Türkiye will host the first edition of GITEX Ai Türkiye from 9–10 September 2026 at the Istanbul Expo Centre, as the country increases investment in AI infrastructure, data centres, digital talent and startup development.
The event will bring together more than 300 enterprise and startup exhibitors, alongside investors, policymakers, speakers and technology executives. It is hosted by the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, known as Invest in Türkiye, in strategic partnership with Türkiye’s Ministry of Industry and Technology. It is organised by inD, the joint venture between Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa.
The launch comes as Türkiye’s ICT market is valued at US$38 billion in 2026 and projected to reach US$58 billion by 2031. The country has allocated US$3 billion to data centre and AI investments, while seeking to raise US$10 billion in private sector funding to support AI innovation and build one gigawatt of data centre capacity by 2030.
Türkiye is also expanding its AI talent base. In June 2026, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to train 10,000 advanced AI specialists and 100,000 AI application professionals under the country’s AI Action Plan.
Startup activity has also accelerated. Türkiye’s startup ecosystem raised US$559 million in the first quarter of 2026, more than seven times the same period a year earlier. The country has 114 technoparks hosting more than 13,000 startups, alongside over 1,700 R&D and design centres.
“Our USD 3 billion commitment to data centre and AI infrastructure alongside USD 10 billion mobilised from the private sector reflects the rising confidence investors have in Türkiye as a powerhouse for investments,” said A. Burak Dağlıoğlu, President of Invest in Türkiye. “A young, digitally native talent base and a startup ecosystem growing at remarkable speed make a compelling case on their own. GITEX Ai Türkiye gives that momentum a global stage, and we are proud to be part of bringing it to Istanbul.”
Confirmed participants include Google Cloud, HPE and NVIDIA, ASUS, Dell Technologies, Huawei, SAP, TrendAI, Trendyol, Andevos and Halkbank. The event will cover sectors including AI, 5G and telecom, cloud and connectivity, cybersecurity, data centres, e-commerce, fintech, gaming, green tech, health tech, mobility, quantum computing and smart manufacturing.
Google Cloud will participate as Cloud Headline Partner, following its 2025 announcement to establish a new Google Cloud region in Türkiye as part of a 10-year, US$2 billion investment in partnership with Turkcell.
“Our participation in GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 is a testament to Google Cloud’s long-term commitment to the nation,” said Alp Önder Güler, Country Manager for Google Cloud Türkiye. “This commitment is underscored by our plan to establish a new Google Cloud region in Türkiye. We are focused on enabling organizations to thrive in the agentic era by bringing our most advanced cloud and AI technologies to the country.”
The event will also include more than 100 investors from 20 countries, managing US$50 billion in assets, who will meet startups from Türkiye’s technoparks and innovation hubs. Participating hubs include ITU ARI Teknokent, Teknopark Ankara, Antalya Teknokent, Giresun Teknopark, Medeniyet Teknopark and YTU Yildiz Teknopark.
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