Web Summit will not be in Dublin next year

“So it’s an absolutely ideal fit having Web Summit make Lisbon its home for the next few years”. “Lisbon has the infrastructure and that is why we are making the move”. Web Summit is now Europe’s biggest tech conference and for a whole week, the eyes of the tech world are on Dublin.

It’s a massive blow for Dublin businesses as last year’s summit pumped 100 million euro into the local economy.

However, Mr Cosgrave said that the move to Lisbon is being undertaken for “positive” reasons.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said today that he was disappointed with the news and hoped the event would return to Ireland in the future, with Minister for Finance Michael Noonan echoing the taoiseach’s sentiments. “I think part of pro appeal was Dublin”. The startup community in Dublin, in particular, couldn’t have been more supportive.

“I actually spoke to Paddy myself some time ago about what were their requirements or demands”. Though it’s not a question of not meeting demands, it’s a question maybe for the company themselves, it’s their choice. Over subsequent years the number of people attending rose rapidly each year, and last year 22,000 came to the event. “We couldn’t have gotten here without them”, he said.

“It opens up the opportunity for other events, he said”. “We spent an enormous of time considering it carefully”.

Mr Bruton wished the Web Summit all the best, describing the move as “a natural progression”.

It is understood Web Summit management have been in ongoing contact with the Irish Government, Dublin City Council, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland while it considered the bids from elsewhere. Earlier this month, Cosgrave said he was in negotiations with other cities. He thanked the people of Ireland for their support and said the company, which employs 130 people, would remain headquartered in the Irish capital. “That is not going to change”, he added. Cosgrave will be joined by Portugal’s Deputy Prime Minister Paulo Portas at the announcement.

The Web Summit is moving from Dublin to Lisbon. “Since then, Web Summit has grown into the most important gathering of startups on the planet”. It was those first attendees who became our greatest champions, spreading the word of the web summit far and wide. It will be held at the MEO Arena and FIL Feira Internacional de Lisboa. “This venue has extensive transport links, including a metro station and capacity for Web Summit to grow substantially”.