Thursday, 21 May

IN-PERSON: EDGE26 – Ireland’s Creative Economy Summit

Dexcom Stadium, Galway

Thursday, 21 May | 9:00AM – 4:30PM

Where Creative Industries, Technology and Enterprise Converge

Get Ready for EDGE26

EDGE26 is Ireland’s Creative Economy Summit, focused on building globally competitive digital creative industries through enterprise, innovation and IP-driven growth.

EDGE26 positions the West and North-West of Ireland at the centre of the national and international creative economy conversation, with an emphasis on the digital creative industries including film and TV, animation, games, immersive technology, design, and music technology. The summit convenes creative entrepreneurs, founders, studio leads, technology innovators, investors, policymakers, researchers and enterprise development leaders for a day of insight, connection, and collaboration.

The programme will highlight thought leadership, commercial case studies, and policy perspectives shaping the future of the creative economy in Ireland and globally.

Why attend?

EDGE26 offers:

  • A focused, high-quality forum to engage with peers working in the creative industries
  • Exposure to senior founders, investors, and decision-makers
  • Insights from expert speakers on business models, scaling, IP, investment, talent, technology adoption, and market access across the digital creative industries.
  • An opportunity to shape the conversation on how creative businesses scale globally

Who should attend?

EDGE26 is designed for those working, supporting, or investing in the digital creative industries such as:

  • Creative founders and scale-up leaders
  • Investors, funders, and advisors
  • Enterprise and innovation ecosystem leaders
  • Universities and research organisations
  • International speakers and partners

EDGE26 Patrons

Lead Patron

  • Atlantic Technological University

About EDGE26 & CLIMB

EDGE 26 is part of CREW’S CLIMB programme – Creative Leaders Innovating for Market & Business Growth. CLIMB is supported by Enterprise Ireland through the Smart Regions Fund, which aims to drive regional innovation, strengthen enterprise capability, and deliver sustainable economic growth across Ireland’s regions.

CLIMB is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021–2027.

About CREW

EDGE26, Ireland’s Creative Economy Summit is delivered by CREW, a not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting the growth and scaling of enterprise-led creative industries across the West and North West of Ireland. CREW works with founders, startups, scale-ups, and industry partners in film, animation, games, immersive, design, and digital content, operating at the intersection of creativity, technology, and enterprise.

Connected Hubs is a central driver of the Irish National Hub Network, a Government of Ireland initiative aimed at establishing and strategically expanding a network of interconnected hub facilities throughout the country. Connected Hubs is a Government of Ireland initiative under Our Rural Future. Connected Hubs is managed by the Western Development Commission in conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.