COLUMBUS, Ohio—Black Tech Week, presented by JobsOhio, one of the nation’s leading gatherings for founders, investors, technologists, creatives and ecosystem builders, has selected Columbus as its host city for 2027. The announcement was made Friday, Sept. 4, on stage during CBUS Soul® Fest, a free, two-day celebration of Columbus’ vibrant Black culture, presented in partnership by Experience Columbus and Columbus Recreation and Parks Department.
Black Tech Week will be held in the summer of 2027, bringing a national audience of founders, creators, investors, Fortune 500 executives, technologists and culture-shapers to Columbus for the first time. More than 100 speakers, panels and workshops focused on the future of technology and entrepreneurship will take place.
“When we launched Black Tech Week in 2022, our vision was to build a nationally recognized platform that connected founders, creatives and innovators from across the country and around the world,” said Candice Matthews Brackeen, Founder and CEO of Lightship Foundation. “As we look toward the future, Columbus offers an incredible opportunity to expand our reach and create even greater impact.”
Black Tech Week is expected to have a significant impact on Columbus, welcoming approximately 7,500-10,000 attendees and bringing in an estimated $5.4 million in direct visitor spending.
“Black Tech Week’s decision to make Columbus its next home is a landmark win for our city, and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity,” said Brian Ross, President and CEO of Experience Columbus. “Indeed reports local tech job growth at twice the national rate, and The New York Times recently recognized our region as ‘a critical hub for advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence,’ making Columbus a natural fit for this monumental gathering. We’re eager to welcome attendees next summer.”
Black Tech Week was founded in Miami in 2013 with its inaugural conference taking place in 2015 and has been held in Cincinnati annually since 2022. The event has featured prominent keynote speakers including Serena Williams, Ava DuVernay, Keke Palmer and more. The conference creates opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs and established industry leaders to exchange ideas, build relationships and explore the technologies and businesses shaping the future.
“Lightship Foundation continues to grow the Black Tech Week conference in Ohio, reflecting the momentum of our state’s innovation economy as a place where entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders come together to build what’s next,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “This event will continue to be a leading opportunity to build relationships and connect founders to the resources across Ohio that fuel long-term growth.”
Additional information, venue details and ticket information for Black Tech Week 2027 will be announced in the coming months. Learn more about Black Tech Week by visiting blacktechweek.com.
About Experience Columbus
Celebrating 85 years in 2026, Experience Columbus is the destination marketing organization for the Columbus region dedicated to growing visitor spending and enhancing the visitor experience. Annually, visitors make 54.9 million trips to Greater Columbus for conventions, trade shows, sporting events and leisure visits, spending $8.6 billion and supporting more than 83,306 jobs. For more information, visit ExperienceColumbus.com.
About Black Tech Week
Black Tech Week is an award-winning, culture-driven experience rooted in community and powered by collaboration. For more than a decade BTW has driven the content, conversations and connections powering technology, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
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Media Contacts:
Leah Berger, APR, ECI, Experience Columbus: lberger@experiencecolumbus.com | 614-222-6145
Cameron Walker, ECI, Experience Columbus: cwalker@experiencecolumbus.com | 614-222-6146
Vanessa Misoon, Black Tech Week: vanessa@lightship.foundation
