Startup Events

Must Attend Startup Events in Brussels, Belgium

November is Brussels' busiest startup month: the EU's Apply AI Summit, the free FARI AI conference and demo day, Brain Innovation Days and two weeks of free women-in-tech events at BeCentral. In 2027, FOSDEM, OCX, the Banking Scene and Cybersec Europe follow.
This guide lists startup, tech, investor and women-founder events in Brussels, from November 2026 to the end of 2027. We checked every date on the organiser's own website. 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). For the rest of Belgium and other cities, see the list at the end.
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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Must Attend Startup Events in Brussels 2026–2027: Calendar from November 2026 to May 2027

DatesEventVenueTypeStatus
10–11 Nov 2026European Research and Innovation DaysBrussels and onlineEU innovation conferenceConfirmed
12–27 Nov 2026The Future of Tech is FemaleBeCentralWomen in tech events (free)Confirmed
17 Nov 2026Apply AI SummitThe EGG and onlineEU AI summit, startup awardConfirmed
17–18 Nov 2026European Business SummitEgmont PalacePolicy and business summitConfirmed
18–19 Nov 2026Brain Innovation DaysArea 42Neurotech meeting with pitchesConfirmed
23–24 Nov 2026FARI Brussels ConferenceStudio Flagey, BeCentralAI conference (free)Confirmed
24 Nov 2026FARI AI Accelerator Final PitchBeCentralDemo day (free)Confirmed
26 Nov 2026Startup Grind Pitch and FeedbackOnlinePitch practiceConfirmed
7–9 Dec 2026UnitedXR EuropeMaison de la PosteXR expo, startup pitchesConfirmed
9 Dec 2026Start it NoirK1 KanalAccelerator graduation nightConfirmed
9–11 Dec 2026Grid Infrastructure AI HackathonBeCentralHackathonConfirmed
29 Jan 2027EU Open Source Policy SummitBrussels and onlinePolicy summitConfirmed
30–31 Jan 2027FOSDEMULB SolboschOpen source conference (free)Confirmed
3–4 Feb 2027Masters of DigitalBrussels and onlineDigital policy summitConfirmed
13–15 Apr 2027OCXTour & TaxisOpen source conferenceConfirmed
25 May 2027The Banking Scene ConferenceSiloBanking and fintech conferenceConfirmed
26–27 May 2027Cybersec EuropeBrussels ExpoSecurity trade showConfirmed

Autumn and winter 2026

European Research and Innovation Days: 10–11 November 2026

📅 European Research and Innovation Days 2026Confirmed
Dates10–11 November 2026
WhereBrussels and online (venue not published)
TypeHybrid EU research and innovation conference
Who it's forResearchers, innovators, deep tech founders
TicketsNot stated
Official siteresearch-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu
The European Commission's yearly conference, opened by Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. Follow it online to hear where Horizon Europe money is going. See our deep tech events.

The Future of Tech is Female: 12–27 November 2026

📅 The Future of Tech is Female 2026Confirmed
Dates12–27 November 2026 (separate sessions)
WhereBeCentral, Cantersteen 12, 1000 Brussels
TypeTalks, workshops and a financing panel
Who it's forWomen in tech and women founders
TicketsFree; register for each session
Official sitebecentral.org
Two weeks of free sessions at BeCentral. Highlights: an AI talk with Women in Tech Belgium (12 November, 6:30 PM), the opening night with Anna Zeiter, co-founder of W Social, plus Pauline Van Oestayen (Dockflow) and Margot Wuillaume (eBloom) (19 November, 6 PM), and "Who funds what?", a financing panel with Claire Munck, Béatrice de Mahieu, Céline Vaessen and Lorraine de Fierlant (25 November, 8:30 AM).

Apply AI Summit and the European Business Summit: 17–18 November 2026

📅 Apply AI SummitConfirmed
DatesTuesday 17 November 2026, 8:30 AM–7:30 PM
WhereThe EGG, Rue Bara 175, 1070 Brussels, and online
TypeHybrid EU AI summit with a startup award
Who it's forAI founders, industry and policy people
TicketsIn-person registration closed; online registrations go on a waiting list
Official sitedigital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen hosts and hands out the first Apply AI Startup Awards, after 10 finalists pitch. Watch online to see which sectors the EU wants to fund. See our AI startup events.
📅 European Business Summit 2026Confirmed
Dates17–18 November 2026
WhereEgmont Palace, Brussels
TypePolicy and business summit
Who it's forFounders who sell to industry or government
TicketsNot stated
Official siteebsummits.eu
Comes with a B2B matchmaking platform. The speakers on the site are listed as invited, not confirmed.

Brain Innovation Days: 18–19 November 2026

📅 Brain Innovation Days 2026Confirmed
Dates18–19 November 2026
WhereArea 42, Brussels
TypeNeurotech meeting with a pitch competition
Who it's forNeurotech and brain-health founders, researchers and investors
TicketsStudent ticket €25; early bird open (other prices not stated)
Official sitebraininnovationdays.eu
Run by the European Brain Council, with a pitch competition and an innovation hall. More in our healthtech events.

FARI conference and AI demo day: 23–24 November 2026

📅 FARI Brussels Conference 2026Confirmed
Dates23 November 2026 (8:30 AM–6:30 PM) and 24 November 2026
WhereDay 1: Studio Flagey, Place Sainte-Croix, 1050 Brussels; day 2: BeCentral
TypeAI conference
Who it's forAI founders, researchers and the public sector
TicketsFree; registration required
Official siteconference.fari.brussels
Run by FARI, the AI institute of ULB and VUB, under the title "Brussels, Capital of AI?". It reported more than 800 attendees last year, and gives its first Local Impact Award this year.
📅 FARI AI Accelerator Final Pitch and GraduationConfirmed
DatesTuesday 24 November 2026, 9 AM–2:30 PM
WhereBeCentral, Cantersteen 12, 1000 Brussels
TypeDemo day
Who it's forInvestors, AI founders and co-founder hunters
TicketsFree
Official siteeventbrite.be
Fourteen founders from FARI's accelerator pitch to investors. A free way to see what Brussels investors back in AI.

Startup Grind pitch and feedback: 26 November 2026

📅 Startup Grind Brussels Monthly Pitch and FeedbackConfirmed
DatesThursday 26 November 2026, 5:30–6:30 PM CET
WhereOnline
TypeOnline pitch and feedback session
Who it's forEarly-stage founders
TicketsNot stated; RSVP on the chapter page
Official sitestartupgrind.com
Selected founders pitch to a panel and get live feedback; the chapter says strong-traction startups can get investor introductions. Next sessions: 24 December, 28 January and 25 February. See our pitch competitions.

UnitedXR, Start it Noir and the grid AI hackathon: 7–11 December 2026

📅 UnitedXR Europe 2026Confirmed
Dates7–9 December 2026
WhereMaison de la Poste, Rue Picard 3, 1000 Brussels
TypeXR expo and conference
Who it's forXR, AR and VR founders and buyers
TicketsNot stated
Official siteunitedxr.eu
Run by AWE and Stereopsia, with a startup pitch competition. See our gaming startup events.
📅 Start it Noir 2026Confirmed
DatesWednesday 9 December 2026, 6–10:30 PM
WhereK1 Kanal, Avenue du Port 1, 1000 Brussels
TypeAccelerator graduation night
Who it's forFounders, mentors and partners of Start it @KBC
TicketsFree for the graduating cohort, experts and partners; others €30 plus VAT (open bar)
Official sitebuytickets.at
Start it @KBC's winter party, with a graduation show at 8 PM and a market of B2C startups: the largest accelerator network in Belgium in one room.
📅 Grid Infrastructure AI HackathonConfirmed
Dates9–11 December 2026
WhereBeCentral, Cantersteen 12, 1000 Brussels
TypeHackathon
Who it's forDevelopers, data scientists and AI builders
TicketsNot stated
Official sitebecentral.org
Run by Elia Group, Belgium's grid operator, with a €15,000 prize pool and a route into its AI incubator. See our energy tech events.

Winter and spring 2027

Open source week: 29 January–4 February 2027

📅 EU Open Source Policy Summit 2027Confirmed
DatesFriday 29 January 2027
WhereBrussels (venue not published) and online
TypeHybrid policy summit
Who it's forOpen source companies and policymakers
TicketsNot stated; in-person places by expression of interest
Official siteopenforumeurope.org
Run by OpenForum Europe. Useful if you want to sell open source software to public bodies.
📅 FOSDEM 2027Confirmed
Dates30–31 January 2027
WhereULB Solbosch campus, Brussels
TypeOpen source developer conference
Who it's forDevelopers and developer-tool founders
TicketsFree; no registration
Official sitefosdem.org
Thousands of developers in one weekend, which makes it the best free place in Brussels to look for a technical co-founder.
📅 Masters of Digital 2027Confirmed
Dates3–4 February 2027
WhereBrussels (venue to be confirmed) and online
TypeHybrid digital policy summit
Who it's forTech founders who follow EU rules on AI, data and the digital market
TicketsNot stated; registration open
Official sitemastersofdigital.org
Run by DIGITALEUROPE. Its event site says 3–4 February, while DIGITALEUROPE's events page gives 4 February only, so check before you book travel.

OCX: 13–15 April 2027

📅 OCX 2027 (Open Community Experience)Confirmed
Dates13–15 April 2027
WhereTour & Taxis, Brussels
TypeOpen source conference
Who it's forDevelopers and developer-tool companies
TicketsNot stated; call for proposals open
Official siteocxconf.org
The Eclipse Foundation's conference, a good place to meet companies that build on open source. See our SaaS startup events.

The Banking Scene and Cybersec Europe: 25–27 May 2027

📅 The Banking Scene Conference Brussels 2027Confirmed
DatesTuesday 25 May 2027
WhereSilo, Brussels
TypeBanking and fintech conference
Who it's forFintech founders who sell to banks
TicketsNot stated
Official sitethebankingscene.com
Belgium's largest banking conference, now in its tenth year, for more than 450 senior people from banking, payments, fraud and compliance. See our fintech events.
📅 Cybersec Europe 2027Confirmed
Dates26–27 May 2027
WhereBrussels Expo, Place de Belgique 1, 1020 Brussels
TypeCybersecurity, data and cloud trade show
Who it's forSecurity founders and buyers
TicketsNot stated
Official sitecyberseceurope.com
A new OT theatre and a larger tech theatre this year; the 2026 keynotes included defence minister Theo Francken. See our cybersecurity events.

Dates not announced yet

  • Belgium Startup Awards 2027: the last edition was on 2 June 2026 at The EGG; expected around June.
  • EIC Summit 2027: the European Innovation Council's summit was held in Brussels on 3–4 June 2026; no 2027 edition is listed yet.
  • FTI Festival Brussels 2027: the 2026 edition (FinTech, GovTech and health tracks) was on 19–20 October; expected in October. fari.brussels
  • Odoo Experience 2027: the 2026 edition was on 24–26 September at Brussels Expo; expected in September.
  • Empowermonth 2027: hub.brussels' month for women entrepreneurs, usually in March. womeninbusiness.hub.brussels
  • Women Entrepreneurs Festival 2027: the 2026 festival ran on four Fridays in October, free; expected in October.
  • European Business Summit, FARI Conference, R&I Days and Start it Noir 2027: all yearly; expected in the same months as in 2026.

Past events

  • Entreprendre au féminin, par où commencer? (Crédal, listed by hub.brussels Women in Business): 3 November 2026, Crédal, Rue d'Alost 7, Brussels.
  • BeAngels Breakfast Women Circle: 6 November 2026 at BeCentral, Brussels, and 9 November 2026 at The Nine.

Recurring meetups and communities

  • BeAngels Investors Night (5:30 PM): 2027 dates are 19 January, 16 February, 23 March, 20 April, 18 May, 15 June, 14 September, 19 October, 16 November and 7 December; venues not named yet, and the November 2026 one is in Louvain-la-Neuve. beangels.eu
  • BeCentral (Cantersteen 12, by Brussels Central station): the city's tech campus, with free community events most weeks. becentral.org
  • Startup Grind Brussels: monthly online pitch and feedback sessions. startupgrind.com
  • FARI: talks and community events on AI at BeCentral. fari.brussels
  • GDG Brussels: developer community; it co-hosts DevFest Belgium on 20 November 2026, held in Charleroi. gdg.community.dev
  • StartLab.Brussels: an incubator for first-time founders and academics; its Pitch XXL night has no new date yet. startlab.brussels
Quiet or gone: no current Techstars Startup Weekend Brussels, the B-Hive fintech platform is inactive, the Digital Finance Summit has no 2026 edition, and the old Co.Station website no longer belongs to the startup hub. Just outside the region, Pitch Perfect and Boost the EU Bioeconomy runs on 30 November–1 December 2026 at the Sheraton Brussels Airport hotel in Zaventem.

Events for women founders in Brussels

  • The Future of Tech is Female (12–27 November 2026, BeCentral): free talks, an opening night and a financing panel.
  • hub.brussels Women in Business: Crédal workshops in November (business model, finance, diagnostic), mostly in French. womeninbusiness.hub.brussels
  • Women in Tech Belgium: co-hosts the 12 November AI talk at BeCentral. women-in-tech.org
  • Empowermonth (March) and the Women Entrepreneurs Festival (October): yearly, 2027 dates not announced yet.
Run an event for women founders in Brussels? Send it to us and we'll add it. See also our female entrepreneurship events for 2027.

Funding and support to know before you go

  • Professional card: founders from outside the European Economic Area need one to be self-employed in Belgium; in Brussels, Brussels Economy and Employment issues it. economy-employment.brussels
  • hub.brussels: the regional business agency runs incubators, accelerators, coaching and a free Q&A service; its Greenlab programme helps sustainable startups for free over 6 months. hub.brussels
  • finance&invest.brussels: loans, guarantees and equity of up to €5 million, co-invested with other partners; its Brusoc arm runs the Proxi Loan. finance.brussels
  • Innoviris: co-finances research and innovation projects; in 2025 it funded €43.7 million across 406 projects. innoviris.brussels
  • 4YFN 2027: hub.brussels takes 10 startups headquartered in Brussels to a shared stand at 4YFN in Barcelona, 1–4 March 2027. hub.brussels

How to get the most out of Brussels startup events

  1. Use November. The FARI conference and demo day, The Future of Tech is Female and the Startup Grind session are free.
  2. Watch EU events online. Apply AI Summit, R&I Days and Masters of Digital all stream, so you don't need an in-person seat.
  3. Base yourself at BeCentral. It sits on top of Brussels Central station and hosts many of the events in this guide.
  4. Check the language. Crédal and hub.brussels workshops are mostly in French; EU and tech events are in English.
  5. Book FOSDEM travel early. Entry is free, but the city fills up that weekend.

List your event in this guide

Do you run a startup, tech or investor event in Brussels? 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 places

FAQ

What are the main startup events in Brussels?

The Apply AI Summit (17 November 2026), the FARI Brussels Conference (23–24 November 2026), FOSDEM (30–31 January 2027), OCX (13–15 April 2027), The Banking Scene Conference (25 May 2027) and Cybersec Europe (26–27 May 2027).

Are there free startup events in Brussels?

Yes: The Future of Tech is Female (12–27 November), the FARI Brussels Conference (23–24 November), the FARI AI Accelerator demo day (24 November) and FOSDEM (30–31 January 2027).

Are there events for women founders in Brussels?

Yes: The Future of Tech is Female at BeCentral (12–27 November 2026) and hub.brussels Women in Business workshops.

When is FOSDEM 2027?

On 30–31 January 2027 at the ULB Solbosch campus in Brussels. It is free and needs no registration.

Where can startups pitch in Brussels?

At the Apply AI Startup Award (17 November), Brain Innovation Days (18–19 November), the FARI AI Accelerator demo day (24 November), UnitedXR Europe (7–9 December) and Startup Grind's monthly online sessions.

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.
2026-11-01 14:30 By city