WSA Global Congress in Vienna
Scaling Digital Solutions: For People & Planet
May 19-22 | Vienna, Austria
The WSA Global Congress is coming home to its roots in Austria! Expect to make valuable connections, learn new perspectives, and to plug in to a community that believes tech can bring about positive change. Connecting all of that with the agenda 2030 and an ongoing cooperation with the UN, the WSA Global Congress connects digital innovation directly to the achievement of the UN Global Goals, turning mindful ideas into measurable global impact.
Get your tickets!
Main Event
Get your tickets for Day 1 and 2, which will be focused on networking, knowledge exchange, and the winner pitches.
Deep Dive Day
Get your tickets for day 3, a smaller, more specialized final-day program offering participants hands-on workshops or thematic discussions tailored to democracy innovation or startup scaling challenges.
Topics
Digital Sovereignty vs. AI | Control, Choice, Community
AI is shaping how we work, learn, and promises great solutions. But digital sovereignty is slipping: control sits far from the people affected, and systems built without transparency or diversity restrict our choices and weaken trust. Let’s discuss what could change when communities reclaim agency over their data, tools, and decisions and how AI can be built with accountability, equity, and shared governance at the core.
Global Impact Solutions | Built for Real Needs
Impact startups are building the solutions we urgently need - tackling climate, inclusion, education, and health - but often struggle to gain funding and support in systems copying Silicon Valley standards. Let’s share best practices how to level the playing field and support founders and their ventures built for real need. Let’s learn how about their value for communities, not just shareholders, and ensure the digital economy serves everyone.
Building Digital Public Goods | Meeting Community Demands
Digital public infrastructure provides access to services, opportunities and participation, however yet many communities, especially in rural or marginalized areas, remain excluded. When essential tools are privately owned or unevenly deployed, digital divides deepen. Let’s hear global perspectives how we build shared digital foundations that are open, inclusive, ensuring everyone can benefit from and contribute to the digital future.
Five tech giants shouldn’t define our digital lives, own our data and choices. It’s time to pause, reflect and reset.
Agenda
Day 1 – Connect
Tuesday, May 19
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Arrival of international delegates in Vienna
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Pitch coaching & warm-up sessions (Hotel Superbude Responder)
Day 2 – Global Impact
Wednesday, May 20 – Palais Wertheim
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Opening of WSA Global Congress 2026
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Keynotes, panels and fishbowls on AI, digital sovereignty, ethics, and financing impact
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Fishbowl session on AI and ethics
- Global Digital Compact Townhall Meeting
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WSA Winners Pitches & Category Roundtables (Learning & Education, Government & Citizen Engagement, Health & Wellbeing, and Environment & Green Energy)
- Get2Gether at a “Heuriger”
Day 3 – Built for Real Needs
Thursday, May 21 – Palais Wertheim
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Keynotes, panels and fishbowls on inclusive digital infrastructures, and Democracy in the Digital Age
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Panel on gaming for peace and community technologies
- Peer2peer exchange for social entrepreneurs
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WSA Winners Pitches (Culture & Heritage, Smart Settlements & Urbanization, Business & Commerce, Inclusion & Empowerment and Young Innovators)
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Get2Gether at ViennaUp Homebase
Day 4 – Work Hard, Play Hard!
Friday, May 22
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Digital Democracy Event – Urban Innovation Vienna
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Digital Accessibility Event – Zero Project
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Skills Workshops for Impact Founders – Vienna Business Agency
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Digital Solutions for the UN SDGs – UNIDO
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WSA Award Ceremony and Gala
Celebration of WSA Winners 2025 at Jugendstiltheater
WSA is not only known for excellent thought leadership and networking opportunities – it’s also known for great parties!
Winners
Key Participants
Why Vienna?
From May 19–22, 2026, Vienna will prove that Digital without Harm is possible, welcoming 500+ changemakers from 90+ countries.
Renowned for its commitment to digital humanism, the city offers the perfect backdrop to explore how technology can be ethical, inclusive, and human-centered. Set within ViennaUP, Central Europe’s largest startup and innovation festival, participants will have access to a wide range of events, gatherings, and networking opportunities, connecting with innovators, policymakers, and impact-driven founders from around the world.
Vienna is consistently ranked one of the most livable cities in the world, with excellent public transport, vibrant culture, historic architecture, and world-class food and coffee — the congress is the perfect occasion to finally (re)visit this city.
Visas
As Vienna is part of Schengen, the visa requirements are as follows (click the image for more information).
If you need a visa, then you’ll need a Letter of Invitation from WSA. If you need that, just fill out the form below and WSA will send you one as soon as possible!
Request your Letter of Invitation
Partners
