Digital Talent EU Days 2026
Europe’s competitiveness depends on its ability to develop, attract and retain highly specialised digital talent. As technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data, cloud computing and quantum advance, the demand for skilled people is growing across every sector of the economy.
On 15 and 16 October 2026, Digital Talent EU Days will bring together leaders from industry, education, policy and technology to address this challenge. Taking place at Trinity College Dublin during Digital Week, the event will focus on practical action to strengthen Europe’s digital talent pipeline.
15–16 October 2026 | Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
From skills to long-term talent strategies
Digital Talent EU Days 2026 is the third edition of the summit. This year, the programme is structured around three essential themes:
- Talent development: ensuring people can access the education, upskilling and reskilling opportunities needed to build successful digital careers.
- Talent attraction: making Europe an attractive place for highly skilled digital professionals, researchers and innovators.
- Talent retention: creating the career pathways, working environments and opportunities that encourage talent to remain and grow in Europe.
These themes reflect a simple reality: Europe needs more than short-term skills initiatives. It needs a coordinated approach that supports people throughout their careers, from initial training and entry into the labour market through to progression, leadership and lifelong learning.
A practical programme for Europe’s digital future
Delivered under the DIGITAL Programme for Advanced Digital Skills, the event is organised by the LEADSx2030 and Connecting Women in Digital initiatives, in partnership with the European Commission, DFHERIS, DETE and a wide network of local and international partners.
The summit will bring expert insight, current data and practical examples into the same room. Sessions will examine labour market needs, education and training models, employer demand, career progression and the actions needed to ensure Europe can access the digital talent it needs in the years ahead.
The programme will include keynotes, case studies, debates and best-practice discussions. Rather than relying on traditional panel formats, the event is designed to prioritise practical solutions, peer learning and ideas that participants can take back to their organisations.
Connecting the digital talent ecosystem
The Digital Talent EU Days builds on the work of the Advanced Digital Skills EU and Women in Digital Forum. Together, these communities bring hundreds of practitioners, universities, training providers, policymakers, employers and technology developers into an active network focused on strengthening Europe’s digital capability.
The event will create space for this community to share what is working, identify persistent barriers and shape more inclusive approaches to digital skills and career development. A strong focus on women in digital will remain central to the programme, recognising that Europe cannot build a resilient talent pipeline without improving participation, progression and leadership opportunities for underrepresented groups.
Why it matters now
The day before the summit, the AI and Digital Summit will explore technological developments shaping Europe’s future. Digital Talent EU Days will bring the focus to the people who will develop, deploy and govern those technologies.
Digital transformation is ultimately a talent challenge. Organisations need people with the specialist expertise to work with emerging technologies, but they also need systems that support continuous learning, inclusive recruitment and meaningful career progression.
Digital Talent EU Days 2026 will help connect those needs with practical responses, bringing together the people and organisations shaping Europe’s next generation of digital talent.