ViennaUP 2026: Our Highlights from a Week Full of Impressions

More than 14,000 participants, international delegations, a diverse program, numerous startup pitches, and a truly great time in the city – that was ViennaUP 2026. We look back on a week full of exciting encounters.

Participants at ViennaUP 2026 traveled from over 90 countries. Organized by the Vienna Business Agency, this year’s startup festival featured 65 events across 43 venues. International participation was evident at every level, once again underscoring ViennaUP’s role as one of Europe’s most prominent startup festivals. 

For us at the Austrian Business Agency (ABA), the week was marked by numerous meetings with international founders, startups, and investors. Many young entrepreneurs came with exciting business ideas, spoke to us about their next steps in scaling up, or shared their plans to launch a business in or expand to Austria.

Our Five Highlights of ViennaUP Week

1. Strong international presence and numerous meetings 

With delegations from 28 countries – including India, South Korea, Germany, and the CEE countries – ViennaUP is becoming increasingly international. We at ABA were able to hold a large number of meetings that quickly became very concrete. Topics included market entry, team building, collaborations, and financing issues. For many companies, ViennaUP was their first direct on-site exchange and an opportunity to get to know Austria as a business and innovation hub up close. 

2. Austria as a Hub for the CEE Region 

The momentum coming from Central and Eastern Europe was particularly evident. Many discussions highlighted how strongly Vienna is perceived as a key hub in the region and how it continues to expand its role as a bridge between East and West. Events such as The Recursive CEE Forum have further strengthened this exchange – offering numerous opportunities for international companies.

3. Connect Day as the Main Matchmaking Event 

As in previous years, the ABA had a strong presence at ViennaUP in 2026. Once again, the main highlight for us was Connect Day, ViennaUP’s largest matchmaking event for startups and investors. According to the organizer, Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws), approximately 1,000 participants from 49 countries attended the event. The ABA moderated the Corporate Reverse Pitch and the MedTech Panel and provided consulting services at its own ABA booth. International founders and startups took advantage of our expertise regarding market entry in Austria at several events during the decentralized festival.

4. Strong Collaboration Among Partners in Austria 

One of Austria’s key location advantages became evident throughout the week: easy access to the ecosystem. Key local organizations, led by the Vienna Business Agency – the festival’s organizer –, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws), and many others, work closely and in coordination with one another. For international participants, this means one thing above all: quick and easy networking, as well as clear, easily accessible points of contact for all inquiries. This coordinated collaboration makes getting started easy and creates ideal conditions for concrete next steps.

5. Wrap-up and Networking at the ViennaUP Homebase 

“Talking brings people together” – that’s a typical Austrian saying. It epitomizes hospitality. You could see this for yourself at the ViennaUP Homebase on Karlsplatz, where there were plenty of opportunities to network and make new connections. For us and many participants, the Homebase was also a central meeting place throughout the entire week. The combination of the stunning backdrop of the pond and St. Charles’s Church, the beautiful weather, the Viennese cuisine and music all came together to create a wonderful atmosphere. Many conversations began here over a glass of wine and sunshine or were deepened – well into the night.

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