VivaTech Turns Ten and Doubles Down on European Technological Sovereignty
When it first opened its doors in 2016, VivaTech welcomed 45,000 visitors from 90 countries. Ten years later, the Paris fair dedicated to startups and technology has become the leading European event in the sector, with over 180,000 attendees registered for the 2025 edition and 171 countries represented. The tenth-anniversary edition, scheduled from June 17 to 20, 2026, at Porte de Versailles, marks another leap in scale: the new Pavilion 7, spread over three levels, offers 70,000 square meters of exhibition space, a 30% increase compared to last year, and a doubled capacity for stages and conference areas.
The figures of the event reflect this growth. 15,000 startups are expected, over 1,500 live demos, and more than 4,000 international investors. According to the organizers, the number of world premieres will be double that of 2025.
Germany as Country of the Year, Europe in Focus
The choice of Germany as Country of the Year is the most significant political signal of this edition. The German delegation will be the largest in VivaTech's history, with an 800 square meter stand and around 200 startups. At the institutional level, 14 Länder and 12 government entities will be represented, along with two federal ministers: Karsten Wildberger, responsible for Digitalization and State Modernization, and Dorothée Bar, Minister of Research, Technology and Space. In a time of increasing global technological fragmentation, the German participation aims to assert Europe's ability to compete as a unified ecosystem. This is also affirmed by the presence of European institutional figures: among the speakers are Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, and Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation.
The program revolves around four thematic axes. The first is dedicated to AI and productivity, with India designated as the AI Partner of the Year, showcasing demonstrations ranging from Unitree and HABS's real-time brain-machine interface, a world premiere combining neurotechnology and humanoid robotics, to the French conversational AI platform GetVocal AI. The second axis concerns cybersecurity and defense, with startups like the Belgian Aikido, the latest unicorn in the country, offering AI-based tools to identify vulnerabilities in code. The third theme focuses on greentech and energy, featuring Nyobolt and its ultra-fast rechargeable batteries, capable of reaching 80% in less than five minutes, and Tenaka, which will present world premiere solutions for ocean regeneration. The fourth theme is deep tech: among the most anticipated announcements, IBM will showcase a world premiere of a 'quantum chandelier' for quantum computing, and Xpanceo from the UAE will introduce a smart contact lens based on AI and extended reality.
Among the confirmed speakers are Bernard Arnault (LVMH), Christophe Fouquet (ASML), Roland Busch (Siemens), Shantanu Narayen (Adobe), Joe Tsai (Alibaba), and Yann LeCun, a pioneer of deep learning and founder of AMI Labs. A notable addition this edition is the VivaTech Bloomberg Awards, a ceremony scheduled for June 18 that will honor key figures in the global tech ecosystem in collaboration with Bloomberg.
From the Stage to the Champs-Élysées
However, the most visually striking new feature is external to the fair. On Sunday, June 14, for the first time in its history, VivaTech will "take over" the Champs-Élysées with an immersive and free pathway dedicated to the general public. The avenue, pedestrianized for the occasion, will host eight thematic stops on AI, robotics, mobility, climate, and health. A second public event, the VivaTech Festival, will be held on June 20 inside the fair and will be aimed at young people aged 18 to 35.