The Daily Hive (May 7, 2026 article by Amir Ali) is trumpeting the appearance of Vancouver’s current (Ken Sim) and a previous (Gregor Robertson) mayors at the second Web Summit Vancouver meeting (formerly known as Collisions when held previously in Toronto) here in the city, Note: Links have been removed,
The biggest tech event of the year kicks off next week [May 11 – 14, 2026], and the current and a former Vancouver mayor will be helping to kick off the festivities.
Web Summit 2026 begins this coming Monday [May 11, 2026], and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and former mayor Gregor Robertson, who’s the current Canadian housing minister [and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada], will be sharing a stage to kick off the festivities.
It’s probably the biggest event of the year that isn’t named FIFA World Cup, and it takes place between May 11 and May 14 [2026].
Last year, Web Summit came to Vancouver for the first time, and it brought over 100 of the world’s top leaders in tech to the city.
The 2025 event saw over 15,000 people attend, and this year’s event could draw over 20,000, along with over 1,500 startups, 700 investors, 350 speakers, and delegates from over 120 countries, according to Innovate BC.. [emphases mine]
Opening remarks take place on Monday, May 11, [2026] at 6 pm, and along with Sim and Robertson will be Web Summit CEO and Founder Paddy Cosgrave, and B.C.’s minister of finance, Brenda Bailey.
Other notable speakers who’ll be speaking at the event include Evan Solomon [emphasis mine], Canada’s Minister of AI and Digital Innovation. B.C. Premier David Eby [emphasis mine] will also be speaking on a panel about growing the province’s tech sector.
Beloved physician Gabor Maté [emphasis mine] is also going to be in attendance as a speaker.
Some of the biggest brands and organizations that will be represented include Sony Imageworks, Walt Disney Animation Studios, CNN Business, Forbes, the Harvard Business Review, Aston Martin, and Microsoft.
Last year’s Vancouver event marked the first time a North American city hosted Web Summit.
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While Web Summit is a massive tech event, it won’t draw in as many people as the huge Alcoholics Anonymous Convention that took place last year.
I have a couple of questions First, how much money did we make from last year’s event? I have some data from my May 23, 2025 posting about the estimated financial benefits from the then upcoming (May 27 – 30, 2025) event,
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Destination Vancouver estimates Web Summit Vancouver will produce substantial local economic spinoffs, with nearly $57 million in direct spending and over $93 million in overall economic impact for British Columbia in its first year [emphasis mine].
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Surely by now, they have a rough estimate, if not final numbers. Also, were there extra costs incurred. If so, what were they? Given that our current mayor, Ken Sim, is an accountant, it’s puzzling that he only ever talks about projected benefits (e.g. Web Summit; it’s too early to tell about the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches). If you are curious about how how the Web Summit Vancouver sausage was made, there’s my May 23, 2025 posting, which provides a little information if not all of the story.
Before proceeding to the second question, here’s a May 5, 2026 Government of British Columbia (BC) news release announcing the summit and proclaiming the advantages of holding a technology summit here in BC, Note: Links have been removed,
Summary
Why attend Web Summit Vancouver 2026 in British Columbia? Web Summit Vancouver 2026 showcases B.C. as a global tech hub.
- Web Summit Vancouver returns May 11–14, 2026, connecting global investors and innovators with British Columbia’s fast-growing tech ecosystem
- 15,000+ attendees from 117 countries in 2025 showcased B.C.’s strength in innovation, investment and global partnerships
- British Columbia offers global scale and market access, with 12,000+ tech companies, top talent and strong links to North American and Asia-Pacific markets
Web Summit Vancouver returns May 11–14, 2026, bringing global investors and innovators to British Columbia to connect with investment-ready companies and explore partnership and market entry opportunities in one of North America’s fastest-growing tech ecosystems.
The B.C. Pavilion at the Vancouver Convention Centre will once again serve as a central hub on the show floor, with half day programming blocks dedicated to priority sectors. This structure supports curated connections between global attendees and B.C.’s investment-ready companies and partners across clean tech, AI and quantum, life sciences, creative tech, agritech and marine tech.
As one of the world’s largest and most influential technology gatherings, Web Summit offers international companies, investors and industry leaders direct access to B.C.’s innovation ecosystem and high-growth sectors to explore partnerships, investment pathways and emerging technologies shaping the future economy.
Web Summit Vancouver 2026 Builds on Strong Global Engagement In 2025
The inaugural Web Summit Vancouver in 2025 attracted over 15,000 attendees from 117 countries, generating international visibility for B.C.’s technology sector and innovation ecosystem.
B.C. companies connected with global investors, media and partners through targeted meetings, pitch sessions and on-site programming, supporting new business relationships and export opportunities. These structured engagements helped generate tangible deal flow and accelerate international partnerships.
The event also demonstrated how global gatherings can accelerate market access by bringing decision-makers directly into the province’s ecosystem.
Investment Programming alongside Web Summit Vancouver 2026
With strong momentum from 2025, Web Summit Vancouver 2026 and a coordinated program of host-led events is expected to further expand Vancouver’s global reach and impact.
Beyond the main conference, host-led programming will connect international delegates with investment-ready companies and targeted business opportunities across British Columbia. Delegates can access structured opportunities, including investor showcases, pre-matched B2B meetings, pitch sessions and sector-specific networking events designed to support deal flow, market entry and the establishment of international companies in British Columbia.
As a central hub, the return of the B.C. Pavilion will provide a dedicated space to explore the province’s innovation ecosystem, support meetings, informal networking and direct engagement with companies and partners actively seeking investment and collaboration.
For international attendees, the event offers a direct pathway to:
- Meet investment-ready B.C. companies through curated and pre-qualified engagements
- Participate in pre-matched meetings with investors and buyers
- Gain insight into emerging global technology trends
- Connect with a collaborative and fast-growing innovation ecosystem
British Columbia Tech Ecosystem Offers Global Scale and Investment Potential
British Columbia is home to one of North America’s fastest-growing technology ecosystems, with more than 12,000 companies employing over 180,000 people across the sector. This depth of talent and industry makes B.C. a strong pipeline of investment-ready companies for global partners.
For international investors and companies, B.C. offers a combination of talent, infrastructure and global connectivity that supports long-term growth.
Key advantages include:
- A highly skilled and diverse workforce, supported by nearly 15,000 tech-related graduates each year
- Strong research and commercialization capacity, with globally recognized universities and innovation hubs
- Competitive business costs and a stable operating environment
- Strategic access to North American, Asian and European markets through integrated trade and transportation networks
Vancouver’s tech ecosystem ranks among the top in Canada and is recognized globally for its talent concentration and cost competitiveness, making it an attractive destination for scaling companies.
Global companies including Amazon, Microsoft, SAP and Salesforce have established a strong presence in the province , alongside a growing number of high-value startups and scaleups.
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The focus is clearly business. So, my second question is ‘What is Gabor Maté doing at the ‘techie’ 2026 Web Summit?’ For anyone unfamiliar with Maté, here’s more from his Wikipedia entry, Note: Links have been removed,
Gabor Maté CM (/ˈɡɑːbɔːr ˈmɑːteɪ/ GAH-bor MAH-tay;[1] born January 1944) is a Canadian physician and author. He has worked in family practices and specializes in childhood development and trauma,[2] including long-term effects on physical and mental health, such as autoimmune diseases, cancer, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),[3] and addiction. [emphases mine]
Maté’s approach to addiction emphasizes the role of trauma i [emphasis mine] n the development of substance use disorders, aiming to address underlying emotional pain as part of recovery.[4] He has written five books exploring topics such as ADHD, stress, developmental psychology, and addiction. Some commentators have raised concerns about the scope and evidentiary basis of his claims.[5][6][7]
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Interesting choice, non?
Now for some details, the pricing for the cheapest four-day ticket ‘General attendee’ is $830 CAD (including tax), the same price as last year’s as per my May 23, 2025 posting. A ‘Chairperson’ ticked will cost you $40,000 CAD (including tax). It makes the $1990 CAD (Including tax) price for the ‘Executive’ ticket almost look reasonable. As you might expect, the prices reflect the degree of access you will receive to special events and speakers
Here’s a sampling of the speakers at this year’s event and Maté is not the only unusual choice,
- Michelle Grady, President,Sony Imageworks
- Gary Marcus, AI Expert, Scientist & Author
- Naomi Klein, Activist and writer
- Matt Lyteson, CIO, IBM
- Stephen Walt, Professor, International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
- Rick Glumac, Minister for AI and New Technologies of British Columbia, Government of BC
- Apl.de.ap, Rapper, Black Eyed Peas
- etc.
I’m particularly taken with Apl.de.ap whose profile page revealed this,
Grammy winner Apl.de.Ap is transforming the Philippines via the world’s largest reforestation project. Planting 380M+ trees, he’s blending agroforestry with carbon credits to fight climate change and empower rural communities. Music was just the start.
I love trees.
Web Summit Vancouver 2026 is here should you wish to sign up.
ETA May 22, 2026: I’ve commented on some unexpected choices for speakers; it seems it was even odder than I knew. In “Far-Right Speakers Given a Perch at Vancouver’s Web Summit,” Jen St. Denis reveals some disquieting news in her May 18, 2026 article for The Tyee, Note: Links have been removed,
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Gil Durán, a journalist who has documented and warned about Yarvin’s [Curtis Yarvin, a commentator who has argued for U.S. democracy to be replaced with a corporate surveillance state] appeal to tech elites in the United States, told The Tyee he was invited to debate Yarvin at the conference — but declined. Durán said organizers then asked him to appear in a different format, but the participation of Yarvin “left a bad taste and I lost interest.”
“I’m in the middle of finishing a book about tech fascism, and Yarvin turned down multiple interview requests. Why would I fly to British Columbia to frolic with him in a circus?” said Durán.
“I was then told that Yarvin’s appearance wouldn’t be advertised. That sealed my decision to stay away. If you’re too ashamed to publicize your guest, why invite him?”
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Regarding far-right speakers being invited to speak at the conference, Farrell [Katherine Farrell, vice-president of communications for the conference] told The Tyee the conference organizers believe “in having the courage to hear from everyone impacting the future of tech — those building technology, those deploying it, and those influencing how it is used. The tech world cannot and should not hide from examining every corner of the tech debate.”
Durán said extreme ideas like fascism, eugenics and racism are being “cleverly marketed through ‘debate’ and ‘just asking questions’ journalism,” and he questioned whether Yarvin was truly challenged on his authoritarian ideas at the conference.
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This is not a good look for the Summit, for the politicians, or for the attendees.