Collision is Web Summit's flagship North American tech conference in Toronto. Get dates, ticket tiers, history and who attends in this 2026 guide.
Category
Customer Support
Pricing
Tiered conference passes (such as Startup, general Attendee/Delegate, Investor and Media) sold on a rising sliding scale as the event date approaches, plus separate paid exhibitor and startup-showcase packages, from Early-bird passes have historically started in the range of roughly 1,000-1,500 CAD, with prices rising closer to the event; exact current-year figures are only published on the official registration site
Verified
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Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2014
Headquarters
Held annually in Toronto, Canada; parent company Web Summit is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland
History and Past Locations
Collision launched in Las Vegas in 2014 as a spinoff of Web Summit, drawing about 5,000 attendees in its debut year. After two editions in Las Vegas, the event moved to New Orleans in 2016, where attendance grew from roughly 11,000 to nearly 25,000 attendees by 2018.
In 2019, Collision relocated again to Toronto, Canada, a move widely attributed to US visa issues affecting international attendees, Toronto's growing reputation as a tech hub, and active support from Canadian civic and federal leaders. Toronto has remained Collision's home venue since.
What Happens at Collision
The conference combines a main keynote and panel program with a large startup and enterprise exhibition floor, the ALPHA startup showcase track, a PITCH startup competition, curated investor-founder meeting programs, and numerous official and unofficial networking events held around Toronto during the week.
Content tracks typically span AI, fintech, climate technology, health technology and other verticals, alongside general sessions on entrepreneurship, growth and industry trends.
Tickets and Who Attends
Collision uses a tiered, time-sensitive pricing model: early-bird passes are cheapest and prices rise as the event approaches. Separate pass types exist for general attendees, startups exhibiting through ALPHA, investors and media.
Attendees include startup founders, venture capital and angel investors, enterprise executives, developers, marketers and journalists, with organizers reporting participants from more than 100 countries in recent editions.
Key Features
Main keynote and panel stages — Sessions featuring technology, business and occasionally political leaders addressing industry trends and big-picture ideas.
ALPHA startup exhibition program — A dedicated showcase track that lets early-stage startups present their products to attendees, investors and press.
PITCH startup competition — A competitive pitching program where startups compete in front of judges and investors for prizes and visibility.
Investor-founder meeting programs — Structured programs intended to connect startups with relevant investors beyond informal floor networking.
Vertical content tracks — Dedicated programming for areas such as AI, fintech, climate tech and health tech.
Networking app — A conference app used to browse the attendee list and schedule one-on-one meetings during the event.
Large exhibition floor — Startups and established companies showcase products and services to the attendee base over multiple exhibition halls.
Off-site and evening events — A parallel calendar of official and unofficial networking events and parties held around Toronto during conference week.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Brings together a large concentration of investors, founders and press in one place over just a few days
Strong brand recognition as part of the Web Summit portfolio helps attract high-profile speakers
Structured programs like ALPHA and investor meetings create real business-development opportunities
Toronto location provides access to a strong Canadian tech ecosystem and cross-border US connections
Multiple ticket tiers let founders, investors and general attendees participate at different price points
Cons
Ticket and travel costs can be a significant expense for early-stage, cash-constrained founders
Very large attendance can make it hard to have unhurried, meaningful conversations
Exact dates and venue details have shifted between editions, so attendees must verify official announcements each year
The heavy networking and sales-pitch atmosphere is not to everyone's taste
Value depends heavily on how proactively an attendee books meetings in advance rather than relying on chance encounters
Pricing
Startup (ALPHA) Varies by year, historically in the low thousands (CAD) one-time per event
General Attendee Historically roughly 1,000-1,500-plus CAD depending on purchase timing one-time per event
Investor Application-based, pricing not uniformly published one-time per event
Media Application-based, typically complimentary for approved press one-time per event
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Collision?
Collision is a large annual technology and startup conference held in Toronto, Canada, produced by Web Summit.
Where and when is Collision held?
Collision is held annually in Toronto, typically in June, most recently at the Enercare Centre; exact dates vary by year and should be confirmed on the official site.
Who attends Collision?
Attendees include startup founders, investors, enterprise executives, developers, marketers and journalists from over 100 countries.
How much do Collision tickets cost?
Pricing is tiered and time-sensitive, historically starting around 1,000-1,500 CAD for early-bird general passes and rising closer to the event; startup, investor and media passes are priced or applied for separately.
Is Collision the same as Web Summit?
Collision is a sister event to Web Summit, produced by the same company, but it is a distinct conference held in a different location and on a different schedule.
What is the ALPHA program at Collision?
ALPHA is Collision's structured exhibition track that lets early-stage startups showcase their products to attendees, investors and media.
Is Collision only for startups?
No. While startups are a major focus through programs like ALPHA and PITCH, Collision also attracts large enterprise brands, investors and media.