And that’s a wrap! The EU-Startups Summit 2026 footage and photos are now live

And that’s a wrap! The 2026 edition of the EU-Startups Summit 2026 has officially come to a close.

Over two action-packed days in beautiful Malta, more than 2,400 founders, investors, startup enthusiasts, and innovation leaders came together to exchange ideas, spark new collaborations, and make meaningful connections. From inspiring keynote talks and insightful panel discussions to buzzing networking sessions and our Pitch Competition, this year’s Summit became our biggest and most exciting edition yet.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us in Malta and helped make this event such a memorable experience. The incredible energy, enthusiasm, and community spirit throughout the venue showed the strength and ambition of Europe’s startup ecosystem.

Now, we’re excited to share the official event footage and photo galleries so you can relive your favourite moments from the Summit.

Explore the official Summit galleries

Whether you want to revisit inspiring stage moments, spot yourself in the crowd, or share memories with your team, we’ve gathered all official event photos and footage in one place.

Day 1 photos

Day 2 photos

Photo booth gallery

We’ll also continue sharing selected highlights across our social media channels over the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more memories from Malta.

‘Top 50’ curated by the EU-Startups team

Top 50 EUSS26

1 of 50

A Pitch Competition to remember

One of the standout moments of this year’s Summit was undoubtedly the Pitch Competition.

The competition received more than 1,600 applications from promising early-stage startups across Europe. Following a highly competitive selection process, 15 outstanding finalists earned the opportunity to pitch live on the main stage in front of a high-profile jury of investors and industry experts.

This year’s prize package was valued at more than €1 million and included funding opportunities, cloud credits, accelerator access, software tools, and startup support services designed to help accelerate growth.

The jury included:

• Angelo Burgarello, Managing Partner at Look AI Ventures
• Emilie Vallauri, Global Portfolio & Platform at Techstars
• Miguel Borg, CEO at Malta Venture Capital

The 15 finalists represented a broad range of sectors shaping the future of European innovation, including AI, HealthTech, CleanTech, Aerospace, Robotics, and DeepTech.

And after an incredibly competitive final, the winner of the EU-Startups Summit 2026 Pitch Competition was AlterEcho.

Founded in Denmark in 2025, AlterEcho is developing a robotic embodiment platform for the life sciences sector, combining robotic avatars and AI agents to support remote work in cleanrooms and hazardous environments. The company’s technology aims to reduce contamination risks in pharmaceutical and medical settings while enabling highly precise remote operations.

You can read the full winner announcement here

More than just a conference

Beyond the stage content, one of the defining aspects of this year’s Summit was the focus on meaningful networking and community building.

Attendees connected through the Summit app, AI-powered matchmaking, curated networking sessions, informal meetings in the Networking Lounge, and sunset networking drinks overlooking Malta’s coastline.

From spontaneous conversations in the exhibition hall to investor meetings and startup partnerships, the Summit once again proved that some of the most valuable moments happen between sessions.

See you next year!

The 2026 edition of the EU-Startups Summit may be over, but the conversations, partnerships, and momentum created in Malta will continue long after the event.

Thank you again to all attendees, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, partners, volunteers, and team members who helped make this year’s edition possible.

We can’t wait to welcome you back for the 2027 edition of the EU-Startups Summit – still in Malta! Stay tuned for future announcements, updates, and early information about what’s coming next.

OUR EVENT SPONSORS

Malta Enterprise is Malta’s economic development agency, facilitating economic growth, investment, and innovation by offering a range of support services for local and foreign enterprises setting up a productive presence in Malta. As a key player in Malta’s economic landscape, it contributes to the nation’s prosperity by attracting investments, supporting businesses, and driving innovation, thereby reinforcing Malta’s position as an attractive destination for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Malta Enterprise actively cultivates a vibrant startup ecosystem, playing a pivotal role in fostering a conducive environment for startups and offering tailored support and incentives to empower emerging businesses.

M. Demajo Group is a leading business player in Malta, with a successful history spanning 115 years. The Group’s growth and diversification have resulted in a wide coverage of business sectors through a commitment to long-term results.

M. Demajo Group’s workforce is 500 strong, and their various activities have been developed through organic growth, acquisitions, partnerships, and startups. Its strong financial situation and ethical standards, its business reputation, and its renowned track record as a business partner are all key factors in its continued expansion.

The IONOS Cloud Start-up Program provides young companies with up to €100,000 in cloud credits for up to five years after their founding. Start-ups benefit from a sovereign IT infrastructure “Made in Germany,” offering 100% GDPR compliance and full legal certainty. IONOS Cloud guarantees technological freedom without vendor lock-in. Long-term support is also ensured: exclusive discounts after the first year enable a seamless transition into the IONOS Cloud ISV Partner Program. In this way, digital sovereignty becomes a strategic competitive advantage from founding to scaling.