Lisbon studies bid to keep Web Summit until 2038

Lisbon City Hall has contacted Web Summit to assess a bid to keep the technology conference in the Portuguese capital from 2029 to 2038, ECOnews has learned. The move matters because the event is one of Lisbon’s highest-profile international gatherings and any extension would shape future municipal spending and tourism policy after the current deal ends in 2028.

In a reply to ECO/Local Online, the municipality said it had requested the event organiser’s RFP, or Request for Proposal, along with the related documentation needed for analysis. City Hall said Web Summit is still finalising the document and that only after receiving it will it be able to assess the conditions, requirements and terms of the process and decide whether to take part.

The current agreement was signed in 2018 and runs until 2028. A decision on whether to extend Lisbon’s relationship with Web Summit beyond that date will have to be taken during the current municipal term, which runs until 2029.

One of the key issues will be the size of the city’s financial contribution. ECO/Local Online previously reported that Lisbon approved €8 million for this year’s edition, to be held from November 9 to 12, including more than €600,000 for extras not paid in 2025. The municipality has also said an additional amount may still be paid by the end of the 2026 financial year once eligible expenses and total costs for Web Summit 2026 have been verified.

According to the executive led by Mayor Carlos Moedas, any decision on keeping the event in Lisbon after the current contract expires will be considered in that context and in coordination with the Portuguese government and other entities involved.

Originally published at Eco.pt