Reflecting on Masters of Digital 2026

The 2026 edition of Masters of Digital, DIGITALEUROPE’s flagship event, returned under the banner “Digital & Defence Reset: Europe Takes the Reins?” across two days, 25-26 February, with keynote speeches, panel discussions, award ceremonies and a VIP gala dinner.

The conference attracted 2,500+ online and in-person attendees from 85 countries as well as 62 speakers, including EU Commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis, EVP Henna Virkkunen, Dan Jørgensen, and Maria Luís Albuquerque, alongside the President of European Investment Bank Group Nadia Calviño, NATO and military officials, national governments, industry titans, and European start ups.

Day 1 concluded with the crowning of Quandela (France) as the winner of the Future Unicorn Award, followed by a VIP gala dinner at Théâtre du Vaudeville. Guests were invited to enjoy a 3-course meal alongside live entertainment and to continue the celebration of European start ups and innovation via the Dual-Use Award Ceremony won by Sateliot (Spain). You can read more about the finalists, jury and the award criteria in this newspost published by DIGITALEUROPE.

Day 2 shifted the focus from high-level strategic vision to the practical elements of European digital sovereignty, financial integration, and sectoral AI application. Attendees had the opportunity to listen to the financial outlooks from Nadia Calviño (EIB) and Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque; participate in themed breakout rooms on Connectivity and Infrastructure, Health Policy & AI, Cyber Resilience, and Energy; and engage in conversation about EU partnerships, both transatlantic and with the UK.

All sessions are now available to watch on DIGITALEUROPE’s YouTube channel. Additionally, you can view a selection of event photos and illustrative highlights on the event website.