Galway will host EDGE26: Ireland’s Creative Economy Summit on 21 May at Dexcom Stadium, bringing together founders, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders from Ireland and overseas for a major one-day event focused on the future of the creative economy.
Hosted by CREW, a not-for-profit partnership between Atlantic Technological University and Western Development Commission, which operates Galway’s Creative Enterprise & Innovation Hub, EDGE26 is a national platform focused on unlocking the commercial potential of Ireland’s creative industries.
“Ireland has the talent, creativity, and ambition to be a global leader in the creative industries. EDGE26 is about bringing together the people, ideas, and opportunities needed to build and scale globally competitive creative businesses,” said Niamh Costello, CEO of CREW.
The summit will spotlight high-growth sectors including film, TV, animation, games, immersive technologies, design, digital media, music tech, and fashion tech, industries generating jobs, exports, and intellectual property.
EDGE26 will also explore how creative innovation is transforming sectors such as medtech, tourism, education, and manufacturing through immersive technology, design, digital content, and user experience.
As the creative economy becomes a significant global growth opportunity, the summit will examine how Ireland can compete through stronger businesses, talent, innovation, investment, and more connected regional ecosystems.
Speakers include Paul Young of Cartoon Saloon and Daniel Crane from 2112 Chicago.
EDGE26 will also launch a new white paper exploring the opportunity to grow Ireland’s creative industries over the next decade.
The summit comes at a time when Ireland is seeing increasing growth in digital creative and CreaTech businesses, with companies operating globally from day one and contributing to exports, innovation, and regional economic development. EDGE26 will focus on how this momentum can be accelerated through stronger collaboration between industry, education, and enterprise supports.
EDGE26 is supported by a strong network of national and regional partners. A full list of collaborators and media partners is available at edgesummit.ie
Attendees can meet startups and SMEs exhibiting innovative products, services, and technologies throughout the venue.
Whether you are a business owner, founder, freelancer, student, investor, policymaker, or working in a sector being reshaped by innovation, EDGE26 offers a valuable day of insight, ideas, and connections.
Tickets are now available at www.edgesummit.ie, where you can view the full programme and speaker line-up. Early booking is advised.
