IVS2026, Japan's largest startup conference, will be held for three days from Wednesday, July 1 to Friday, July 3, 2026, with Miyako Messe, ROHM Theatre Kyoto, and Hotel Okura Kyoto as the main venues.

In the referral ticket system introduced this year, the "IVS PASS," which can be obtained for free via referral, has reached its limit of the first 3,000 free slots. Due to popular demand, we are expanding the free slots to the first 6,000 people. In addition, since free coupons will not be distributed this year, purchasing a PASS will be required after the free slots are filled.

Due to popular demand, free slots expanded from the first 3,000 to 6,000 people

The free campaign for the first 3,000 people, which was launched to commemorate the introduction of referral tickets, has reached its limit. To allow more people to participate in IVS2026, we are expanding the free slots for the IVS PASS (regularly 39,800 yen, tax included) to the first 6,000 people.

* Free slots are on a first-come, first-served basis and will end as soon as the limit is reached. 
* The eligible number of people for the free slots is subject to change.

No free coupons will be distributed this year. Register your referral early

At this year's IVS, we will not be distributing free coupons as we did in the past. Once the free slots for referral tickets reach their limit, participation will only be possible by purchasing a PASS.

The only opportunity to participate for free is through this free slot for referral tickets. The faster you act, the more opportunities you have not only to participate for free yourself, but also to invite your peers, colleagues, and friends for free starting from you.

If you are interested in IVS2026, we recommend registering your referral early.

The "Referral Ticket" system connects you through introductions

The referral ticket operates on the "4S (Force)" platform, the official participant platform of IVS.

People who receive a referral code can obtain a free PASS until the free slot limit is reached, and an additional two referral codes will be issued.

Get introduced → Participate → Introduce someone else yourself

The "Referral Ticket" system is a chain linking people together. When the person who receives the ticket invites the next person, the circle connected by trust expands.

Referral codes are held by IVS staff members known as "Founders," executive representatives of official side events, speakers at IVS2026, representatives of funding partners, and others. If you want to participate in IVS2026, try reaching out to a Founder or someone likely to have a referral code.

If you plan your own side event and it is certified as an official side event, you can obtain a referral ticket.

"IVS Family Tree" showing the connection of invitations

▲ The image is a sample of the "IVS Family Tree."

With referral tickets, you can use the "IVS Family Tree (Referral Graph)" which visualizes the connection of invitations. From the person who invited you to the people you invited, you can see the entire picture of the connection at a glance.

For example, let's look at a family tree modeled after IVS representative Toshi. Four generations below Toshi, there is Shuna Jo, the representative of a brewery that makes lager (this is a sample).

When Shuna traced the family tree, he found that Toyoyo Ichiyanagi, the fifth-generation proprietress of Kyoto cuisine, was in the same family tree (this is a sample). Shuna had previously dined at that Kyoto restaurant and wanted to share his passion for his company's lager with Ms. Ichiyanagi.

Ms. Ichiyanagi and Shuna are like "distant relatives" branching out from the same founder. So, when he contacted Mr. Okinaga, who is one generation below Toshi, he was able to be introduced on the first day of IVS.

Who to meet at the venue, and who to introduce to whom. The IVS Family Tree becomes a map to search for such encounters. Please note that the IVS Family Tree is a feature that can only be viewed by IVS participants. In addition, we plan to release the "Founder Rankings" in the future to honor the founders who have greatly expanded the chain of referrals.

"Founder Rankings" honoring the starting points of the chain (scheduled to be released in the future)

Following the update to the family tree, we also plan to release a rankings page honoring the "Founders" who created the chain of referrals.

A "Founder" is someone who received a referral code directly from the IVS Executive Committee, which means they are at the very top stream (Generation 0) of the family tree. Executive representatives of official side events, speakers, representatives of funding partners, and others can become referral founders. Invite the people you trust, and those invited invite the next trustworthy people. That circle expands. In the Founder Rankings, people whose chains have extended deeper and wider will be displayed higher (the ranking is calculated based on the total number of people in the chain).

This is not just a competition of the number of invitations. The first person invites someone they trust, and the invited person invites someone else they trust. This accumulation supports the quality of encounters throughout the entire IVS venue. The Founder Rankings is a page that visualizes people who have greatly expanded this chain of trust.

At this point, speakers, Funding Partners, side event organizers, and others are eligible to be Founders.

Bringing the referral feature to side events as well

You can use the same referral feature for IVS side events launched on 4S. Organizers of side events can invite only trusted peers, and the chain of invited people calling the next people will expand just as it is.

By combining the side event culture, which expanded to 500 events in 2025, with the trust-based invitation mechanism, places with deep relationships between participants and high psychological safety are more likely to be created. If you are an organizer thinking "I want to invite only people I trust" or "I want to ensure the quality of participants," please make sure to utilize the referral feature.

About Referral Tickets

Referral tickets operate on the "4S (Force)" platform, the official participant platform of IVS. In addition to issuing and managing referral tickets, 4S is scheduled to support matching between participants, searching and registering for side events, and checking in at multiple venues. Everything from sending referral codes to visualizing invitation connections can be done on 4S.

Notes

• The number of people you can introduce is limited to up to 2 people per person.

• Referral rights will not be granted to those who purchased a PASS through general sales.

• Even if you obtain a referral code after purchasing a PASS, you cannot convert it to a referral ticket.

• After the issuance of referral tickets reaches its limit, sales will transition to paid only.

• The general sale price is the price on the day of IVS, which is higher than the paid price after the referral ticket limit is reached.

• The "Referral Ticket" system applies to the IVS PASS. The CORE PASS is by invitation only and is not eligible for referral tickets.

Overview of IVS2026

IVS is Japan's largest startup conference that started in 2007. Startups, investors, large corporations, creators, and others from Japan and abroad will gather together in Kyoto under the theme "Japan is Back" in 2026.

This year, we will establish two areas: the "IVS" area (Kyoto International Exhibition Hall "Miyako Messe" and "ROHM Theatre Kyoto"), which is the culmination and evolution of IVS2023, IVS2024, and IVS2025 held in Kyoto; and the newly established "IVS CORE" area (Hotel Okura Kyoto), a Reiwa-version invitation-only IVS.

【IVS ("Miyako Messe," "ROHM Theatre Kyoto")】

Startup people, business corporations, investors, aspiring entrepreneurs, supporters, government, research institutions, students. This is an area open to everyone who will create the next generation. It will feature stage sessions, the startup exhibition "Startup Market," and IVS's flagship pitch event "IVS LAUNCHPAD."

【IVS CORE (Hotel Okura Kyoto)】* Newly established, by invitation only

This is a completely invitation-only area where only decision-makers participate, including startup executives, institutional investors, corporate executives, and government/policy makers. It provides off-the-record sessions, power matching among decision-makers, M&A matching, and other opportunities where concrete decision-making takes place.

An access pass is required to participate in IVS2026. There are two types: "IVS PASS" to participate in the IVS area, and the completely invitation-only "CORE PASS" to participate in the IVS CORE area. CORE PASS is a review-based PASS that only invitees can purchase.

Name: IVS2026
Theme: Japan is Back
Dates: Wednesday, July 1 to Friday, July 3, 2026
Location: Kyoto International Exhibition Hall "Miyako Messe," ROHM Theatre Kyoto, Hotel Okura Kyoto, etc.
Organizer: IVS KYOTO Executive Committee (Headline Japan / Kyoto Prefecture / Kyoto City)
Official Website: https://www.ivs.events/
Official X: https://x.com/IVS_Official

About IVS KYOTO Executive Committee

Established jointly by Headline Japan, Inc., Kyoto Prefecture, and Kyoto City for the hosting of IVS in Kyoto, with the aim of promoting further development of the startup ecosystem and further promotion of regional industries. We will promote the fusion of companies, universities/research institutions, cultural resources, etc. concentrated in Kyoto with startups, leading to the creation of new industries and the delivery of world-class startup companies.

Component Organizations: Headline Japan, Inc., Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City