June 24th–26th in Bologna, global leaders gather to explore how AI and technology are reshaping governance, democracy, and public decision-making.
As AI and emerging technologies increasingly shape democratic systems, institutional processes and global decision-making, the question of how to govern this transformation is becoming central to the international agenda. This challenge will be at the core of the GovTech Summit 2026, taking place from June 24th to 26th in Bologna, Italy, within WMF – We Make Future, the international trade fair and festival focused on AI, technology and digital innovation. The event is conceived, organised and produced by Search On Media Group and held under the patronage of the Municipality of Bologna, the Emilia-Romagna Region, and the European Commission, and is supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), reflecting its role as a platform at the intersection of innovation, policy and international cooperation.
“Technologies are continuously reshaping how institutions function and how decisions are made, making innovation diplomacy increasingly relevant,” said Cosmano Lombardo, Founder and CEO of Search On Media Group and creator of WMF. “It is essential to create spaces where institutions, businesses, research and civil society can engage on the new models emerging from the integration of digital technologies and AI. The GovTech Summit has played this role for four years and today stands as a reference point at both national and international level.”
Now in its fourth edition, the GovTech Summit marks a shift from discussions on public sector digitalization to a broader reflection on tech policy and innovation diplomacy, exploring the systemic impact of emerging technologies on governance, democratic balances and the relationship between institutions, citizens and information.
The 2026 edition will focus on how AI is reshaping the foundations of public authority and institutional decision-making.
The programme will be enriched by the contribution of major institutional and research actors, including the European Parliament, the Italian Ministry of Justice, and the Carabinieri Corps, alongside leading universities and research centres.
