to choose their focus, young people will no longer spend their first year at university figuring out whether they made the right choice.

Yet the success of such early specialization is impossible without close synergy with higher education. Natalia Shakhovska, Rector of Lviv Polytechnic, notes that universities are preparing for a deeper dialogue with schools, as the final year curriculum must be integrated into bachelor-level programs.

“IT — like any industry — requires lifelong learning. But it is strong fundamental education that keeps professionals competitive for years and enables successful career shifts,” she emphasized. Businesses see schools and universities as the basis for building an intellectual framework for future talent. Maksym Palamarenko from N-iX cautions young people, “We can teach juniors to code, but the real foundation is formed at school and university — giving a 10x advantage over those who only learn syntax.” 

Medical Cyberpunk and the Professions of Tomorrow

The central question on every student’s mind today: “What specialists will business be looking for in 4–5 years, when I graduate?” As Volodymyr Karpiv, Head of R&D at SoftServe, noted, “We are now on the threshold of one of the great technological revolutions.”

Andriy Petlovanyy, a Principal Architect at GlobalLogic, highlighted advances in human-tech integration, including artificial organs controlled via a smartphone.

“Cyborgs are ordinary people seeking a normal quality of life — you wouldn’t even notice it — they are happy, social, and fully alive,” he explained.

A separate focus was on surgical robots — thanks to their precision mechanics, they can suture even the skin of a grape, eliminating the tremor in a surgeon’s hands.

The key forecast for young people: AI will not replace engineers in the physical world for a long time, since developing just one tool for a robot can take seven years. Embedded engineers and robotics specialists will be in exceptionally high demand. The speaker highlighted three pillars of success in the field: English, mathematics, and creativity.

Building a Career from Day One

At the panel discussion on launching a career during studies, speakers emphasized that success is defined not by grades but by the ability to turn theory into real-world cases. Ilona Kenyo (CEO of EcoDino and a Data Science student at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv) and Olya Rybenchuk (Middle Robotics Engineer at SoftServe and a master’s student at Lviv Polytechnic National University) prove that proactivity opens any door. As Olya noted, professors are happy to support practical coursework that serves as the foundation for a CV. Moderator Oleksandr Reminny — lecturer at Lviv Polytechnic and author of the YouTube podcast and book “Startup Kitchen” — underlined that failed founders don’t exist: even a “failed” startup is a necessary iteration on the path to the goal.

Growth starts with the right environment. Hlib Tovsteniuk (CEO of Tovsteniuk Agency and a bachelor’s student in IT Sales Management at Lviv Polytechnic) recalled finding his first client in a coworking space while simply doing homework — a client noticed code on his screen. This confirms that opportunities appear wherever a student isn’t afraid to be visible in the professional community. Speakers agreed: business is ready to invest in young people, but the first step — from pitching to finding a mentor — always belongs to the student.

The Practical Dimension

The hands-on part of the IT Future Fest turned the venue into a place where theory became practice instantly. Leading IT companies and educational foundations ran 21 workshops for schoolchildren, students, and educators.

EveryMatrix immersed students in the world of non-technical skills essential in IT: with Anna Yatskiv, pupils learned to create technical documentation, and with business analyst Victoria Lutsko, they explored how to combine AI with critical thinking. For those already preparing for their first job offers, Liliia Kostyshyn from N-iX held a self-presentation masterclass, helping participants structure their CVs and perform confidently in interviews.

The educator workshop stream also offered new formulas for success: Oleksandr Dumyshinets from Osvitoria stressed that empathy and leadership are the foundation that enables young people to create something unique rather than simply compete with neural networks. Meanwhile, the Mriiya ecosystem team taught educators how to design lessons using digital tools, demonstrating that a modern school should be just as tech-forward as a top tech company office.

The Meeting Point

At the expo zone, 20 companies introduced visitors to IT from the inside — sharing their projects and answering guests’ questions. Young people could learn about internship opportunities, employment options, and career development paths within the industry.

“Our presence here is a great opportunity to connect and find potential future strong candidates who can make a real impact on business growth,” shared Serhiy, a representative at the SoftServe stand.

Through their presence, companies demonstrated a shift from simple hiring to a strategic partnership with young talent.

As Yevhenia from Ajax Systems explained, “It is crucial for us to give young people opportunities to grow. Through the Ajax Next program, we help students develop their technical skills right here in Ukraine. We are a Ukrainian product, and we must invest in young people’s knowledge, advancing Ukraine on the world stage.”

This openness to dialogue allowed future specialists to identify companies for internships or employment. Schoolgirl Anya shared that it was valuable to speak with companies and find out which ones hire juniors, while students were thrilled to have arranged interviews with their dream companies.

The Interactive Side of IT Future Fest

Alongside the program, participants enjoyed partner-led activities and giveaways this year. The grand prize — an HP OmniBook 3 laptop from electronics retailer Computer Vsesvit — went to one lucky attendee. A Grade English language course was also raffled off. IT Future Fest 2026 guests participated in a bingo challenge from IT Club Loyalty — offline participants completed on-site tasks and were guaranteed prizes.

Setting Course for the Future

The main takeaway from IT Future Fest 2026: the wall between education and real work is coming down. The event proved that today’s student is no longer merely a lecture-hall listener, but a potential startup founder, medical cyberpunk engineer, or security systems architect.

About IT Future Fest: IT Future Fest is the largest career development event in IT for young people, uniting schoolchildren, students, teachers, and IT companies. The festival’s mission is to build a bridge between education and industry, inspire the next generation, and shape a strong IT ecosystem in Ukraine.

More photos from the event can be found via the link.

Organizer: Lviv IT Cluster
Partners: SoftServe, EveryMatrix, N-iX
Media partners: Mezha, Happy Monday, UA.News
Prize partners: «Комп’ютерний Всесвіт», Grade