Web Summit to require proof of vaccination or Covid-19 test

Technology conference Web Summit will require attendees to show a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test to attend this year’s event in person.

The company behind the event confirmed that it was taking the measures as it prepares for its first in-person event in two years, due to take place November 1st to 4th in Lisbon.

Web Summit said the event will adhere to public health advice in Portugal, and any changes to that advice in the coming weeks will be communicated to attendees.

Cofounder and chief executive Paddy Cosgrave said the health and safety of attendees was the company's top priority.

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“The best and most responsible way to provide attendees with assurances is requiring vaccine certificates or, alternatively, negative PCR tests,” he said.

The conference was streamed online last year due to the pandemic, with more than 100,000 attending. It was confirmed earlier this month that Web Summit would return to an in-person event, but elements of this year’s event will also be available online, as in previous years. Organisers said they expected over 40,000 people to attend the conference this year.

Among the confirmed attendees for this year's event are Amazon chief technology officer Werner Vogels, European commissioner Margrethe Vestager, and Microsoft president Brad Smith.

More than 1,000 speakers and 700 investors are expected to attend the 2021 event, with over 1,450 startups and partners exhibiting on the Web Summit floor.