Slush 2026 side events run across Helsinki around the main conference, which takes place on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November 2026. The official listing lives on the Slush side events page and in the Slush Platform, where most organiser-run events also take registrations. Slush says the week has more than 600 side events, so the practical question is how to filter them and which ones need an application rather than a click.

All times below are Helsinki local time (EET, UTC+2), which is one hour ahead of CET.

The Slush week calendar at a glance

  • Friday 13 – Sunday 15 November: Junction 2026, the hackathon, at Hype Areena in Kivenlahti, Espoo (see our Junction 2026 guide).
  • Tuesday 17 November (Day 0): the busiest day for side events, including Slush's own founder-only programme.
  • Wednesday 18 – Thursday 19 November: the main Slush conference, with side events in the mornings, evenings and around the venue.

For passes, venue and transport, see our Slush 2026 dates, tickets and venue guide.

Where to find the official side event list

Slush publishes side events in two places. The side events page on slush.org describes the formats and links to the full activity list on the Slush Platform. Slush also offers an app for iOS and Android for following the week, while its own founder events take registrations on the Slush Platform.

Formats range from pitch competitions and industry deep-dives to investor breakfasts, sauna sessions and ice dips. Partners and the community host them, so access rules differ.

As of 13 November 2026, the side events page still said the 2026 Signature Side Events would be announced there, so check it again before the week starts.

Three ways in: open, application, invite-only

1. Open registration on the Slush Platform

Slush's own events for founders use the Slush Platform for sign-ups. Some are tied to a pass type: Slush says the Startup pass includes access to Day 0 for founders and startup-only side events, though its website lists that pass as sold out.

2. Applications

Pitch formats tend to need an application, and several 2026 deadlines have passed: pitching applications for Science to Scale have closed, and a Swiss startup call for Y Science closed on 11 September. Treat these as a plan for next year if you missed them.

3. Invite-only and approval-based events

Dinners, mixers and investor gatherings often sit on Luma with a "Request to join" button. The host reviews each request. One example is the Venture Clienting Mixer by Start2 Group and GlassDollar on 18 November at Restaurant The Cock, Fabianinkatu 17, which states that it is invite-only and gives priority to corporate innovation teams.

Confirmed side events by day

Tuesday 17 November (Day 0)

According to the Slush startups page:

  • Hardware Foundry, 09:30–13:00, Helsinki's Dance House (Kaapeliaukio 3), for hardware founders and investors.
  • Founder Dawn, 17:30–21:00, Dance House, aimed at early-stage founders.
  • Founders Party, 21:00–24:00, Dance House, founders only.
  • 360° Pitching for life science founders at the Helsinki SkyWheel, by application on the Slush Platform.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology lists its own Day 0 programme:

  • EIT Culture & Creativity North Creative Brunch, 10:00–12:30, Cable Factory's Kahvibaari, via a registration form.
  • EIT innovation networking gathering, 19:00, Cable Factory's Kahvibaari, via the Slush Platform.
  • Deals on Wheels, an EIT Urban Mobility speed-dating and networking event aboard the Helsinki SkyWheel.

Wednesday 18 November

  • Y Science, the Slush Signature Side Event for life sciences, organised by HiLIFE at the University of Helsinki, as confirmed by Slush. A Swissnex partner page lists it for 10:30–15:30 at Siipi Venues 5–6, Messukeskus.
  • Investor Office Hours, 75-minute sessions on both conference days, open to Slush ticket holders through the Slush Platform.

Thursday 19 November

  • Female Founder Breakfast, a curated gathering of female founders, registration on the Slush Platform.
  • Science to Scale, on the Day 2 morning, for researchers moving from lab to company. Slush says it is free with a Slush pass. Pitching applications have closed, but attendee sign-up was still open.

Practical tips

  • Register early: Slush warns that Investor Office Hours places are filling up fast.
  • Check the venue. Several Day 0 events are at the Cable Factory in Ruoholahti (Dance House and Kahvibaari), others are on the SkyWheel by the harbour, and the main conference runs at Messukeskus in Pasila.
  • Treat third-party aggregators as a starting point only. Some list just a handful of events, and pages from 2025 still rank for 2026 searches.

More European tech events are in our conferences section and the 2026–27 conference calendar. For background on the companies you are likely to meet, see our list of Finnish unicorns.

Frequently asked questions

How many side events are there during Slush 2026?

Slush says more than 600 side events take place during Slush week. The full activity list is on the Slush Platform, linked from the side events page on slush.org.

Do I need a Slush ticket for side events?

It depends. Slush's own founder events and Investor Office Hours are tied to passes; many partner events run their own registration or invite process.

When is Slush Day 0 in 2026?

Day 0 is Tuesday 17 November 2026, the day before the main conference on 18–19 November.

What is a Signature Side Event?

It is a side event that Slush features officially. Y Science on 18 November is one confirmed 2026 example. Slush says it will publish the full list on its side events page.