Dubai — GITEX Global, the world’s largest technology and AI exhibition, is set for a landmark transformation next year as it rebrands into TechCation 2026, an immersive fusion of technology, business, and lifestyle experiences. The move signals a new era for the event — one that integrates innovation with Dubai’s global appeal as a destination for living, working, and leisure.
After 45 years of establishing Dubai as a leading global technology hub, GITEX will make its next evolutionary leap by relocating to Expo City Dubai from December 7–11, 2026. The shift in both venue and timing strategically aligns the event with Dubai’s peak tourism season, offering international tech executives and investors an opportunity to experience the city’s cultural vibrancy alongside its technological advancements.
According to organizers, TechCation will transform the city into a connected ecosystem of innovation and lifestyle. Beyond the show floor, the event will extend across Dubai through collaborations with the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism, and partners in hospitality, wellness, eco-tourism, and sports — creating staycation and experience-based programs for global visitors.
Aligning with Dubai’s D33 Economic Vision
The new TechCation concept aligns with Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda, which envisions the city as one of the world’s top three global hubs by 2033. The strategy underscores Dubai’s ambition to attract tech leaders, investors, and digital nomads by combining business excellence with cultural and lifestyle opportunities in one of the world’s safest and most connected cities.
GITEX 5.0: The Next Frontier of Global Tech Growth
The 2026 edition, dubbed GITEX 5.0, marks a new chapter in the event’s evolution — one designed to fuel the next decade of frontier technology growth. The Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City, currently undergoing a $2.7 billion expansion, will become the region’s largest purpose-built indoor events venue, serving as the new home for TechCation.
The event will open with the GITEX Scale Summit on December 7, hosting global tech leaders for high-level dialogues on AI policy, innovation, and investment frameworks. From December 8–11, the expo will feature cutting-edge innovations across AI x 5.0 industries — from quantum computing and biosciences to advanced manufacturing — fostering collaborations that will define the future of the digital economy.
For the first time since 2022, GITEX Global and Expand North Star will reunite under one roof at Expo City, creating a unified platform that brings together startups, investors, tech giants, and policymakers — amplifying Dubai’s position as the world’s most influential meeting point for technology, scale, and capital.
