AI, sustainability, and changing consumer habits – the event industry meets in Debrecen
How is artificial intelligence transforming the event industry? Where is digitalization heading, what sustainable solutions are already working in practice, and how are audience needs shifting? On October 13 in Debrecen, Rendezvény ReStart 2026 will seek answers to these questions, among others. Held at the Lovarda event venue, the professional gathering will feature speakers such as Balázs Fürjes, member of the International Olympic Committee, Péter Oszkó, head of O3 Partners, and Benjamin Malejkó, AI-based visual artist.
In recent years, the event industry has been simultaneously reshaped by technological advancements, shifting consumer habits, and a growing demand for more sustainable operations. Rendezvény ReStart 2026 puts these transformations front and center, connecting organizers, service providers, and corporate/institutional partners across business, cultural, and sports events.
Prior to the panel sessions, the conference will be opened by Natália Oszkó-Jakab, President of the Hungarian Tourism Program Foundation. Artificial intelligence is one of the key themes of the event. Participants in the panel Is AI Watching Over You? – Innovative Solutions in the Event Industry—including Attila Fábián, CEO of Smarteq, and AI-based visual artist Benjamin Malejkó—will examine how emerging technologies are integrated into the world of events.
Digitalization will be covered from multiple angles: dedicated sessions will address cloud services, digital solutions in the hospitality sector, as well as the opportunities that augmented reality and hybrid content present for the event industry.
The roundtable titled What Is Your Child Spending Money On? – Festival Revenues in an Era of Changed Consumer Habits will explore how visitor behavior is evolving and what impact this will have on festival revenues and operations. Panelists include Barbara Tóth, founder and owner of BSIDEMUSIC, Managing Director Péter Miklósvölgyi, and Norbert Lobenwein, festival organizer of STRAND Festival and SopronFest.
ReStart will also look at major upcoming Hungarian sports events in the years ahead. Speakers in the session Go Hungary! – Major Sports Events in Hungary in the Near Future include Balázs Fürjes, member of the International Olympic Committee, Gergely Baráth, Tourism Director for Budapest, and Dávid Szántó, Deputy State Secretary at the State Secretariat for Sport.
Economic crises, technological progress, digitalization, and geopolitical shifts heavily influence economic activity and business operations. Péter Oszkó, head of O3 Partners, will deliver a keynote presentation titled The Economic Environment and Its Impact on the Event Industry.
In addition to its professional sessions, ReStart aims to create networking and connection opportunities for stakeholders from across all sectors of the event industry. The conference program will conclude with a champagne reception and a performance by the Minimum4 Quartet.
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Date: October 13, 2026 | 09:30–17:00
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Venue: Lovarda, Debrecen
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Admission: Free, but registration is required.
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More programs and detailed info: rendezvenyrestart.hu
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Photo: ReStart 2026