Global Entrepreneurship Week 2026 (Nov 16-22): how to join or host

Global Entrepreneurship Week 2026 runs from Monday, November 16 to Sunday, November 22, 2026. The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) organises it, and anyone can join by finding an event near them or registering one of their own on the official site. Dates are as confirmed on GEN's GEW FAQ as of October 2026.

GEW 2026 dates and scale

The 2026 edition is the 19th, according to GEN's announcement. The week is a distributed campaign, not a single conference: there is no one venue, ticket or livestream, and events run in different time zones across the seven days.

GEN says the 2025 edition was its largest yet, with more than 55,000 events in 200 countries and territories. A quick-facts box on the same page gives 50,000, so treat the exact count as approximate. GEN also says more than 10 million people take part each year.

Is there a 2026 theme?

As of October 2026, GEN has not published an official theme for 2026. Its announcement describes the focus as widening access to entrepreneurship for new founders, especially people who face structural barriers and communities outside major startup hubs. If a theme is announced, it will appear on the GEW homepage.

How to find an event

1. Open the GEW events page, which lists activities registered by hosts worldwide.
2. Filter by country, city or format. GEN says events can be in person or online.
3. Check the organiser's own page for time, location and signup, since each host sets those details.

Listings fill up as the week approaches, so a search that returns little in October may look different in November. For other dated events in the sector, see our Events coverage.

How to host or add an event

GEN invites anyone to take part and does not list eligibility rules. Its FAQ says organisations can act as a local partner, or as a national GEW Host that coordinates activity for a whole country. If your country has no Host, GEN asks you to contact it. Neither the FAQ nor the involvement page mentions a fee.

The process described on the How to Get Involved page runs as follows:

• Browse the Ideas Bank, which collects more than 100 ideas from organisers.
• Use the audience guides to adapt the format to students, founders or community groups.
• Create a profile or log in, then add your activity through the Add An Event form.
• Put the GEW badge on your materials and share the event using the promo toolkit.
• After the week, send GEN your story and share its participant survey with attendees.

Note that part of that page still refers to the 2025 hashtag. Check the current hashtag in the promotional toolkit before you publish materials.

What the toolkit includes

GEN provides social media templates, a brand guide, logo files and social cards, plus an event organiser's guide. Logos and brand rules are on the Logos + Brand page.

Why founders might care

Most GEW events are local meetups, workshops and school or university sessions, not investor showcases. They suit early-stage founders looking for peers, mentors or a first audience. If you are comparing programmes with application windows, see our guides to startup accelerator deadlines and the wider startups section.

GEN's supporter list includes Alibaba, Endeavor, Kauffman, FedEx, PayPal, Techstars and Wells Fargo. Listing a supporter does not mean any of them hosts events for every country.

Frequently asked questions

When is Global Entrepreneurship Week 2026?

November 16 to 22, 2026, per GEN. The week usually takes place in November each year.

Does it cost money to host a GEW event?

GEN's FAQ and involvement pages do not mention a fee. Your own venue or catering costs are separate and set by you.

Can I join online?

Yes. GEN says entrepreneurs and investors can share experiences face to face or online, so many listings are virtual.

Who runs the week in my country?

GEN lists national hosts on its national host contacts page.