"Japan is Back" Set as Theme for IVS2026, Taking Place from July 1st to 3rd

From July 1st to 3rd, 2026, Japan's largest startup conference, "IVS2026," will take place. Launched in 2007, IVS is the nation's premier startup event, drawing a large number of participants every year as a gathering point for domestic and international startups, investors, major corporations, and creators. Iolite will once again serve as a media partner for this year's event.

The theme for 2026 is "Japan is Back." Continuing from last year, the main venues will be the Kyoto International Exhibition Hall "Miyako Messe" and the ROHM Theatre Kyoto.

This year, the organizers have set ambitious goals: attracting 10,000 attendees to the IVS area and 1,000 to the IVS CORE area, achieving a 25% ratio of international attendees, and welcoming participants from over 70 countries and regions worldwide. The event aims to provide a platform where all participants can experience both "discovery" and "practical business benefits."

Every year, one of the main highlights of IVS is its pitch contest, which attracts significant attention from both inside and outside Japan. On the 18th, the 15 finalist companies for this year's contest, dubbed "IVS2026 LAUNCHPAD," were officially selected.

These 15 companies were chosen from a pool of over 500 applicants—approximately 20% of which were international firms—following a rigorous document screening and multiple rounds of evaluation. The final round will be held on July 3rd from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the ROHM Theatre Kyoto Main Hall within the IVS2026 venue.

IVS2026 will also feature the "IVS2026 CRYPTO ZONE," a specialized area dedicated to crypto assets (cryptocurrencies), stablecoins, and other crypto-related themes. This marks the first time in two years that a dedicated crypto area has been established at the event.

Co-organized with IVS by N.Avenue—the operator of the domestic Web3.0 media outlet NADA NEWS (formerly CoinDesk JAPAN)—this zone will share global trends surrounding crypto assets and stablecoins. Additionally, it will showcase Japan's accelerating momentum amid global financial and technological innovations.

Event Name: IVS2026
Dates: Wednesday, July 1 – Friday, July 3, 2026
Venues: Kyoto International Exhibition Hall "Miyako Messe," Hotel Okura Kyoto, and others
Organizer: IVS KYOTO Executive Committee (Headline Japan / Kyoto Prefecture / Kyoto City)
Official Website: https://www.ivs.events/
Official Social Media: https://x.com/IVS_Official

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Image: IVS

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