Athens, June 2026 – Under the central theme “BEYOND FRACTURES. Where Innovation Meets the Real Market,” BEYOND 2026 will open its doors from 17 to 19 June at the Metropolitan Expo, reaffirming its position as the leading meeting point for technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Southeast Europe.
During today’s press conference, representatives of the Greek Government and the organizers highlighted the exhibition’s strategic role in shaping Greece’s digital future and strengthening the connection between technological innovation and the real needs of the economy and society.
The Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, Dimitris Papastergiou, referred to his long-standing relationship with the exhibition, emphasizing that BEYOND has evolved into a mature institution that has grown alongside Greece’s technology and innovation ecosystem. He stressed that Greece is steadily strengthening its position within the European and global Artificial Intelligence landscape, leveraging its geopolitical stability, significant investments in critical digital infrastructure, and the dynamic growth of its technology ecosystem.
Particular emphasis was placed on the major investments currently underway in Greece’s data center sector, as well as on the contribution of the Recovery and Resilience Facility to the development of new digital infrastructure. The Minister also highlighted initiatives in the space sector and the opportunities emerging through national and European deep-tech programs.
He further noted that BEYOND serves as both a benchmark for technological developments and a platform where strategies shaping the country’s future are presented. In this context, special reference was made to the DAEDALUS project and Greece’s broader effort to build a strong Artificial Intelligence ecosystem.
Mr. Papastergiou underlined that the real challenge is not only technological advancement but also the effective transfer of knowledge to businesses—particularly SMEs. Artificial Intelligence, he noted, should be understood as a productivity and growth tool, while BEYOND can serve as a catalyst for awareness, education, and adoption.
Michalis Stangos, Co-Founder of Industry Disruptors – Game Changers, presented this year’s thematic identity, explaining that BEYOND 2026 will focus on the “fractures” created by the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence across the economy, society, and everyday life.
As he pointed out, BEYOND was among the first events in the wider region to place Artificial Intelligence at the center of public dialogue and continues to lead the discussion on both the opportunities and the challenges created by AI.
This year’s edition significantly broadens its thematic scope, incorporating new sectors and fields of application. Key focus areas include the pharmaceutical industry, data centers, smart building technologies, local government, water resource management, education, and the social dimension of technology.
Mr. Stangos also emphasized the enduring importance of human creativity, noting that despite the remarkable progress of algorithms, creative thinking remains one of humanity’s strongest competitive advantages.
A key feature of the exhibition will once again be the Beyond Tomorrow Startup Village, where ten startups will compete for international funding opportunities. One startup will advance to the Startup World Cup 2026 Grand Finale in San Francisco, competing for an investment prize of up to USD 1 million, while two additional startups will represent Greece at the Creative Business Cup Final 2026 in Copenhagen.
BEYOND 2026 will also host a series of special thematic events and strategic collaborations. These include Netflix’s participation in an initiative showcasing creativity in audiovisual production, dedicated sessions on fake news and disinformation, and discussions on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the digital environment.
The program will further include sessions on the application of AI in local government, smart water management technologies in cooperation with EYDAP, and discussions on the transformation of education and access to information in the digital era.
Business networking will play a central role through an expanded B2B matchmaking programme, bringing together investors, startups, research institutions, companies, and public sector representatives. In addition, a dedicated Leadership Forum featuring internationally renowned figures from technology and business will be held, alongside exclusive high-level events organized in cooperation with leading organizations and companies.
Evangelos Charalambous, Managing Director of Be-Best, stated that this year’s major objective is to provide businesses with practical knowledge and actionable tools to accelerate their digital transformation. As he explained, BEYOND was established to promote technology adoption across Greece’s productive economy and to help businesses fully capitalize on the opportunities created by the digital era.
He emphasized BEYOND’s practical and developmental role as a bridge connecting knowledge, innovation, and the real economy. The exhibition aims to deliver meaningful information, expertise, and applicable solutions to businesses seeking to advance their digital transformation.
Mr. Charalambous further noted that while technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, today’s real challenge lies not only in developing new tools but in enabling businesses to understand and effectively implement them. BEYOND seeks to create the ideal environment for knowledge sharing, education, and networking by bringing together businesses, technology providers, research institutions, investors, and public authorities.
He added that Greece possesses significant growth potential in technology, provided innovative solutions reach a broader range of businesses and industries. The widespread adoption of technology across the economy, he concluded, is essential for enhancing competitiveness, productivity, and internationalization.
He stressed that BEYOND is far more than a technology exhibition; it is a platform for collaboration and business development that transforms emerging technological trends into tangible business opportunities, actively contributing to a stronger and more sustainable digital ecosystem.
Sevi Kaffa, Project Manager of HELEXPO, presented the key figures of BEYOND 2026, highlighting its international profile and continuous growth.
This year’s exhibition will take place entirely in Hall 3 of the Metropolitan Expo, bringing together all exhibition activities, conferences, and events within a single venue, thereby enhancing interaction among participants, improving the flow of meetings, strengthening targeted business matchmaking, and maximizing the overall visitor experience.
BEYOND 2026 will host more than 230 exhibitors from 11 countries—Cyprus, Belgium, Slovakia, Hungary, Denmark, Germany, France, Portugal, Bulgaria, Tunisia, and Hong Kong—alongside approximately 100 startups.
Reflecting its mission to bridge science and the marketplace, the exhibition enjoys the strong participation of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Technology Transfer Offices, universities, and research institutions from Greece, Cyprus, and Slovakia.
Participating institutions also include the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance and the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry of Cyprus, demonstrating both countries’ commitment to digital transformation. Six Greek Regions—Central Macedonia, Attica, Epirus, Crete, Western Macedonia, and Central Greece—will also participate, reinforcing the message that digital transformation must extend across the entire country.
Business matchmaking remains one of the exhibition’s core pillars through the dedicated B2B AREA, organized in cooperation with the Federation of Industries of Greece (SBE) and the Enterprise Europe Network, creating a structured environment for networking and business meetings among exhibitors, visitors, startups, and investors.
BEYOND TV will once again operate as a live broadcasting channel from the exhibition floor, delivering continuous interviews with exhibitors, speakers, and institutional representatives, while providing ongoing technology-focused coverage for journalists and the wider public.
Visitors will also have access to the BEYOND App, serving as a digital guide for venue navigation, programme updates, B2B meeting scheduling, and real-time event information.
Running alongside the exhibition, the AI FRACTURES FORUM, the leading conference on technology and digital innovation—will take place throughout all three days of the event across three conference stages, featuring more than 120 speakers, cutting-edge thematic sessions, and keynote presentations by internationally recognized experts.
The conference’s Premier Sponsor is Constrat, while Deloitte, PPC, and Nova ICT serve as Lead Sponsors.
On the exhibition’s opening day, Stage 1 will host a special conference organized by the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), bringing together more than 300 mayors from across the country to discuss the role of local authorities in Greece’s digital transformation.
The programme also includes a wide range of specialized workshops delivered by leading organizations and companies, including the General Secretariat for Communication and Media, the Hellenic Industrial Property Organization (OBI), Microsoft, KPMG, SFEE, and the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE).
Remaining true to its role as a hub for the Greek and international startup ecosystem, BEYOND will once again host the Beyond Tomorrow Startup Village, an active networking platform connecting startups, investors, research centers, and universities. It will also feature flagship startup initiatives, including the Startup World Cup Pitching Competition and the ACE–Athens University of Economics and Business Hackathon.
BEYOND 2026 is co-organized by the Ministry of Digital Governance, the General Secretariat for Communication and Media, the Region of Attica, the Region of Central Macedonia, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Technical Chamber of Greece, under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior and the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE).
Exhibition sponsors include:
- Platinum Sponsor: Office Line Group
- Gold Sponsors: Politis Group, Politis Smart City
- Supporters: Microsoft, Samsung, KPMG, Interworks Cloud, Dotsoft, EKKOMED, EYDAP, City of Athens, Logisek, HDBI, SEPE, SETPE, SEKEE, HETIA, and the Greek Data Centers Association.
Conference sponsors include:
- Premier Sponsor: Constrat
- Lead Sponsors: PPC, Deloitte, Nova ICT
- Startup Village Sponsor: egg by Eurobank
- Startup Village Supporter: Hellenic Development Bank
To facilitate access for visitors and exhibitors, complimentary shuttle buses will operate from Athens International Airport every 30 minutes and from Doukissis Plakentias Metro Station every hour, starting at 09:00 each day. Return services will continue until one hour after the exhibition closes.
Concluding the press conference, Ms. Kaffa emphasized that BEYOND 2026 is where innovation meets the market, bringing together all stakeholders of the technology and innovation ecosystem. She invited professionals, businesses, institutions, and the public to experience firsthand one of the region’s most dynamic technology events.
