Mercedes Diane Griffin Forbes outside the Web Summit entrance in Lisbon, Portugal
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Web Summit Lisbon: My Guide to the World’s Biggest Tech Conference

ByMercedes Diane Griffin Forbes

Web Summit Lisbon is one of those events that reminds me why I love being in rooms where big ideas are being exchanged. The first time I covered Web Summit, I expected a technology conference. What I found instead was a global crossroads where entrepreneurs, investors, artists, journalists, policymakers, creators, and visionaries gather to ask one simple question: What comes next?

I have had the privilege of covering Web Summit since 2022 and every year I leave with pages of notes, dozens of story ideas, and a renewed sense of optimism about what is possible when creative people come together. Some of the most meaningful conversations I have had were not on stage. They happened while wandering the exhibition halls, chatting with startup founders over coffee, or waiting in line for the next keynote.

This is not just a guide for attending Web Summit Lisbon. It is also a reflection on why I keep returning, what the event has taught me, and why Lisbon has become such a powerful setting for conversations about technology, culture, sustainability, media, and the future.

Why Web Summit Lisbon Is Different

There are plenty of conferences around the world, but Web Summit feels different.

Yes, you will find major technology companies, global brands, venture capital firms, and government leaders. But you will also meet students launching their very first startups, nonprofit organizations tackling global challenges, independent creators building new audiences, and founders hoping one conversation might change everything.

That diversity is what keeps me coming back. Innovation does not happen inside one industry. It happens when people with completely different perspectives begin talking to one another.

Dream Build and Transform installation at Web Summit Lisbon
One of my favorite installations from the Web Summit exhibition floor.

More Than a Technology Conference

People often assume Web Summit is only for software developers or Silicon Valley founders. That could not be further from the truth.

As someone whose work spans sustainable food systems, gender equity, international development, media, and culture, I never feel out of place here. In fact, those intersections are exactly what make Web Summit so valuable.

Throughout the conference, you will find discussions about climate innovation, healthcare, agriculture, artificial intelligence, education, cybersecurity, finance, filmmaking, sports, music, fashion, entrepreneurship, and the creator economy all happening under one roof.

Every year I discover companies working on solutions I never knew existed. Some are building tools to reduce food waste. Others are tackling carbon emissions, improving healthcare access, or helping creators own more of their work. Those are the stories I love telling because they remind us that technology is most powerful when it solves real problems.

Covering Web Summit Since 2022

Looking back over several years of coverage, I have realized that every Web Summit develops its own personality.

Some years artificial intelligence dominates every conversation. Other years sustainability, investment, media, or creator platforms become the center of attention. What never changes is the energy. From the moment the doors open each morning until the final networking events late into the evening, the conference feels alive with possibility.

As a journalist, that is an incredible environment to work in. Every hallway conversation has the potential to become a story. Every booth introduces you to someone trying to improve the world in their own way.

Stories That Have Stayed With Me

Some interviews fade with time. Others stay with you long after the conference ends.

One of my favorite conversations explored how Etosha Cave is transforming carbon into sustainable building materials. It was exactly the kind of story that sits at the intersection of innovation and environmental responsibility.

I also enjoyed covering Pharrell Williams’ conversation about culture, commerce, and closing the wealth gap. It was thoughtful, honest, and reminded everyone in the room that creativity and business do not have to exist in separate worlds.

Another memorable story came from Releaf Paper, an inspiring Ukrainian company transforming fallen leaves into paper products that help reduce deforestation. Conversations like these remind me that some of the world’s most exciting innovations are not always coming from the biggest companies. Sometimes they come from small teams solving enormous problems.

Mercedes Diane Griffin Forbes with Oleksandr Sokolovskyi of Releaf Paper at Web Summit Lisbon
Meeting the team behind Releaf Paper, one of the sustainability innovations I covered at Web Summit.

Those stories, along with my editorial piece, We Believe Technology Is Revolutionary at DG Speaks, continue to shape how I think about the role technology can play in creating a more equitable and sustainable future.

What I Love Most About Covering Web Summit

After several years of covering Web Summit, I have realized it is not always the keynote speakers I remember most.

It is the founder from a country I have never visited telling me about solving water shortages. It is the journalist from another continent comparing notes over coffee. It is hearing dozens of languages while walking between stages. It is realizing that innovation does not belong to one city, one industry, or one type of person.

Innovation belongs to anyone willing to imagine a better way forward.

That is the feeling I leave with every November. Web Summit gives me the kind of creative fuel that lasts long after I have left Lisbon.

Why Lisbon Makes the Perfect Host City

I have attended conferences in a number of cities over the years, but Lisbon brings something special to the experience. It is vibrant without feeling overwhelming, international without losing its identity, and large enough to host thousands of visitors while still feeling welcoming.

One of my favorite things about Web Summit is that the conference does not end when you leave the venue. Some of the best networking happens over dinner, at neighborhood cafés, or while walking through the city’s historic streets. It is not unusual to find yourself sharing a table with entrepreneurs, journalists, founders, and investors from around the world all in the same evening.

If this is your first trip to Portugal, I encourage you to arrive a few days early or stay after the conference. Lisbon deserves more than a quick visit between keynote sessions.

Turn Your Web Summit Trip into a Portugal Adventure

One mistake I see people make is treating Web Summit like a quick business trip. They fly into Lisbon, spend four days inside the conference, and head straight back to the airport.

I completely understand the temptation. The conference schedule is packed. Your calendar fills with meetings, networking events, and late nights. But if you have already traveled all the way to Portugal, give yourself permission to stay a little longer.

Lisbon deserves more than the view from a convention center shuttle. Wander through Alfama, ride the historic trams, spend an afternoon in Belém, and enjoy an authentic Pastéis de Belém fresh from the bakery where the recipe began. Take a day trip to Sintra, then head north to Porto, a city that completely stole my heart.

If you are planning to turn your conference into a longer Portuguese adventure, these guides will help you make the most of your trip.

My Advice for First-Time Web Summit Attendees

Web Summit can feel overwhelming during your first visit because there is simply too much happening at once. After several years of covering the conference, I have learned that the goal is not to see everything. The goal is to leave enough room for unexpected opportunities.

  • Wear comfortable shoes because you will easily walk several miles each day.
  • Download the conference app before you arrive and bookmark your priority sessions.
  • Arrive early for keynote presentations you do not want to miss.
  • Carry a portable battery pack because your phone will work overtime.
  • Bring a reusable water bottle and stay hydrated throughout the day.
  • Leave gaps in your schedule for spontaneous conversations and networking.
  • Do not spend every evening at official events. Explore Lisbon too.

Some of the best professional connections I have made at Web Summit happened completely by accident. A conversation while waiting for coffee or standing in line can easily become the highlight of your trip.

Where to Stay During Web Summit

Hotels throughout Lisbon fill quickly once Web Summit approaches, so I strongly recommend booking your accommodations as early as possible. Staying near public transportation makes the conference much easier, especially after long days filled with sessions, interviews, and networking events.

If you’re looking for a modern hostel with a great atmosphere, I enjoyed staying at Central House Lisbon. It’s comfortable, social without being overwhelming, and well connected to the rest of the city.

Another excellent option is Goodnight Lisbon Hostel, and if you’d like to compare even more accommodations, browse Hostelworld before making your decision.

Travel Resources I Personally Use

After years of international travel, I’ve developed a handful of resources that make planning much easier. These are the companies I regularly use and recommend.

Explore More Web Summit Coverage

One of my goals is to build the most complete collection of Web Summit stories on DG Speaks. Since I’ve been covering the conference since 2022, I’ll continue adding interviews, startup profiles, keynote reflections, and annual highlights that capture how the conversations around technology, sustainability, culture, and innovation continue to evolve.

Etosha Cave of Twelve speaking at Web Summit 2024 in Lisbon about carbon transformation and climate technology
Etosha Cave, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Twelve, speaking at Web Summit 2024 in Lisbon about carbon transformation technology and the future of sustainable production.

What’s Coming Next

As I continue organizing my years of coverage, I’ll be publishing articles from previous Web Summits along with deeper dives into some of the conversations that deserve a closer look. Expect stories about climate technology, women in innovation, food systems, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, media, and the remarkable people I have met along the way.

Web Summit isn’t just a conference I’ve attended. It has become one of the defining editorial beats of DG Speaks, and I’m excited to continue expanding this archive.

Why I’ll Keep Coming Back

What keeps bringing me back to Web Summit isn’t simply the impressive speakers or the latest technology. It’s the conversations. It’s meeting people who believe they can solve problems that once seemed impossible. It’s discovering ideas that challenge my own thinking and remind me why curiosity is one of the most valuable things we can carry through life.

Every year I leave Lisbon inspired, exhausted, and full of stories waiting to be told. That combination is rare, and it’s exactly why Web Summit continues to earn a permanent place on my calendar.

If you’re planning to attend Web Summit, I hope you’ll also take the time to experience Portugal beyond the conference halls. Wander through Lisbon’s neighborhoods, explore Sintra’s fairy-tale palaces, spend a few days in Porto, and allow yourself to slow down. Some of my favorite memories have happened after the conference badge came off.

For more travel stories, destination guides, event coverage, and cultural insights from around the world, continue exploring DG Speaks Stories.