LISBON, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Web Summit 2026 opened in Lisbon on Monday with a record presence of Chinese technology companies and around 70,000 participants expected over four days, organizers said.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Web Summit founder and CEO Paddy Cosgrave said this year's event attracted participants from over 160 countries, making it the most international edition.
Chinese companies attending the summit include Unitree Robotics, AgiBot, Galbot, ModelBest, Xiaomi, Tencent, XPeng, Aridge and Pony.ai, working across AI, robotics and intelligent mobility. AgiBot's humanoid robots opened the ceremony with a dance performance.
Highlighting China's rapid advances in AI, robotics, automobiles and energy, Cosgrave said that future technology superstars would increasingly come from China and that Chinese companies were playing an increasingly important role in shaping global technological development.
With sessions covering a range of topics such as humanoid robots, embodied AI, autonomous agents and industrial applications, as well as returns on AI investment, regulatory challenges and the impact of automation on employment, the event is expected to attract around 70,000 technology executives, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers from around the world.
Europe's technological sovereignty is another major topic at the summit. Participants are expected to discuss how Europe can strengthen its digital competitiveness, address challenges in AI regulation, and promote technological innovation and international cooperation.
Founded in 2009, Web Summit moved from Dublin to Lisbon in 2016. An EY study released by the organizers estimated the summit's cumulative economic impact on Portugal since then at around 2.5 billion euros (2.8 billion U.S. dollars). This year's event, marking 10 years since the move, runs through Nov. 12.
