VivaTech attracted more than 200,000 visitors from 165 countries to its 10th edition at Paris Porte de Versailles, according to figures provided by the event’s organisers. The technology and startup gathering included 60 national pavilions, more than 15,000 startups, 4,500 exhibitors and 1,155 speakers.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the event. India participated as the 2026 AI Country Partner, while Germany was designated Country of the Year. Germany’s delegation included Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernization Karsten Wildberger and Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space Dorothee Bär.
The programme focused on artificial intelligence and productivity, cybersecurity and defence, green technology, space and deep technology. Speakers included Amazon and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin chief executive Dave Limp, former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, AMI Labs Executive Chairman Yann LeCun, Adobe Chair and Chief Executive Shantanu Narayen, Alibaba Group co-founder and Chairman Joe Tsai, LVMH Chairman and Chief Executive Bernard Arnault and World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee.
International companies accounted for 61% of exhibitors. Samsung, Envision, SAP and Adobe were among the companies participating for the first time. Organisers also introduced the Business Plaza, intended to facilitate commercial meetings, and an office-hours format connecting startups with investors.
Products presented at the event included a smart contact lens being developed by XPANCEO as an alternative interface for digital displays and Lifepods’ autonomous shelter capsule for use in high-risk situations. Lattice Medical displayed work on 3D-printed resorbable implants for soft-tissue reconstruction following cancer treatment, while Tetmet presented an automated system for producing stainless-steel mesh for the automotive, defence and aerospace sectors. Unitree and HABS demonstrated a humanoid robot controlled through human brain activity.
The inaugural VivaTech x Bloomberg Awards recognised technology executives, entrepreneurs and investors. Berners-Lee received the Visionary Award, Tsai received the Leadership Award and LeCun received the Momentum Award. OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger received the Breakthrough Award, General Catalyst’s Jeannette zu Fürstenberg received the Investor Award and Writer co-founder and Chief Executive May Habib received the Rising Star Award. Ukraine received the CitizenTech Award.
Separate startup prizes were awarded to Endolith founder Liz Dennett, Alithea Biotechnology’s Fanny Giannou, Surgia’s Ahmed Yahia, AssisTech Smart Shower Chief Executive Sasha Ovalle and Hodor founder Karim Boussetta.
VivaTech also organised public events on the Champs-Élysées and at its main venue, featuring demonstrations involving artificial intelligence and robotics, career-related sessions and an appearance by French European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
