Web3 Summit

An annual two-day festival in Berlin dedicated to peer-to-peer technologies, decentralized protocols, cryptography, and digital governance, bringing together builders, researchers, founders, and hackers in an immersive, community-driven format.

DATES
18–19 June 2026
VENUE
Funkhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
ORGANISER
Web 3.0 Technologies Stiftung (Web3 Foundation)
ATTENDANCE
~3,000 (organiser figure)

Definition

Web3 Summit is an annual festival organised by the Web3 Foundation, a Swiss not-for-profit based in Zug, focused on the technical and social architecture of a decentralized web. Distinct from a conventional conference format, it operates as an immersive gathering combining structured talks with hackathons, workshops, unconference sessions, and community-led hackerspaces. The event centres on protocol-level builders, academic researchers, and open-source contributors working across cryptography, privacy, and decentralized governance.

What draws people to Web3 Summit?

Web3 Summit occupies a specific position on the EMEA technology-festival circuit: it is organised directly by the foundation that funds and stewards the Polkadot ecosystem and broader decentralized-web research, giving it a technical depth and research-oriented character that distinguishes it from investor-facing or market-trend events. The Funkhaus Berlin venue, a former East German broadcasting complex, reinforces the festival identity, combining raw industrial space with a community atmosphere. Attendance is free of charge until the end of Q2 2026, removing a typical barrier for independent researchers, open-source contributors, and early-stage builders.

Who attends Web3 Summit

What Web3 Summit covers programmatically

Programme tracks and special formats

Notable speakers

Confirmed named speakers for the 2026 edition are not publicly disclosed as of verification. The speakers_summary references Gavin Wood (Founder, Web3 Foundation) and Polkadot leadership among expected participants; full speaker announcements had not been published at the time of data collection.

Edition history

Editorial take

Web3 Summit functions as the technical community gathering closest to the Web3 Foundation's own research agenda, making it a reference point for protocol builders and cryptography researchers on the EMEA circuit rather than a market-facing or investment-oriented event.

How to register and what it costs

Registration for Web3 Summit 2026 is open to all attendees. Delegate registration is complimentary (free of charge) until the end of Q2 2026. No early-bird deadline is publicly disclosed. Registration is available via the official website at https://web3summit.com/. Pricing beyond the complimentary period has not been publicly disclosed as of verification.

Networking and engagement

Web3 Summit does not operate a formal B2B matchmaking tool or advance scheduling system for the 2026 edition. A dedicated networking application has not been publicly announced. Session replay access is available, allowing attendees and those unable to attend in person to review talks after the event. Community engagement is primarily informal, facilitated through the festival's unconference format, hackerspaces, and the open, participatory structure of the event.

FAQ · Identity and audience

What type of event is Web3 Summit, and how does it differ from a standard tech conference?

Web3 Summit describes itself as a festival rather than a conventional conference. The format combines structured programming (talks, AMAs) with self-organized elements (unconference sessions, hackerspaces) and hands-on activities (hackathons, workshops). The Funkhaus Berlin venue supports this character with its open industrial layout. The organiser is a not-for-profit foundation rather than a commercial events company, which shapes the programming priorities toward technical depth and community participation over product marketing or deal-flow.

Who organises Web3 Summit and what is its relationship to the Polkadot ecosystem?

Web3 Summit is organized by the Web3 Foundation (formally Web 3.0 Technologies Stiftung), a Swiss not-for-profit incorporated in Zug in 2017. The Foundation funds research and development in decentralized web protocols and is closely associated with the Polkadot network. While the Summit's scope extends across the broader decentralized-web space, Polkadot projects and ecosystem teams are a significant presence in the programming and community.

Is attendance free, and for how long?

Delegate registration is complimentary until the end of Q2 2026. Pricing applicable after that period has not been publicly disclosed as of verification. Registration is processed through the official website.

Who is Web3 Summit NOT designed for?
  • Investors, venture capitalists, or limited partners primarily seeking deal flow or LP networking
  • Sales professionals looking to generate commercial leads in a structured exhibition setting
  • Executives attending primarily for brand visibility through sponsored keynotes or booth presence
  • Attendees expecting a polished, lecture-only conference format with fixed seating and formal breakout tracks
  • Professionals with no technical interest in protocols, cryptography, or open-source development, who may find the programming inaccessible without that grounding

The venue: Funkhaus Berlin

Funkhaus Berlin is a former state broadcasting complex located at Nalepastraße 18, 12459 Berlin, in the Oberschöneweide district. Built in the 1950s as the headquarters of East German radio, the site comprises multiple buildings, studios, and open spaces, and has been repurposed as a cultural and events venue known for its distinctive mid-century architecture and large floor areas. Its scale and non-conventional layout make it a favoured location for festival-format events in the Berlin technology and creative industries calendar.

The organiser: Web 3.0 Technologies Stiftung

Web 3.0 Technologies Stiftung, operating publicly as the Web3 Foundation, is a Swiss not-for-profit organisation incorporated in Zug in 2017. It employs between 51 and 200 people and focuses on nurturing and stewarding decentralized web software protocols through funding, advocacy, research, and open-source collaboration. Its primary programme activity centres on the Polkadot ecosystem, and it administers grants to teams building across a range of decentralized infrastructure categories.

Beyond Web3 Summit, the Foundation produces or is associated with several recurring events: Sub0 (a developer-focused gathering for the Polkadot ecosystem), Decoded (a broader Polkadot community conference), the Web3 Women Spark Debate, and periodic Polkadot Updates. The Foundation's event portfolio reflects its institutional emphasis on technical education, ecosystem development, and open-source community building rather than commercial industry convening.

FAQ · Access and practicalities

Where and when does Web3 Summit 2026 take place?

Web3 Summit 2026 takes place on 18 and 19 June 2026 at Funkhaus Berlin, Nalepastraße 18, 12459 Berlin, Germany.

How do I register, and is there a cost?

Registration is open to all and is free of charge until the end of Q2 2026. The registration link is https://web3summit.com/. No early-bird deadline has been publicly announced.

Will sessions be available to watch after the event?

Replay access is confirmed for the 2026 edition. The platform or format through which recordings will be distributed has not been publicly disclosed as of verification.

Resources

Official website https://web3summit.com/
Register https://web3summit.com/
LinkedIn not disclosed
Programme not publicly disclosed as of verification