Startup Events

Must Attend Startup Events in Dublin, Ireland

Dublin's startup calendar is busiest in November: the EU's SME & Clusters Assembly (2–4 November 2026), the AI Awards, the National Startup Awards, PyCon Ireland and the Fintech Ireland Summit all fall within four weeks. In 2027 the big dates are Pendulum Summit (28 January) and Dublin Tech Week with Dublin Tech Summit (21–28 May).
This guide lists startup, tech, investor and women-founder events in Dublin from late October 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 Cork, Galway and the rest of the country, see our startup events in Ireland guide.
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 Dublin 2026–2027: Calendar from November 2026 to June 2027

DatesEventVenueTypeStatus
2–4 Nov 2026SME & Clusters AssemblyConvention Centre DublinEU SME and cluster eventConfirmed
4 Nov 2026Founders CaféDogpatch LabsPre-founder working sessionConfirmed
17 Nov 2026AI AwardsRadisson Blu Royal HotelAI awards and panelsConfirmed
18–19 Nov 2026DataCentres IrelandRDSData-centre expo and conferenceConfirmed
19 Nov 2026National Startup AwardsDublin City HallStartup awardsConfirmed
20 Nov 2026Technology Ireland Industry AwardsMansion HouseTech industry awards dinnerConfirmed
21 Nov 2026PyCon IrelandChartered Accountants HousePython conferenceConfirmed
26 Nov 2026Fintech Ireland SummitClayton Hotel Cardiff LaneFintech conferenceConfirmed
8–9 Dec 2026ADVANCE (EIC conference)UCD, BelfieldEU deep-tech and scaleup conferenceConfirmed
9 Dec 2026Founders CaféDogpatch LabsPre-founder working sessionConfirmed
28 Jan 2027Pendulum SummitConvention Centre DublinBusiness and leadership summitConfirmed
27–29 Apr 2027MedTech Strategist Innovation SummitThe Shelbourne HotelMedtech investor summitConfirmed
21–28 May 2027Dublin Tech WeekVenues across DublinCity-wide tech weekConfirmed
26–27 May 2027Dublin Tech SummitRDSTech conferenceConfirmed
10 Jun 2027NextGen Payments & RegTech ForumConrad HotelPayments and regtech forumConfirmed

November 2026

SME & Clusters Assembly: 2–4 November 2026

📅 SME & Clusters Assembly 2026Confirmed
Dates2–4 November 2026 (day 1: business visits)
WhereThe Convention Centre Dublin, Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay
TypeEU SME Assembly and European Cluster Conference
Who it's forFounders, SME support bodies, clusters and investors
TicketsNot published; registrations are vetted, usually one person per organisation
Official siteeuropa.eu
The European Commission brings its yearly SME event to Dublin under Ireland's EU Presidency. Expect partnering sessions, the Youth Start-Up Challenge final and a Schumpeter Lecture at Dublin Castle on the evening of 3 November. Key sessions are streamed.

Founders Café at Dogpatch Labs: 4 November 2026

📅 Founders Café: OpenAI × Dogpatch LabsConfirmed
DatesWednesdays 4 November and 9 December 2026, 14:00–17:00
WhereDogpatch Labs, The CHQ Building, Custom House Quay
TypeWorking session for would-be founders
Who it's forPeople deciding whether to start a company
TicketsNot published; places need the host's approval
Official siteluma.com
OpenAI and Dogpatch Labs run this session for 30 people at a time who are still testing an idea. It is peer feedback, not a pitch. December session.

AI Awards: 17 November 2026

📅 AI Awards 2026Confirmed
DatesTuesday 17 November 2026, morning to afternoon
WhereRadisson Blu Royal Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8
TypeAwards ceremony with panels
Who it's forAI founders, researchers and corporate teams
Tickets€250 full price; nominees €99; students €49 (sale ends 16 November, 20:00)
Official siteaiawards.ie
AI Ireland's yearly awards for people and projects in artificial intelligence across the island. Entries are closed, but anyone with a ticket can attend and meet the judges and sponsors. More in our AI startup events for 2027.

DataCentres Ireland: 18–19 November 2026

📅 DataCentres Ireland 2026Confirmed
Dates18–19 November 2026
WhereRDS, Ballsbridge
TypeData-centre exhibition and conference (16th year)
Who it's forInfrastructure, energy and AI-compute founders
TicketsFree exhibition and conference
Official sitedatacentres-ireland.com
A niche show, but free. Useful if you sell to data-centre operators or work on energy and AI compute.

National Startup Awards: 19 November 2026

📅 National Startup Awards 2026Confirmed
Dates19 November 2026 (live judging 3–4 November)
WhereDublin City Hall
TypeNational awards for startups up to five years old
Who it's forFounders, investors and support bodies
TicketsCeremony tickets on the website
Official sitestartupawards.ie
73 startups made the national shortlist and pitch to the judges on 3–4 November. There is a Female Founder Startup category.

Technology Ireland Industry Awards: 20 November 2026

📅 Technology Ireland Industry Awards 2026Confirmed
DatesFriday 20 November 2026, 19:00–23:00
WhereThe Round Room, Mansion House
TypeTech industry awards dinner
Who it's forTech companies, startups and investors
TicketsSeat €250 + VAT (Ibec members €200 + VAT); tables €2,500 + VAT
Official siteibec.ie
Ibec's tech association hands out its industry awards over dinner.

PyCon Ireland: 21 November 2026

📅 PyCon Ireland 2026Confirmed
DatesSaturday 21 November 2026
WhereChartered Accountants House, 47–49 Pearse Street, Dublin 2
TypePython developer conference, several tracks
Who it's forDevelopers and technical founders
TicketsFrom €35 to €159
Official sitepycon.ie
Python Ireland's yearly conference is the best place in Dublin to meet Python and AI engineers you might hire.

Fintech Ireland Summit: 26 November 2026

📅 Fintech Ireland Summit 2026Confirmed
DatesThursday 26 November 2026, 09:00–15:40
WhereClayton Hotel Cardiff Lane, Sir John Rogerson's Quay
TypeFintech conference
Who it's forFintech founders, executives and investors
TicketsOn Eventbrite (no price on the official site)
Official sitefintechirelandsummit.com
More than 200 fintech founders, bank executives and investors are expected. See our fintech startup events for 2027.

December 2026 to April 2027

ADVANCE, the EIC conference at UCD: 8–9 December 2026

📅 ADVANCE: Progress and Future of the EU's Startup and Scaleup EcosystemConfirmed
Dates8–9 December 2026
WhereUniversity College Dublin, Belfield
TypeEU conference on deep tech, startups and scaleups
Who it's forDeep-tech founders, investors, accelerators and policymakers
TicketsNot published; registration open
Official siteeuropa.eu
The Irish EU Presidency's conference for the European Innovation Council. A rare chance to meet EIC programme managers in Dublin. See our deep tech startup events.
In January, the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition returns to the RDS (6–9 January 2027, announced in the Irish Examiner): students, but also a good place to spot young technical talent.

Pendulum Summit: 28 January 2027

📅 Pendulum Summit 2027Confirmed
DatesThursday 28 January 2027 (one line on the speakers page says 21 January; dates differ, so check before you book)
WhereThe Convention Centre Dublin
TypeBusiness and leadership summit, CPD-accredited
Who it's forFounders, executives and managers
TicketsPremium €745; Live Stream €545; prices rise in early November
Official sitependulumsummit.com
Ireland's big leadership day draws a celebrity line-up; the 2027 speakers include Amal Clooney and Diana Nyad. It is expensive for bootstrappers, so go if you sell to the large companies that send teams. Tickets

MedTech Strategist Innovation Summit: 27–29 April 2027

📅 MedTech Strategist Innovation Summit Dublin 2027Confirmed
Dates27–29 April 2027
WhereThe Shelbourne Hotel
TypeMedtech investor and partnering summit
Who it's forMedtech founders, investors and strategic buyers
TicketsNot published; companies can apply to present
Official sitemedtechstrategist.com
Medtech startups apply to give a 10-minute presentation to investors and corporate buyers. See our healthtech startup events.

May and June 2027

Dublin Tech Week: 21–28 May 2027

📅 Dublin Tech Week 2027Confirmed
Dates21–28 May 2027
WhereVenues across Dublin
TypeCity-wide week of conferences, open houses, hackathons and meetups
Who it's forFounders, developers and the public
TicketsMostly free; depends on the event
Official sitedublintechweek.com
Anyone can add an event to the programme, and the call for 2027 events is open. In 2026 the week included TechFoundHer, a summit for women in tech at the Mansion House.

Dublin Tech Summit: 26–27 May 2027

📅 Dublin Tech Summit 2027Confirmed
DatesWednesday 26 and Thursday 27 May 2027
WhereRDS, Ballsbridge
TypeTech conference and expo
Who it's forFounders, corporates and investors
TicketsEarly bird two days €145 + VAT, one day €95 + VAT; full price €245 / €145 + VAT
Official sitedublintechsummit.com
Dublin's big spring tech conference runs during Dublin Tech Week, with exhibition and attendee packages for startups. Tickets

NextGen Payments & RegTech Forum: 10 June 2027

📅 NextGen Payments & RegTech Forum 2027Confirmed
Dates10 June 2027
WhereConrad Hotel, Dublin
TypePayments, regtech and fintech forum
Who it's forFintech founders and payments executives
TicketsNot published
Official sitequbevents.com
A focused room of payments, compliance and regtech buyers; the 2026 edition was on 11 June.

Dates not announced yet

  • Local Enterprise Week and Pitch Perfect 2027: early March; the 2026 week ran 2–6 March.
  • Techstars Startup Weekend Women Dublin: 20–22 March in 2026; a spring 2027 edition is expected.
  • Zero Day Con 2027: the cybersecurity conference was on 29 April in 2026. zerodaycon.com
  • Enterprise Ireland Start-up Day 2027: May; about 650 delegates came in 2026.
  • Future Health Summit 2027: 27–28 May in 2026, with an innovation award for startups. futurehealthsummit.com
  • TechFoundHer 2027: expected during Dublin Tech Week. techfoundher.com
  • Dublin Maker: "returns in summer 2027". dublinmaker.ie
  • FintechNation and Dublin AI Week 2027: September and October; Dublin AI Week 2026 had 35+ events and a €100,000 hackathon prize. dublinaiweek.com
  • National Startup Awards, AI Awards, PyCon Ireland, Fintech Ireland Summit and DataCentres Ireland 2027: all expected again in November 2027.

Recurring meetups and communities

  • Dogpatch Labs: the startup hub in the CHQ Building runs Founders Café and community events most months. dogpatchlabs.com
  • Furthr (formerly Dublin BIC): idea-stage Ready, Set, Go workshops for €25 (dates for 2027 to come) and Pitch Jam for founders it supports. furthr.ie
  • Startup Network Europe: founder and investor evenings in Dublin, listed on Luma. luma.com
  • DCU Catalyst: pitching workshops and hackathons, mainly for students. luma.com
  • Local Enterprise Office Dublin City: Start Your Own Business courses and grant workshops through the year. localenterprise.ie
Quiet now: Startup Grind Dublin lists only past events, SaaStock Local Dublin has become an "AI Growth Summit" event, and Inspirefest and Big Ideas have ended. NDRC's services run until the end of 2026.

Events for women founders in Dublin

  • LEO Dublin City Women in Business Network: a networking night on 11 November 2026 and a festive networking and awards evening for members on 9 December. localenterprise.ie
  • National Startup Awards (19 November): the awards have a Female Founder Startup category.
  • Going for Growth: the national peer programme for women entrepreneurs; applications for the January–June 2027 cycle close on 27 November 2026. goingforgrowth.com
  • National Women's Enterprise Day: run every October by Dublin's four Local Enterprise Offices; about 300 women came in 2026.
  • TechFoundHer: the women-in-tech summit of Dublin Tech Week, expected again in May 2027.
Run an event for women founders in Dublin? Send it to us and we'll add it. See also our women in tech events for 2027.

Funding and support to know before you go

  • LEO Dublin City Priming Grant: for businesses up to 18 months old, 50% of the investment or €50,000, whichever is lower. Local Enterprise Office
  • LEO Dublin City Feasibility Grant: 50% of the cost of testing an idea, up to €15,000; the average award is about €10,000, and you meet a business adviser first. Local Enterprise Office
  • Enterprise Ireland invested €32.9 million in startups in 2025; 55 of the early-stage startups it supported were female-led. A new €21 million National Accelerator Programme will replace NDRC. Enterprise Ireland
  • Registering a company: a new company (Form A1) costs €50 to register with the CRO, online only. CRO
  • Coming from outside the EEA? The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) gives residence to founders of innovative startups with €50,000 in funding. Irish Immigration Service

How to get the most out of Dublin startup events

  1. Plan a November trip. Eight of the dated events in this guide fall between 2 and 26 November 2026.
  2. Use the free ones. DataCentres Ireland, Founders Café and most Dublin Tech Week events cost nothing.
  3. Book Dublin Tech Summit early. The early-bird two-day pass is €145 + VAT instead of €245.
  4. Apply to Going for Growth by 27 November. It puts you in a group of women founders from January to June 2027.
  5. Talk to your LEO first. Its grants and training are often the first funding a Dublin startup gets; see more startup competitions.

List your event in this guide

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

The SME & Clusters Assembly (2–4 November 2026), the AI Awards (17 November), the National Startup Awards (19 November), the Fintech Ireland Summit (26 November), Pendulum Summit (28 January 2027), Dublin Tech Week (21–28 May 2027) and Dublin Tech Summit (26–27 May 2027).

When is Dublin Tech Summit 2027?

26–27 May 2027 at the RDS, during Dublin Tech Week (21–28 May). Early-bird passes cost €145 + VAT for two days.

Are there events for women founders in Dublin?

Yes: the LEO Dublin City Women in Business Network meets on 11 November and 9 December 2026, the National Startup Awards have a Female Founder category, and Going for Growth takes applications until 27 November.

Are there free startup events in Dublin?

Yes: DataCentres Ireland (18–19 November), OpenAI and Dogpatch Labs' Founders Café (4 November and 9 December, with host approval) and most Dublin Tech Week events.

What grants can a new Dublin startup get?

The Local Enterprise Office Dublin City offers a Priming Grant of up to €50,000 (50% of the investment) and a Feasibility Grant of up to €15,000.

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.
2026-10-26 14:33 By city