Silicon Slopes and Visit Salt Lake Announce Summit, a Global Innovation Event, for 2026

Citywide festival will transform Salt Lake's downtown into a global gathering place across tech, multimedia, sports, culinary, arts, culture and entertainment.

SALT LAKE CITY, June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Silicon Slopes and Visit Salt Lake today jointly announce the expansion and launch of Summit, its global innovation summit, set to take place February 4-7, 2026, in partnership with Visit Salt Lake. Convening culture shifters, entrepreneurs, investors, civic leaders and more, the event will unite Salt Lake's sports legacy, multimedia advancements and next-gen storytelling to celebrate and amplify innovations driving Utah's future.

Born from a dynamic partnership between Visit Salt Lake and Silicon Slopes, Summit will be structured around strategic pillars that reflect Utah's diverse strengths and ambitions across tech, multimedia, sports heritage, culinary breakthroughs, arts, culture and entertainment. In addition, focused tracks for other industries and specialized audiences will highlight the intersections of their sectors with technology. From thought-provoking keynotes and immersive workshops to vibrant street performances and sports celebrations, Summit will be a living ascent of innovation in all forms.

"Summit expands our annual events into something bolder and more sophisticated as we create a citywide festival where tech meets culture and the future isn't just imagined — it's built," said Clint Betts, CEO of Silicon Slopes. "We are forming one cohesive brand unified by the celebration of Utah's creativity, ingenuity and future-forward thinking. We will continue to focus on bringing the best and brightest talent in the industry while offering more opportunities for visionaries, businesses, change makers and thought leaders across industries to form meaningful connections with prospects and partners than ever before."

Summit will take place across downtown Salt Lake City, utilizing the city's walkable grid, architectural beauty and unexpected mix of venues as a foundation for a festival village with a goal to feel immersive, energetic and distinctly rooted in place. Events will be held day and night throughout a variety of venues from the Eccles Theater to the Salt Palace Convention Center, with more intimate speakeasies, creative studios and rooftop bars to enhance festival offerings. Each Summit pillar will feature its own distinct programming tailored to the themes, talent and audience of each track while also encouraging collaboration across disciplines.

"Partnering with Silicon Slopes elevates our mission to drive economic impact and showcase the best of Salt Lake's hospitality, collaborative business community and entrepreneurial drive," said Kaitlin Eskelson, CEO of Visit Salt Lake. "Every experience, keynote, activation and performance will connect back to our core theme of innovation, driving our future and forming a shared ascent toward what's next. We look forward to pairing Summit with next year's Winter Roundup to enhance Salt Lake's $5.8 billion visitor economy."

Attendees can anticipate immersive keynotes and panel discussions covering technology trends, venture capital, business strategy and innovation. Deep-dive workshops and curated networking sessions will serve founders, students and corporate innovators alike. Startup Alley and the Innovation Showcase will spotlight emerging Utah talent, while Summit Serves unites the community behind meaningful, mission-driven service.

"As we look ahead to 2026, I am deeply honored to elevate Silicon Slopes' mission by curating an unforgettable Summit that empowers our entire community, accelerates bold innovation and builds lasting connections across the Utah tech ecosystem," said Tiffany Vail, COO of Silicon Slopes. "This is where visionaries will gather, and Salt Lake will shine in a cultural convening built from the ground up to reflect the vision of Utah. We are proud to craft an event that welcomes everyone to the table and invites the cross-pollination of ideas to shape our future."

In 2025, Utah's tech sector accounts for roughly 10% of the state's total GDP and more than $30 billion in economic output. More than 67,000 professionals are employed in tech throughout the Salt Lake metropolitan area, 34% above the national average and surging 22.9% year over year. Utah's overall economy is among the fastest growing in the U.S., expanding 4.6% in 2024 and pushing its total GDP past the $300 billion mark.

Tickets for Summit will go on sale July 15^th.

About Silicon Slopes
Silicon Slopes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by Utah entrepreneurs and community leaders, which exists to empower entrepreneurs to build and innovate with the mission to ensure that Utah remains the best place in the world to start, grow and scale a company. The Silicon Slopes Summit has been the biggest entrepreneur event in Utah over the past 10+years, drawing past keynote speakers such as Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Reed Hastings, Steve Ballmer, Tony Robbins and Dwyane Wade. For more information, visit www.SiliconSlopes.com.

About Visit Salt Lake
Visit Salt Lake is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination, driving Salt Lake's economic engine by strategically recruiting and retaining meetings, conventions and sporting events. In partnership with Salt Lake County, Visit Salt Lake improves the long-term economic growth of Salt Lake and its visitor economy — a $5.8 billion sector in Salt Lake County that fuels workforce, lowers taxes for residents while generating tax revenue, and enhances community vibrancy. For more information, visit www.VisitSaltLake.com.

SOURCE Silicon Slopes