The 7th Hawler International Technology Exhibition (HITEX 2026), Iraq’s largest annual technology exhibition and conference, will take place from October 6–9, 2026, at the Erbil International Fairground.

This year, HITEX was officially opened by Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.

During the opening, KRG Prime Minister Barzani toured the exhibition halls and viewed firsthand the various innovations presented by young people and companies from the Kurdistan Region and abroad.

Speaking to the media afterward, the prime minister expressed that he was proud to see the ingenuity of young innovators in Kurdistan.

“I am happy to see that the future of Kurdistan will be in the hands of such people. Their success and Kurdistan’s progress are already evident in their work. I was very pleased to speak with them about their innovations, learn what they have done and where they got their ideas from. This is something to be proud of.

“This is our greatest achievement, because the greatest capital in the Kurdistan Region is human beings themselves. Young people in particular are the greatest asset for our nation and our country. I am happy that they themselves have the sense that they can think about innovation and contribute to the advancement of their country. This is something to be happy about, and we are proud of them,” he concluded.

The event is expected to attract 45,000 visitors, with participants from more than 15 countries.

The exhibition brings together technology companies and organizations from across the region and serves as a meeting point for government institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, small-business owners, successful professionals, students, and the wider public.

The event has attracted tens of thousands of visitors and over 100+ exhibitors from multiple countries.

HITEX aims to become the leading international tech and electronics event in the region. So far, it is ranked among the five largest technology exhibitions in the Middle East.

Officially launched in 2019, HITEX became the largest exhibition in Iraq in terms of both visitor turnout and business transactions in 2023.

In previous editions, it hosted more than 200 speakers and featured more than 50 sessions and panels, bringing together technology leaders, government officials, entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and international experts.

This year, the conference will run for three days, with each day focusing on a technology-related theme, including topics such as the digital economy, technology, artificial intelligence, and content creation.

The exhibition also has a special section dedicated to start-ups, with the more than 300 small businesses that have participated to date having received significant financial support totaling more than 300 million Iraqi dinars, including grants and funding for successful businesses.