IVS2026 Opens Applications for Official Side Events, Creating Simultaneous Networking Opportunities Across Kyoto

Japan's largest startup conference, "IVS2026", will be held for three days from Wednesday, July 1 to Friday, July 3, 2026, with main venues including Miyakomesse, ROHM Theatre Kyoto, and Hotel Okura Kyoto. IVS has officially opened applications for participant-hosted Official Side Events.

During IVS2025, over 500 side events were held at cafes, galleries, temples, machiya (traditional townhouses), and coworking spaces throughout Kyoto City, allowing IVS attendees to commute across various locations in the city. This year, we are launching an initiative to grant the "IVS Official Badge" to side events that meet our operational standards and are certified by IVS. We will also publish a list of these events on the ticket platform "4S" (Force).

Create "Another IVS"

At IVS, "IVS2026" serves as the main event, while the multitude of events hosted by IVS participants before, during, and after the conference are referred to as side events.

The format is entirely free—ranging from meetups and study sessions to running events. Organizers can decide whether the event requires screening, is paid, or is free. Hosts range from individuals and companies to communities. Intersections and themes that cannot be fully covered within the official IVS program will emerge in corners of cafes, temple grounds, machiya, and coworking spaces.

Starting from Miyakomesse, ROHM Theatre Kyoto, and Hotel Okura Kyoto, the entire city of Kyoto will become the stage for the three-day IVS.

3 Benefits of Hosting a Side Event

Side events empower organizers to create their own encounters and networking opportunities that cannot be obtained through the main program alone.

1. Create highly targeted networking within specific industries or sectors
By narrowing down the event's theme or industry, you can attract exactly the people you want to connect with.

2. Accelerate networking inside the IVS venue
Hosting a side event enables synergistic activities: you can have in-depth discussions at the main IVS venue with contacts you first met at your side event, or deepen relationships at your side event with people you just met at the main venue.

3. Official Side Events receive one IVS PASS referral ticket
Organizers of Official Side Events certified under IVS operational standards will be granted one IVS PASS, which grants entry to the IVS main venues (Miyakomesse and ROHM Theatre Kyoto). This IVS PASS acts as a referral ticket, allowing the holder to issue referral codes for two people.

For more details on the "Referral Ticket" system, please click here.
IVS2026 introduces Japan's first "Referral Ticket" system to invite people you want to bring along! A campaign offering free tickets for the first 3,000 people is also underway. #IVS2026
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000211.000059319.html

"Official Side Events"

We accept applications from side event organizers and certify those that meet our criteria as "Official Side Events."

Official Side Events are granted the "IVS Official Badge." This makes it clear to participants that "this is a side event certified by IVS," and it allows organizers to demonstrate externally that they are "hosting a side event with high synergy with IVS."

We have prepared two frameworks for Official Side Events: a free tier and a paid tier.

[Free Tier]
- Grant of the IVS Official Badge
- Listing on the ticket platform "4S"
- Grant of 1 IVS PASS referral ticket

[Paid Tier]
Plan / Cost (excluding tax) / Key Benefits
Gold / 1 Million JPY / Free tier benefits + promotional support within the main IVS event
Silver / 500,000 JPY / Free tier benefits + partial promotional support

Flow from Application to Certification and Execution
1. Application
2. Screening (Free Tier) or Menu Selection (Paid Tier)
3. Certification + Receipt of Badge Kit
4. Information published on the dedicated site (4S)
5. Harassment Training [Mandatory]
6. Event Execution
7. Implementation Report

Briefings and Meetups for Organizers

We will hold briefing sessions to share how to plan and operate an event, along with talk sessions and networking events featuring past organizers. These are targeted at current and prospective organizers of Official Side Events.

Online Briefing
Session / Date & Time / Format / Content
1st Session / Thursday, May 21, 2026, 17:00-18:00 / Online / Flow after becoming a partner / How to recruit on 4S / Important notes and examples of what not to do / Referral tickets / Past case studies / Organizer interviews / Q&A

Offline Meetup
Date & Time / Format / Content
June 2026