Paris is once again the epicentre of European tech as VivaTech 2026 opens its doors on Wednesday, marking its tenth edition with a renewed focus on artificial intelligence, digital sovereignty, and transatlantic collaboration. The four-day conference, held at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre, brings together founders, policymakers, and investors from across the continent and beyond.
A Decade of VivaTech
To celebrate its tenth anniversary, the organisers have rebranded the event from Viva Technology to VivaTech, reflecting what they describe as the emergence of a “VivaTech Generation” — a global community of entrepreneurs, startups, investors, and students united by a shared drive to innovate. A free public day on Sunday turned the Champs-Élysées into a showcase of robots, future mobility, and other innovations, while Saturday, 20 June, will open the exhibition floor to the general public.
The anniversary also underscores how far the event has come since its launch in 2016. What began as a relatively modest gathering has grown into one of Europe’s largest tech fairs, attracting more than 200,000 visitors in recent years and serving as a barometer for the continent’s digital ambitions.
Key Speakers: From Bezos to LeCun
This year’s speaker lineup is notably star-studded. Jeff Bezos, co-CEO of Prometheus and founder of Amazon, will address the conference, likely touching on his vision for lunar colonisation — a topic he has championed as essential for Earth’s long-term survival. Yann LeCun, the French-born AI pioneer and chief AI scientist at Meta, is also scheduled to appear, alongside Arthur Mensch, CEO of the French AI startup Mistral AI, and Peter Steinberger, founder of OpenClaw.
Political heavyweights include French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s digital minister Karsten Wildberger, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and European Commission tech executive Henna Virkkunen. Their presence signals the growing intersection of technology and governance, particularly around AI regulation and digital sovereignty.
AI, Sovereignty, and Ethics Take Centre Stage
Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence dominates the agenda. Sessions will explore AI ethics, cybersecurity, mobility, health and longevity, and greentech. A dedicated European Centre for AI Excellence day, co-organised by VivaTech and the World Economic Forum, will examine how Europe can build competitive AI capabilities while maintaining ethical guardrails.
This year’s country of honour is Germany, reflecting the deepening Franco-German cooperation on tech policy. India joins as an AI country partner, following the AI Impact Summit in Delhi and the French-Indian Innovation Year. The partnership underscores Europe’s desire to build bridges with other major AI players while asserting its own regulatory framework.
Euronews will moderate several discussions on the AI stage, as well as a panel on longevity science featuring Delphine Viguier-Hovasse from L’Oréal and Pauline Adam-Kalfon from PwC. For more on that, see VivaTech 2026: L'Oréal and PwC on Vitality and Resilience as Competitive Edge.
European Tech Sovereignty in Focus
A recurring theme at VivaTech 2026 is the push for European tech sovereignty. With the EU’s AI Act now in force, policymakers are keen to demonstrate that Europe can foster innovation without sacrificing privacy or democratic values. The presence of Germany’s digital minister and the European Commission’s tech chief underscores this priority.
France and Germany have been particularly vocal about building homegrown AI capabilities, from Mistral AI’s large language models to investments in quantum computing and cybersecurity. For a deeper dive into this, read France and Germany Push for European AI Sovereignty at VivaTech.
Beyond AI: Robotics, Mobility, and Greentech
While AI dominates headlines, VivaTech 2026 also showcases advances in humanoid robotics, smart home technology, and sustainable mobility. Airbus, for instance, is presenting quantum sensing and AI applications for aircraft navigation — a glimpse into how European aerospace giants are integrating cutting-edge tech. See Airbus at VivaTech: Quantum Sensing and AI to Revolutionize Aircraft Navigation for more.
Humanoid robots and smart home devices are also drawing crowds, as startups and established firms alike demonstrate how AI is moving from the cloud into everyday life. For a roundup of those exhibits, check Humanoid Robots and Smart Homes Dominate VivaTech 2026 in Paris.
A Continental Conversation
VivaTech has evolved into more than a trade show; it is a platform for shaping Europe’s digital future. As the continent grapples with questions of competitiveness, regulation, and public trust, events like this provide a rare opportunity for dialogue between the private sector, governments, and civil society. The tenth edition, with its emphasis on AI sovereignty and cross-border collaboration, may well set the tone for European tech policy in the years ahead.
