Global Tech Weekend Tbilisi (GTWT) is the largest decentralized technology and innovation gathering in the Caucasus and one of the fastest- growing regional ecosystem movements connecting Caucasus, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and global technology markets.
GTWT is not a traditional conference. It is a city- scale innovation platform connecting investors, startup founders, venture capital, corporate innovators, developers, policymakers, creators, and emerging tech communities through flagship programming, ecosystem networking, and (80+) partner- hosted side events across the city.
GTWT 2026 is expected to host 10,000+ participants across three days, (200+) speakers, (300+) investors, (80+) official side events, and delegations from (50+) countries.
June 19- 21, 2026. The flagship event on June 20 is at Factory Tbilisi, 114 Akaki Tsereteli Ave, Tbilisi, Georgia. Side events (19- 21 June) run across the city on all three days.
June 19 - City- Wide Side Events Day. Events run across co- working spaces, universities, rooftop venues, hotels, creative spaces, and corporate headquarters across Tbilisi. The day closes with an opening networking gathering at Stamba and Rooms Hotel.
June 20 - Flagship Event at Factory Tbilisi (The main event). Five stages running simultaneously from 13:00 to 19:00. (200+) speakers. Ticketed public event. 10,000+ participants on the day. Official after- party at Tribe, King David in the evening - starting at 23:00.
June 21 - Closing Experiences and Investor Networking Day. Private brunches, cultural activities, ecosystem tours, founder networking, delegation meetings, and the official GTW 2026 Closing.
Tbilisi sits at the intersection of Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia and has developed into one of the most dynamic emerging technology ecosystems in the region. Georgia offers a rapidly growing startup infrastructure, an open business environment, increasing VC activity, a strong hospitality culture, and emerging AI, Web3, and Fintech communities. GTWT positions Tbilisi as a regional innovation gateway connecting multiple global ecosystems.
GTWT attracts startup founders, venture capital funds, angel investors, accelerators, product managers, developers, AI researchers, fintech operators, designers, creators, media companies, university leaders, government innovation agencies, enterprise executives, and policy strategists. The event is designed for both early- stage founders and global institutional players.
Global Tech Weekend is a decentralized multi- city platform. The 2026 expansion sequence runs San Francisco (March), Tashkent (May 2026), Tbilisi (June 2026), and Baku (October 2026). GTW US is the holding C- Corporation. Each city operates as a 50/50 partnership between GTW US and local co- founders.
Tickets are available at tickets.gtwt.ge. Side events on June 19 and June 21 require separate free registration on the official Luma calendar at luma.com/GTWT2026.
Flagship Event Pass - 109 GEL (Basket 1)
Includes: general access to Factory Tbilisi on June 20, 5 stages, expo zones, networking areas, and public activations. Does not include the after- party, Investor Lounge, or private sessions.
Multi- Pass - 249 GEL (Basket 1)
Includes all Flagship Pass benefits plus access to the official GTWT after- party at Tribe, King David on June 20 and extended networking access.
Investor Pass - 1,290 GEL (Basket 1)
Full three- day access. Includes: Investor Lounge access on June 20, all side events on June 19 and 21, curated investor- founder sessions, premium networking tracks, Forbes Georgia investor experiences, after- party access, and Closing Ceremony priority access at Paragraph Tabori on June 21.
Yes. GTWT operates with phased pricing: Early Bird, Basket 1, Basket 2, and Final Release. Prices increase progressively as inventory decreases. Buy early to secure the lowest price.
No. This is one of the most important operational policies of GTWT. Side events are independently organized by ecosystem partners and require separate registration. Each side event has its own capacity limits, venue restrictions, and approval system. All side event registration is managed through the official GTWT Luma calendar at luma.com/GTWT2026
Yes. Many high- demand side events operate with limited capacity, especially VC dinners, investor breakfasts, rooftop networking events, private workshops, and closed founder salons. Early registration is strongly recommended.
Ticket transfer policies will be announced closer to the event date through the official registration platform. Unauthorized ticket resale may result in invalidation.
Factory Tbilisi, 114 Akaki Tsereteli Ave, Tbilisi, Georgia. Factory Tbilisi is transformed into a large- scale distributed festival environment with multiple stages, a startup expo, networking lounges, an investor area, food and beverage zones, partner activations, creator installations, and workshop areas.
GTWT 2026 runs 5 stages simultaneously at Factory Tbilisi on June 20.
T Stage - Startup Stage, G Stage - Visionary Stage, W - Sports and Entertainment Stage, F Stage - Future Stage, Theatre Stage - Creative Tech Stage
Stage G - Global International scaling, geopolitics, and cross- border innovation. Visionary founders and global ecosystem builders Geopolitical shifts affecting technology markets Cross- border venture development Ecosystem transformation at scale
Stage W - World-Building and Tech Engineering, AI infrastructure, and technical systems. AI infrastructure and product architecture Technical systems and deep technology Future technologies and R&D Developer and engineering community content
Stage T - Transformation and Trends Macro trends, fintech, regulations, and venture capital. Fintech, banking, and financial innovation Regulatory landscape and compliance Venture capital and investment strategy Business transformation and enterprise innovation
Theater Stage - Creative Tech The intersection of technology and creative industries. Creative technology and digital art Fashion and luxury technology Gaming, media, and entertainment innovation Design, storytelling, and brand futures
Stage F - Future Innovation Early- stage founders, pitching, and venture access. Startup demos and live pitches Investor feedback sessions Accelerator and ecosystem showcases Founder- to- founder programming
Workshop Room Hands- on practical learning. Tactical workshops and deep- dive sessions Implementation frameworks Interactive and skills- based learning Small- group expert formats
Outdoor Stage - Open Mic Fast- moving community stage. Lightning talks and founder pitches Community announcements Experimental and spontaneous formats Open ecosystem dialogue
Keynotes: 15 minutes. Fireside Chats: 25 minutes. Panels: 40 minutes. Workshops: 45 minutes. Strict timing is enforced across all stages.
Selected flagship sessions will be professionally recorded and published after the festival. Some workshops and private sessions may not be recorded due to confidentiality or format restrictions.
GTWT 2026 targets (200+) speakers across all seven stages. Confirmed speakers include Thomas Kolster (Goodvertising movement, keynote speaker in (80+) countries), Michael Dempsey (BBC and FT journalist and media trainer), Romain Afflelou (tech entrepreneur and investor), Julien David (fashion designer and creative director), and representatives from Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana on the Theater Stage, among many others. Speaker's company mapping
GTWT prioritizes practical expertise, ecosystem relevance, global perspective, execution experience, and intellectual depth. The festival intentionally avoids low- value promotional speaking formats. Speakers come to Tbilisi on the basis of genuine interest in the city and deal access.
Speaker applications are open at gtwt.ge/participate. Due to programming limitations, not all applications can be accepted.
GTW does not directly cover speaker logistics. Institutional partners affiliated with the relevant stage may cover travel and accommodation for speakers they select from the GTW roster. GTW does not pay speaker fees.
Yes. GTWT is intentionally built as a venture ecosystem connector. The event hosts regional angel investors, international VCs, syndicates, family offices, and institutional innovation groups. GTWT does not guarantee investment outcomes, but the infrastructure is designed to maximize qualified investor access.
The Investor Lounge is a dedicated space at Factory Tbilisi on June 20, accessible only to Investor Pass holders. It provides a structured environment for investor-to-startup and investor-to-investor meetings, separate from the general conference floor.
Investor Pass holders access: the Investor Lounge on June 20, structured startup-investor office hours, private investor dinners on June 19 and 20, curated introductions, Forbes Georgia networking experiences, and the Closing Ceremony on June 21.
Yes. Pitching opportunities exist through the Startup Stage (Stage F), startup expo activations, side-event demo days, the Outdoor Open Mic stage, and curated investor formats. Not all pitching opportunities are open-access.
Yes. GTWT hosts a startup and innovation expo featuring early-stage startups, scaleups, accelerators, ecosystem organizations, university labs, and emerging technology companies. A standard 3x3 booth is 10,000 GEL plus VAT. A startup spot is 1,000 GEL plus VAT.
Sponsorship/Partnership applications are open at gtwt.ge/participate. GTW offers Sector Leader partnerships at $40,000 per slot, which provide stage naming rights, speaking opportunities, and sector-specific positioning across the program. Custom partnership packages are also available.
Startups can apply for an expo spot at Factory Tbilisi on June 20. A standard 3x3 booth is 10,000 GEL plus VAT. A startup spot is 1,000 GEL plus VAT. Apply at gtwt.ge/participate.
Any organization aligned with GTWT values can apply to host a side event between June 19 and 21. Approved side events are listed on the official GTWT Luma calendar. Apply at gtwt.ge/participate.
Volunteer applications are open at gtwt.ge/participate. Volunteers gain hands- on event experience, behind- the- scenes access to all three days, and direct contact with speakers, investors, and teams from across the world.
Media accreditation applications are available at gtwt.ge/participate. Accredited media receive access to press zones, interview rooms, media briefings, and selected VIP areas.
Yes. GTWT is built as an international ecosystem platform with English- first programming, global speaker participation, investor- focused hospitality, and delegation coordination infrastructure. Over 3,000 international business visitors are expected to travel to Tbilisi specifically for GTWT 2026.
GTWT 2026 is strategically focused on the emerging innovation corridor connecting the Caucasus, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Gulf ecosystems. A major institutional delegation from Uzbekistan and regional partners will participate across venture meetings, fintech discussions, ecosystem partnerships, and startup scaling conversations. GTW Tashkent ran in May 2026 as the first Central Asia edition, making this corridor a structural part of the GTW network.
Citizens of most Western and Gulf countries do not require a visa for Georgia. Visa- free entry is available for citizens of EU member states, the US, the UK, and most Gulf nations, among (90+) others. For nationalities that require a visa, GTWT can provide an official invitation letter upon request. Contact welcome@gtwt.ge.
GTWT does not directly provide accommodation. Official hospitality partners and recommended hotel options will be published on gtwt.ge. Opening networking on June 19 takes place at Stamba and Rooms Hotel Yards. Flagship event - June 20 at Factory Tbilisi, The after- party on June 20 is at Tribe, King David. The Closing Ceremony on June 21.
Vera, Vake, Marjanishvili, Rustaveli, Saburtalo, and Chugureti all provide strong connectivity to GTWT venues and side- event locations.
Tbilisi has a metro system, Bolt ride- hailing, public buses, and walkable routes between central neighborhoods. Because programming is decentralized across the city, plan transportation in advance. A full venue and transport guide will be published on gtwt.ge approximately three days before the festival.
Luma serves as the official ecosystem coordination layer for all side- event registrations, schedule management, RSVP approvals, and event discovery. The calendar is available at luma.com/GTWT2026.
The full digital wayfinding system, including interactive maps, venue walkthroughs, stage navigation, side- event locations, and transportation guidance, will be released approximately three days before the festival.
Further digital platform updates will be announced closer to the event.
GTWT aims to maximize accessibility across all flagship venues and stages. Because some side events are independently organized in external venues, accessibility conditions may vary by location.
GTWT maintains a strict professional environment built on respect, inclusion, anti- harassment policies, professional integrity, and safe networking standards. Harassment, discrimination, abusive conduct, or unsafe behavior may result in immediate removal from the festival.
GTWT maintains emergency response systems, security coordination, medical support, venue safety protocols, and operational escalation teams on- site. Instructions from official GTWT staff and security personnel must always be followed.
General Inquiries: welcome@gtwt.ge
Partnerships and Sponsorships: partners@gtwt.ge
Startup Expo: expo@gtwt.ge Media and PR: media@gtwt.ge Investor Relations: investors@gtwt.ge Side Events: sideevents@gtwt.ge Volunteer Program: volunteers@gtwt.ge
Website: gtwt.ge Tickets: tickets.gtwt.ge Luma Calendar: luma.com/GTWT2026 Instagram: @global.tech.weekend.tbilisi