More Than 3,000 Participants, Technology Discussions, and New Developments: How IT Arena 2026 Went in Lviv

IT Arena 2026 convened over 3,000 individuals in Lviv from September 25-27, focusing on technology discussions and emerging developments. The state enterprise "Multimedia Platform of Ukraine’s International Broadcasting" (IBMPU) served as the information partner. The conference, themed "Leading the Way," featured presentations and discussions on Ukrainian technology businesses, product internationalization, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, investment, and defense advancements.

Due to security concerns, the event spanned multiple locations across Lviv, with participants informed in advance.

Notable speakers included Admiral Michael Rogers, former head of the U.S. National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command; Oksana Fercuk, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine; Tetiana Lukyniuk, Google Ukraine Director; Mikko-Pekka Hänski, entrepreneur and investor; and Dan Tyre, one of HubSpot’s sales team founders. Specialized meetups allowed attendees to explore practical applications of technologies and potential partnerships.

Central topics included Ukraine’s digital strategy, with Fercuk addressing updates and challenges like AI implementation, public service transformation, and defense development. She emphasized Ukraine's role in the EU as a partner with unique experiences, citing the full-scale invasion as a catalyst for digital acceleration. Fercuk stressed the need for technological resilience, data protection, digital services for the military, and AI advancements to adapt wartime innovations to civilian use.

Admiral Rogers highlighted collaborations between the Ukrainian state, private sector, and cybersecurity specialists, underscoring the country’s practices as a model for others. The Innovation Stage and Expo provided platforms for showcasing new technologies, with discussions on AI applications in marketing workflows. The IT Arena Startup Competition 2026 saw 189 applications, culminating in six finalists: Alatyr Group, FNAV Systems, Rankin AI, Sirocco Energy, Versi Bionics, and Zmiyar.

Sirocco Energy claimed first place with a $30,000 prize for wind turbines with linear blade movement, while Zmiyar earned second place for networked intelligent mine systems, and Versi Bionics received third place for bionic upper-limb prostheses. Versi Bionics also received a special prize for an app aiding child independence. The conference fostered an atmosphere of openness, where attendees engaged in practical discussions and saw technologies applied in real-world scenarios, proving invaluable for teams in international broadcasting.