Uzbekistan Joins Global Tech Tourism As Tashkent Draws 25,000 Visitors For ICTWEEK 2026

Tashkent is emerging as a growing destination for international business travel as ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026 brings technology executives, investors, startup founders, government representatives and young professionals from across the world to the Uzbek capital. The four-day event, running from 22 to 25 September at the Central Asian Expo Uzbekistan, is centred on artificial intelligence, startups, digital development and foreign investment, while also creating a major international gathering that is increasing the city’s visibility among business and technology travellers. Organisers expect about 25,000 visitors, with more than 2,000 international participants from 70 countries already arriving for the programme.

The event reflects Uzbekistan’s broader effort to strengthen its technology ecosystem and attract international companies. For travellers, ICTWEEK adds another dimension to Tashkent’s established cultural appeal by positioning the city as a meeting point for entrepreneurship, innovation and international business. Startup exhibitions, investment meetings, technology showcases, forums and professional networking are bringing visitors into direct contact with Uzbekistan’s developing digital economy. The programme also highlights the country’s investment in human capital, technology education and international business infrastructure, giving the event significance beyond its conference schedule.

Tashkent Becomes A Hub For International Technology Travel

ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026 is taking place under the theme “Land of Startups”, placing entrepreneurship at the centre of the international gathering. The event began on 22 September and continues through 25 September, with the Central Asian Expo Uzbekistan serving as the main venue. The scale of expected attendance makes it an important business-travel event for Tashkent, particularly as participants arrive for investment discussions, professional meetings and technology-focused sessions.

The international character of the event is particularly significant for Uzbekistan’s tourism and hospitality sectors. Visitors travelling for conferences often require accommodation, transport, dining, meeting facilities and additional time for sightseeing. As international technology events become part of Tashkent’s calendar, they can broaden the city’s appeal beyond conventional leisure tourism.

ICTWEEK is also creating opportunities for visitors to experience a capital city that is developing alongside its digital economy. Business travellers attending the event can combine professional programmes with exposure to Tashkent’s urban culture, historic environment and Central Asian setting, making the destination relevant to both corporate and leisure itineraries.

International Visitors Bring A Wider Business Travel Audience

More than 2,000 participants from abroad, representing 70 countries, have arrived for ICTWEEK, according to the event information reported by the source. Organisers expect approximately 25,000 visitors overall. Such figures demonstrate the international reach of the gathering and underline the role of major technology events in attracting visitors who might otherwise have limited reasons to travel to Uzbekistan for business.

The programme is designed around interaction rather than simply presentations. B2B meetings, international forums, strategic panel sessions and agreements are among the activities associated with the event. A dedicated Startup Alley is also giving young companies opportunities to present projects to prospective investors and business partners.

For the travel sector, this format is relevant because business events can generate demand across multiple visitor services. International delegates may extend their stays, travel with colleagues, arrange private meetings or add leisure experiences around conference schedules. The combination of professional networking and destination discovery can therefore support a broader business-tourism ecosystem.

Artificial Intelligence Takes Centre Stage

Artificial intelligence is one of the defining themes of ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026. The opening ceremony used an AI-related performance to introduce the discussion, with the Bravo Orchestra initially performing under the direction of an AI conductor named Timur before conductor Alibek Kabdurakhmanov took over.

The demonstration was used to raise questions about the changing relationship between people and technology. Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov emphasised the importance of human capital and connected the country’s technology ambitions with its young and growing population. He also highlighted programmes supporting digital skills, including coding and artificial intelligence training.

This focus gives ICTWEEK relevance for international technology travellers who are following the development of AI markets and digital economies in Central Asia. The event is not limited to commercial technology showcases; it also creates a platform for discussions about skills, employment, regulation and the role of people in an increasingly automated economy.

Uzbekistan Expands Its Technology Investment Environment

Uzbekistan’s ambitions extend beyond hosting an international technology event. More than 1,000 foreign-owned companies are already residents of IT Park, according to the minister cited in the source. The organisation is also expanding overseas representation in countries including the United States, Germany, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and China.

For international business travellers, this expansion creates additional reasons to view Tashkent as a destination for technology-related meetings and investment discussions. A growing network of foreign companies can contribute to demand for corporate travel, conferences, professional services and extended business stays.

The event therefore sits within a larger technology-development strategy rather than functioning as an isolated annual gathering. Its combination of startups, foreign investment, education, artificial intelligence and international networking gives Tashkent a broader role in the regional technology conversation.

Enterprise Uzbekistan Adds A New Business Dimension

Another important development highlighted during ICTWEEK is Enterprise Uzbekistan, a special legal jurisdiction intended for international technology companies. According to the source, the framework is based on the common law of England and Wales and is designed to provide a legal environment familiar to international investors.

The initiative is intended to create a predictable environment for global technology companies operating from Uzbekistan. Its planned regulatory sandbox is particularly relevant to artificial intelligence developers, allowing technology products and services to be tested under a special legal regime.

The constitutional law establishing the International Center for Digital Technologies, known as Enterprise Uzbekistan, was signed on 19 August 2026. The first participants are expected to be admitted from February 2027, according to the information provided at ICTWEEK.

Business Events Strengthen Tashkent’s Travel Appeal

The scale and international participation of ICTWEEK demonstrate how technology conferences can influence the profile of a destination. Tashkent already serves as an important urban centre in Central Asia, but large international business gatherings can introduce the city to new audiences of investors, founders, technology specialists and corporate decision-makers.

For travellers, the attraction is increasingly multidimensional. A visitor attending ICTWEEK can participate in professional meetings while also discovering the capital’s cultural and urban environment. This combination is increasingly relevant to modern business travel, where conference attendance, networking and destination experiences can form part of the same journey.

The presence of international visitors from 70 countries also gives the event a substantial cross-border character. Delegates are not simply attending sessions; they are participating in a wider network of meetings, investment conversations and professional exchanges.

Startups And Young Professionals Shape The Event

Young companies are a major part of the ICTWEEK programme. Startup Alley provides a dedicated space for entrepreneurs to present projects to investors and potential partners. The programme also includes the Startup World Cup, technology exhibitions, business meetings and industry sessions.

The focus on young businesses complements Uzbekistan’s investment in digital education. The country’s programmes include coding and artificial intelligence training, while more young people are being sent to study at universities abroad. The minister also encouraged participants to develop foreign-language skills, particularly English, to strengthen international connections.

For the international travel market, this creates a setting where education, entrepreneurship and business tourism intersect. Students, founders, investors and technology professionals can all become part of the visitor economy surrounding major events.

What ICTWEEK Means For Future Visitors

ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026 illustrates how Tashkent is combining technology promotion with international engagement. The event’s visitor numbers, foreign participation and extensive programme provide evidence of growing international interest in Uzbekistan’s technology sector, while its broader implications for travel depend on how effectively business events translate into longer stays, repeat visits and continued international partnerships.

The planned development of Enterprise Uzbekistan could add another layer to this ecosystem from 2027, particularly if the new framework attracts international technology companies and creates further demand for meetings and professional travel. Its proposed AI regulatory sandbox also indicates that technology regulation is becoming part of the country’s wider digital-development agenda.

For Tashkent, the significance of ICTWEEK therefore extends beyond the four-day programme. It provides an international platform for showcasing startups, attracting investment, discussing artificial intelligence and connecting visitors with Uzbekistan’s emerging digital economy. For business travellers, it presents the capital as a destination where professional opportunities and Central Asian travel experiences can increasingly meet.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026?
ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026 is an international technology event in Tashkent focused on startups, artificial intelligence, digital development, investment and international business.

2. When is ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026 taking place?
The event runs from 22 to 25 September 2026 at the Central Asian Expo Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

3. How many visitors are expected at ICTWEEK 2026?
Organisers expect around 25,000 visitors during the four-day event.

4. How many international participants are attending?
More than 2,000 participants from abroad, representing 70 countries, have arrived for the event, according to the source.

5. What is the theme of ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026?
The event is being held under the theme “Land of Startups”.

6. Is artificial intelligence a major topic at the event?
Yes. Artificial intelligence is among the central themes, alongside startup development, investment, digital technology and technology regulation.

7. What is Startup Alley?
Startup Alley is a dedicated area where young companies can present their projects to potential investors and business partners.

8. What is Enterprise Uzbekistan?
Enterprise Uzbekistan is a special legal framework intended to provide international technology companies with a predictable business environment based on the common law of England and Wales.

9. When is Enterprise Uzbekistan expected to begin accepting participants?
The first wave of residents or participants is expected from February 2027, according to information presented during ICTWEEK.

10. Why is ICTWEEK relevant to business travel in Uzbekistan?
The event brings international investors, technology executives, founders and professionals to Tashkent, creating opportunities for meetings, networking and longer business-oriented visits.