The Next Web (TNW), the Amsterdam-based company behind one of Europe’s most recognized technology events, has announced it will cease its events and media operations by the end of September. The decision follows a strategic review by the Financial Times (FT), which acquired a majority stake in TNW in 2019. First reported by Sifted, the move had already been shared internally with staff earlier this year.
Founded in 2006, TNW began as a small conference of just 280 people in a church and grew into a global meeting point for startups, entrepreneurs, and investors. At its peak, the event attracted over 17,500 attendees and became a fixture in the European tech calendar. Alongside the annual flagship event, TNW also developed a media arm and a coworking space, diversifying its role as both a news outlet and a community hub. While the events and media operations are shutting down, the FT confirmed that the coworking business will continue operating.
Source: thenextweb.com.
Despite its legacy, TNW faced mounting challenges in recent years. Attendance dropped sharply from pre-pandemic highs, with only 4,500 in-person participants at its final 2025 conference compared to 10,000 in earlier years. Editorial downsizing further signaled trouble, with several departures from the media team in 2024. Although TNW pivoted to virtual formats during the pandemic, attracting 20,000 online attendees in 2021, the post-pandemic events market proved difficult to sustain.
The closure is not only the end of a chapter for TNW but also symbolic of broader shifts in Europe’s startup ecosystem. As the scene matures, community-building through large-scale events and media outlets faces greater structural and economic pressures. While TNW leaves behind a proud legacy of innovation and inspiration, its exit highlights the challenges of adapting legacy models to a changing digital and entrepreneurial landscape.
