What is MidWest TechFest?
MidWest TechFest is a four-week celebration of technology, innovation, and collaboration across the Midwest region, taking place during February/March 2026. The festival will launch with the Limerick IT Summit on 26th February and will feature 1–2 major flagship events per week alongside a wide range of smaller community-led sessions.
Importantly: All events in the festival are independently organised by participating companies and organisations. MidWest TechFest provides the shared brand, visibility, and promotional platform, but does not facilitate, fund, or manage the delivery of these events.
Our Regional Focus
While many events will take place in Limerick city, we
actively encourage participation across the wider Midwest
and surrounding areas. We already have interest from
organisations in Limerick county, Galway, Ennis, Cork, and
Kerry, and we want to see the festival grow to reflect the full diversity of the region.
Our long-term vision is for MidWest TechFest to become
a regional movement, with events running simultaneously
in multiple counties, showcasing the depth of talent and
innovation across the area.
Why We’re Creating This Festival
- To position the Midwest as a leading hub for technology and innovation
- To encourage organisations to showcase their expertise through independently hosted events
- To create a coordinated festival calendar that gives the region’s tech sector maximum exposure
- To attract media attention, partners, and talent into the region
- To lay the foundation for an annual festival that grows in scale and reputation year after year
The Festival Structure
While many events will take place in Limerick city, we actively encourage participation across the wider Midwest
and surrounding areas. We already have interest from organisations in Limerick county, Galway, Ennis, Cork, and
Kerry, and we want to see the festival grow to reflect the full diversity of the region.
Our long-term vision is for MidWest TechFest to become a regional movement, with events running simultaneously
in multiple counties, showcasing the depth of talent and innovation across the area.
Week 1: Limerick IT Summit (26th February) – Festival launch
Weeks 2-4: Additional flagship events (scheduled based on partnerships)
This coordinated approach ensures:
- No event overlaps - maximum attendance potential for all participants
- Strategic calendar coordination for optimal regional impact
- Mix of large flagship events and focused smaller gatherings
- Extended engagement period building momentum throughout the month
- Participating organisations retain full control over their event content, format, and execution whilst benefiting from shared marketing reach, brand recognition, and collaborative opportunities.
The Limerick IT Summit
The Limerick IT Summit is the flagship event of MidWest
TechFest and will act as the official launch of the festival.
The 2026 Summit is dedicated to one of the most important and fast-moving topics of our time: Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The event is designed first and foremost as an educational
and collaborative experience, giving attendees practical
knowledge, insights, and connections they can take back to their businesses and organisations.
At the Summit, attendees will:
- Gain a clearer understanding of AI — what it is, what it isn’t, and how it can be applied responsibly
- Engage in open discussions and panel sessions where different perspectives on AI’s opportunities and challenges are shared
- Participate in an atmosphere of collaboration between SMEs, corporates, educators, and public bodies
- Meet peers, innovators, and technology providers in a networking environment that encourages partnerships and shared learning
- The Summit is not about hype. It is about practical education and building connections that will strengthen the Midwest’s tech ecosystem. By beginning with this anchor event, MidWest TechFest sets the tone for the entire festival: future-focused, collaborative, and committed to making complex technology accessible and useful for all organisations in the region.
How Companies Can Get Involved
We invite companies, organisations, and institutions to host their own events as part
of the festival. These events may be:
- Large-scale: summits, conferences, product launches
- Focused: workshops, seminars, hackathons, demos
- Networking-driven: meetups, roundtables, mixers
All participating events remain completely under the control of the hosting
organisation. MidWest TechFest’s role is to:
- Provide the umbrella brand to unify the festival
- Promote the full calendar across media, digital channels, and partners
- Amplify visibility so each event benefits from being part of a larger movementt
What We Offer
Unified Marketing Platform
- Professional festival branding and website presence
- Coordinated social media campaigns across multiple platforms
- Email marketing to 5,000+ technology professionals
- Branding guidelines and logo assets for co-branding your event
Network & Resources
- Access to curated supplier database (venues, catering, AV)
- Expert support network for event planning and execution (Tier 2 partnership)
- Cross-promotional opportunities with other festival participants
- Strategic calendar coordination to avoid overlaps
Strategic Positioning
- Featured placement on comprehensive event calendar
- Integration with wider festival programming
- Opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing
Benefits for
Participating
Companies
- Visibility through festival-wide promotion and media coverage
- Association with a major regional festival that highlights innovation and leadership
- Opportunities to showcase thought leadership, attract talent, and connect with peers
- Contribution to building the regional tech ecosystem without the burden of additional coordination
Success Metrics +
Target: 4+ flagship events, 20+ supporting events across the month
Audience: 10,000+ total participants
Reach: 100,000+ digital impressions
Impact: Positioning the Midwest as
Ireland’s emerging tech capital
