Plug and Play Tirana Expo 2026 brings together startups, investors, corporate leaders and innovation experts from across Europe, Silicon Valley and the wider Plug and Play network for two days of pitches, keynotes, networking and conversations on the future of technology and entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans.

📅 Date: October 7–8, 2026
📍 Location: Tirana, Albania
🏢 Venue: Pyramid of Tirana

Learn more here

As Albania’s startup ecosystem rapidly gains momentum, all eyes are turning to Tirana for the grand finale of the Plug and Play Tirana Accelerator Program. Plug and Play Tirana Expo 2026 is set to gather global innovators, venture capitalists, and corporate leaders to celebrate the next wave of regional tech talent.

Taking place from October 7 to 8, 2026, the event transforms the iconic Pyramid of Tirana (Innovation Hub) into a center for cross-border dealmaking and technological exploration.

What to expect?

The two-day expo is engineered to connect early-stage innovation with global capital through a dynamic, multi-stage program:

  • Batch 2 Demo Day: Live pitches and product demonstrations from 22 selected startups across eight key verticals, including DeepTech, GovTech, HealthTech, AI B2B SaaS, and Mobility.
  • Multi-themed stages: Two parallel main stages hosting keynote talks and high-level panel discussions with global tech leaders and investors.
  • Hands-on Workshop Room: Interactive deep dives and tactical sessions tailored for founders, corporate innovators, and developers.
  • The Expo Hall: A dedicated exhibition space where attendees can meet founding teams, test new products, and explore joint ventures.

International speakers will explore topics including AI adoption, digital transformation, international scaling, marketplaces, corporate innovation and technology-driven businesses.

Direct gateway to the Balkan tech scene

Beyond structured panel sessions, the event integrates informal networking spaces, curated side events, and evening afterparty experiences designed to build long-term relationships between founders, global VCs, and Big Tech representatives.

Investment and international connections will also be central to the event. A dedicated session, “From Acceleration to Scale: What CEE & European VCs Actually Look For,” will bring together investors from Storm Ventures, Vitosha Venture Partners, Elevator Ventures and Earlybird to discuss what emerging European startups need to demonstrate as they move towards international growth.

The Expo will bring together participants from markets including the UK, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, Croatia and Türkiye, alongside representatives from companies and organizations such as Microsoft, Daimler Truck, IFC, KPMG, Intesa Sanpaolo and Plug and Play.

Whether you are looking to invest in Southeast Europe's emerging tech talent, source corporate innovation partners, or explore the region's startup landscape, Plug and Play Tirana Expo 2026 offers a direct gateway to the Balkan tech scene.

Share