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ATU announced as Lead Patron of the EDGE26 Summit in Galway
A first-of-its-kind national event championing digital creative industries, enterprise, and IP-driven growth in Ireland's creative economy.
CREW (Creative Enterprise West) has, today, announced details of Ireland’s first ever Creative Economy Summit, EDGE26. Carrying the tagline ‘Where Creative Industries, Technology and Enterprise Converge’, the Summit will take place on Thursday, May 21st, 2026, at Dexcom Stadium, Galway – the new home of Connacht Rugby. EDGE26 targets the commercial digital creative industries – film and TV, animation, games, immersive technology, design, and music technology – focusing on how these sectors, alongside Ireland’s wider creative industries, can scale, generate IP, and drive exports, and regional economic growth.
An enterprise-led event, EDGE26 further demonstrates CREW’s ambition to position Galway and the wider western region at the epicentre of Ireland’s digital creative startup ecosystem. It builds on the launch of CREW’s Strategy 2025-2029, in May 2025 – a four-year plan to boost digital creative industries across the region. With a host of national and international speakers, the Summit will feature discussion panels, lightning talks, a start-up zone, exhibition area, an immersive technology zone, and more.
EDGE26 will establish a national platform to accelerate globally competitive digital creative businesses, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and position Ireland as a leader in the next wave of creative enterprise. The Summit will have award-winning entrepreneur and broadcaster Áine Kerr as its MC. It will unite founders, investors, policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders from across film and TV, animation, games, immersive technology, design, and music technology. Together, they will explore how creative IP, innovation, and creative talent are reshaping Ireland’s economic future.
Unveiling plans for EDGE26, CREW’s CEO, Niamh Costello, said the Summit will build on the organisation’s Where Creativity Means Business strategy. It has been designed, she explained, as a platform where digital creative businesses can connect, learn from one another, and help shape the next phase of the creative economy in the West and North West of Ireland, and beyond.
“Creative economy companies operate across many different sectors, but they share common challenges, from scaling and skills to IP, finance, and market access. EDGE26 will bring these communities together for the first time in a single forum, to showcase the innovation already happening across the region and create new opportunities for collaboration and growth,” added the CEO.
Globally, the digital creative economy experienced rapid growth in 2025. According to a report by Precedence Research, the market is predicted to increase from $313.95 billion in 2026 to approximately $2,084.57 billion by 2035.
EDGE26 will be a future-focused event, with a regional, national and international lens. Melissa Sterry, who is recognised globally for her cutting-edge work at the intersection of science, technology, and design, has been confirmed as one of the keynote speakers.
Melissa will speak about the global creative shift, and how creative industries, IP, and innovation are reshaping economies worldwide. Speaking ahead of her visit to Galway, she noted that all around the world, creative industries are increasingly recognised as core drivers of economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.
“As the value of intellectual property, talent, and cultural capital accelerates, this shift is reshaping economic policy globally, as governments increasingly recognise creative capability alongside technology, infrastructure, and skills as a strategic priority,” added Ms Sterry.
EDGE26 will be hosted by CREW and is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021–2027. It is supported by Enterprise Ireland, with Atlantic Technology University (ATU) as its lead patron.
Dr Orla Flynn, President of Atlantic Technological University and Lead Patron of EDGE Summit 2026, said ATU is proud to be involved.
The creative economy has a critical role to play in shaping sustainable regional growth, innovation, and future skills. Through CREW, Atlantic Technological University has been proud to co-found and support a platform that connects creative talent with industry, research, and enterprise across the West and North West of Ireland. EDGE reflects a shared ambition to strengthen innovation-led growth by aligning education, industry, and opportunity, and by supporting graduates to build and sustain creative careers in the region.
For more information, patron prospectus, and ticketing, visit www.edgesummit.ie
Photo caption: (L-R) Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, Niamh Costello, CEO of CREW and Sandra Fahy, Connacht Rugby launching EDGE26. Photo: Andrew Downes, XPOSURE.
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