Startup Events

Best Startup Events in Belgium

Belgium's startup calendar is spread across many small, often free events: accelerator demo nights in Louvain-la-Neuve and Brussels, monthly angel pitch nights, the European Commission's Apply AI Summit, and in 2027 FOSDEM, Knowledge for Growth and Devoxx.
This guide lists startup, tech, investor and women-founder events in Belgium from November 2026 to the end of 2027. We checked every date on the organiser's own website. Where a date isn't published yet, we say so, and we mark each event as Confirmed (date on the official site), Announced (date from a reliable second source) or Expected (based on past editions only).
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.

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Best Startup Events in Belgium 2026–2027: Calendar from November 2026 to October 2027

DatesEventWhereTypeStatus
6 Nov 2026BeAngels Breakfast Women CircleBrusselsBreakfast for women angel investorsConfirmed
9 Nov 2026Start it @CBC Demo DayLouvain-la-NeuveAccelerator demo day (free)Confirmed
17 Nov 2026Apply AI SummitBrussels and onlineEU AI summit with a startup awardConfirmed
17 Nov 2026BeAngels Investors NightLouvain-la-NeuveAngel investor pitch nightConfirmed
18 Nov 2026Startups x Talents RoadshowGhentStartup hiring evening (free)Confirmed
2 Dec 2026Start it CaféAntwerpFounder community evening (free)Confirmed
9 Dec 2026Start it NoirBrusselsAccelerator graduation showConfirmed
30–31 Jan 2027FOSDEMBrusselsOpen-source developer conference (free)Confirmed
1–3 Feb 2027Config Management CampGhentDevOps conference (free)Confirmed
23–24 Jun 2027Knowledge for GrowthAntwerpHealth and biotech conventionConfirmed
4–8 Oct 2027Devoxx BelgiumAntwerpAI and developer conferenceConfirmed

November 2026

BeAngels Breakfast Women Circle, Brussels: 6 November 2026

📅 BeAngels Breakfast Women CircleConfirmed
DatesFriday 6 November 2026, from 8:30
WhereBeCentral, Brussels
TypeInformal breakfast with a talk and Q&A
Who it's forWomen thinking about becoming business angels
TicketsPrice not published; sign up on the page
Official sitebeangels.eu
BeAngels, the Brussels-based angel network, presents its first circle of women business angels, a peer programme for women making their first startup investments. Women angels from its community explain how they started and what they look for. A second breakfast follows on 9 November at The Nine. Useful for founders too: the more women angels, the more women-led startups get funded.

Start it @CBC Demo Day, Louvain-la-Neuve: 9 November 2026

📅 Start it @CBC Demo Day 2026Confirmed
DatesMonday 9 November 2026, 17:00–22:00
WhereCercle du Lac, Boulevard Baudouin Ier 23, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve
TypeAccelerator demo day and pitch competition
Who it's forFounders, investors, mentors and the Walloon ecosystem
TicketsFree, registration required; places are limited
Official sitestartup.wallonie-entreprendre.be
Up to 15 startups from the Start it @CBC accelerator, the Walloon sister of Start it @KBC, pitch from 18:45, after an alumni panel. It is the easiest free way to see a whole Walloon cohort and the investors who follow it.

Apply AI Summit, Brussels: 17 November 2026

📅 Apply AI Summit 2026Confirmed
Dates17 November 2026, 8:30–17:30, networking until 19:30
WhereThe EGG, Brussels, and online
TypeEU summit on AI adoption, with a startup award
Who it's forAI companies, industry, startups and policy makers
TicketsIn-person registration closed; online places on a waiting list
Official sitedigital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
The European Commission closes its first European AI Innovation Month with this hybrid summit on AI in energy, health, public administration and other sectors. The first Apply AI Startup Award is presented at midday, after pitches by the top 10 finalists. In-person places are gone, so follow it online. More in our AI events list.

BeAngels Investors Night, Louvain-la-Neuve: 17 November 2026

📅 BeAngels Investors Night (November 2026)Confirmed
DatesTuesday 17 November 2026; first-timer session 17:30–18:00
WhereThe POD, Rue de Rodeuhaie 4, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve
TypeAngel investor pitch night
Who it's forBeAngels members and people curious about angel investing
TicketsPrice not published; ticket types for members, guests and first-timers
Official siteluma.com
Five startups pre-selected by BeAngels pitch, after a keynote by Gael Rouvray of intoPIX. Founders can apply to pitch through the BeAngels platform; going once as a guest first shows you what angels ask. The next night is on 8 December (venue to be announced). Read our list of angel investors in Belgium before you go.

Startups x Talents Roadshow, Ghent: 18 November 2026

📅 Startups x Talents Roadshow 2026: GhentConfirmed
Dates18 November 2026, 18:00–20:00
WhereWintercircus, Ghent
TypeStartup hiring evening: talk, Q&A and drinks
Who it's forStudents, young graduates and startups that are hiring
TicketsFree, drinks included; sign-up required
Official sitestudent.be
Organised by Belgium Startup Ecosystem with the FirstMovers community, Student.be and Liantis. A founder, an HR professional and a young graduate talk about startup jobs, then you meet them over a drink. Ghent is the last of five stops; Antwerp, Charleroi, Liège and Brussels took place in October. Good for finding your first hires or interns.

December 2026 and early 2027

Start it Café, Antwerp: 2 December 2026

📅 Start it Café (December 2026)Confirmed
DatesWednesday 2 December 2026, 17:00–22:30
WhereThe Beacon, Sint-Pietersvliet 7, Antwerp
TypeFounder community evening
Who it's forStart it @KBC founders and newcomers to the hub
TicketsFree; sign-up mandatory
Official sitetickettailor.com
Start it @KBC, Belgium's largest accelerator, runs this food-and-drinks evening at its Antwerp hub to welcome new founders. It also has hubs in Brussels, Ghent, Hasselt, Kortrijk and Leuven; its events are listed on Ticket Tailor.

Start it Noir, Brussels: 9 December 2026

📅 Start it Noir 2026Confirmed
DatesWednesday 9 December 2026, doors 18:00, show 20:00
WhereK1 Kanal, Avenue du Port 1, Brussels
TypeAccelerator graduation show and B2C startup market
Who it's forStart it @KBC founders, mentors, partners and guests
TicketsFree for the graduating cohort, experts and partners; others €30 excl. VAT, open bar
Official sitetickettailor.com
Start it @KBC graduates its Fall 2025 cohort, this year together with its Winterfest. From 18:00 a market shows the cohort's B2C startups; the graduation show starts at 20:00, followed by drinks and networking.

FOSDEM, Brussels: 30–31 January 2027

📅 FOSDEM 2027Confirmed
DatesSaturday 30 and Sunday 31 January 2027
WhereULB Solbosch campus, Brussels
TypeOpen-source developer conference
Who it's forDevelopers, open-source projects and technical founders
TicketsFree, no registration
Official sitefosdem.org
Thousands of developers meet at FOSDEM every year. There is no startup programme, but it is the best free place in Europe to hire engineers or find users for a developer tool. The infrastructure-focused Config Management Camp follows in Ghent on 1–3 February 2027, also free.

March to December 2027

On 9 March 2027, Vrouwennet presents the WOMED Award for women entrepreneurs in Flanders (see the women founders section below). The venue isn't announced yet.

Knowledge for Growth, Antwerp: 23–24 June 2027

📅 Knowledge for Growth 2027Confirmed
Dates23–24 June 2027
WhereFlanders Meeting & Convention Center, Koningin Astridplein 20-26, Antwerp
TypeHealth innovation convention with a startup showcase
Who it's forBiotech, medtech, digital health and agtech founders, investors and pharma
TicketsRegistration not open yet
Official siteknowledgeforgrowth.be
Biovia's annual summit brings Belgium's life-sciences sector together for two days of keynotes, a startup showcase and partnering. Worth it if you build in health or biotech; see also our biotech events list.

Devoxx Belgium, Antwerp: 4–8 October 2027

📅 Devoxx Belgium 2027Confirmed
Dates4–8 October 2027
WhereKinepolis Antwerp
TypeAI and developer conference
Who it's forDevelopers, tech leads and technical founders
TicketsPasses not on sale yet; it usually sells out
Official sitedevoxx.be
Five days of talks on AI and software development in a cinema complex. Book as soon as passes go on sale; it is a strong place to recruit developers and test developer products.

Dates not announced yet

  • Belgium Startup Awards and Startup Day: the national startup awards were last held on 2 June 2026 at The EGG in Brussels; expected again in June 2027.
  • ITF World, Antwerp: imec's technology forum was held on 19–20 May 2026; its website doesn't show 2027 dates yet.
  • Digital Finance Summit, Brussels: FinTech Belgium's 10th edition, with the EU Fintech Pitch Battle, took place on 2 December 2025; no 2026 or 2027 edition is announced. fintechsummit.be
  • imec.istart Investor Day: the deep-tech accelerator's investor day was last held in November 2025 in Ghent; no new date yet.
  • Empowermonth, Brussels: hub.brussels' month of events for women entrepreneurs runs every March; the 2027 programme isn't out yet. hub.brussels
  • EIC Summit: the European Innovation Council's summit was held in Brussels in June 2026; no 2027 date.
  • KIKK Festival, Namur: the digital and creative festival ran in late October 2026; the 2027 dates aren't out yet. kikkfestival.be

Past and inactive events

  • Slush'D: Slush's Belgian side event ran in Leuven and then in Ghent (November 2024); nothing has been announced since.
  • Techstars Startup Weekend Brussels and B-Hive events: no recent editions.
  • Startups x Talents Roadshow in Antwerp, Charleroi, Liège and Brussels and the Women Entrepreneurs Festival in Brussels took place in October 2026.

Recurring meetups and communities

  • Start it @KBC: monthly Start it Cafés and other events at its hubs in Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Hasselt, Kortrijk and Leuven. startit-x.com
  • BeAngels: monthly Investors Nights with five startup pitches; the next is on 8 December 2026. beangels.eu
  • BAN Flanders: the Business Angels Network Flanders hears about 136 pitches a year at its sessions across Flanders. ban.be
  • Startup Grind Brussels: a free online pitch and feedback session every month (26 November 2026, then 28 January and 25 February 2027). startupgrind.com
  • hub.brussels: free sessions in English, "How to start a business in Brussels?", for founders born outside the EU (26 November and 15 December 2026, Saint-Gilles). info.hub.brussels
  • StartUp.Wallonia: Wallonie Entreprendre's calendar of founder events across Wallonia. startup.wallonie-entreprendre.be

Events for women founders in Belgium

The calendar has one event built for women: the BeAngels Breakfast Women Circle (6 November in Brussels, again on 9 November). Also:
  • WOMED Award: Vrouwennet's award for women entrepreneurs in Flanders, with two titles, Onderneemster van het Jaar and Belofte van het Jaar (for businesses active 2–6 years). Applications close on 8 November 2026, finalists are named on 11 January 2027 and the award is presented on 9 March 2027, according to VLAIO. vrouwennet.be
  • Women in Business (hub.brussels): a free agenda for women starting a business in Brussels, including Crédal's "Entreprendre au féminin, par où commencer?" sessions (3 November in person, 1 December online) and the online Webi'Lunch talks. womeninbusiness.hub.brussels
  • Empowermonth: every March, hub.brussels fills the month with events and support programmes for women founders in Brussels.
For money, read our guide to funding for female entrepreneurs and the female entrepreneurship events list. If you organise an event for women founders in Belgium, send it to us and we'll add it.

Funding and support to know before you go

  • Innovation & Startup Permit (Flanders): from 1 September 2026, Flanders Investment & Trade uses this name for the professional card route for innovative founders, and non-EU self-employed founders may get fast-track processing if a letter confirms they are mentored by or work with an incubator or knowledge institution. vlaanderen.be
  • Professional card (Brussels): non-EU self-employed people need one; a first card or renewal costs €140 when you apply and €90 when it is issued. economy-employment.brussels
  • Startup Boost (Wallonia): Wallonie Entreprendre invests up to €100,000 per project as a convertible loan in very young tech startups in Wallonia, about 8 weeks from application to decision. Wallonie Entreprendre
  • Tax Shelter start-up: investors in companies under 4 years old get an income-tax reduction of 30% (small companies) or 45% (micro-companies), and 25% for scale-ups aged 5 to 10 years, on up to €100,000 a year in total; a useful point when you pitch to Belgian angels. FPS Finance
  • Innoviris: the Brussels-Capital Region's research and innovation agency co-finances research, development and innovation projects of Brussels companies. innoviris.brussels
  • More in our list of government grants for startups in Belgium and our guide to startup visas in Europe.

How to get the most out of Belgium startup events

  1. Follow the accelerators. Start it @KBC and Start it @CBC run the most regular events, many of them free; their demo days are the fastest way to meet a whole cohort and its investors.
  2. Go to an angel night before you raise. BeAngels and BAN Flanders hold pitch nights every month. Sit in once, then apply to pitch.
  3. Use the free tech events to hire. FOSDEM, Config Management Camp and the Startups x Talents Roadshow cost nothing and are full of engineers and graduates.
  4. Check the language. Events in Wallonia and Brussels are often in French, in Flanders in Dutch; many tech events are in English. Read the event page before you book.
  5. Combine it with a trip nearby. Amsterdam and Paris are less than two hours from Brussels by train. See our guides to startup events in the Netherlands, France and Germany, the Amsterdam and Paris city guides and our guide to startup events in Europe.

List your event in this guide

Do you run a startup, tech or investor event in Belgium? Send us the name, dates, venue and official link, and we'll check whether it fits this guide. We list events for founders, with a real date and an official page.
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.

🔗 Add an awesome event

Startup events in other countries

FAQ

What are the best startup events in Belgium?

For investors, the monthly BeAngels Investors Nights and the Start it @CBC Demo Day (9 November 2026). For developers and tech founders, FOSDEM (30–31 January 2027) and Devoxx Belgium (4–8 October 2027). For health and biotech, Knowledge for Growth (23–24 June 2027).

Are there free startup events in Belgium?

Yes. The Start it @CBC Demo Day, the Startups x Talents Roadshow in Ghent, the Start it Café in Antwerp, FOSDEM and Config Management Camp are free, and Startup Grind Brussels runs a free monthly online pitch session.

When is FOSDEM 2027?

On Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January 2027 at the ULB Solbosch campus in Brussels. Attendance is free and you don't need to register.

Where can I meet investors in Belgium?

At BeAngels Investors Nights (17 November and 8 December 2026), BAN Flanders pitch sessions, the Start it @CBC Demo Day (9 November) and Start it @KBC events. Read our list of angel investors in Belgium.

Are there events for women founders in Belgium?

Yes: the BeAngels Breakfast Women Circle (6 and 9 November 2026), the WOMED Award in Flanders (apply by 8 November 2026) and hub.brussels' Women in Business agenda and Empowermonth in March.

Can foreign founders start a company in Belgium?

Yes. Non-EU founders need a professional card; Flanders offers fast-track processing for innovative founders under its Innovation & Startup Permit. Read more in our guide to startup visas in Europe.

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
2026-10-28 10:27 By country