TENWEST Returns with New Programming, Summits

From its inception, TENWEST has played a central role in building Tucson and Southern Arizona’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Now in its 11th year, the festival has grown into the largest entrepreneurship and creativity festival in the Southwest.

Fueled by HUSTL and hosted by Startup Tucson, TENWEST will welcome thousands of founders, creators, culinary innovators, intrapreneurs, community builders, and anyone looking to stay ahead of what’s next to Downtown Tucson Mar. 24–29. 

“TENWEST has become the place where founders, creators, and innovators come to understand what’s next and how to navigate it,” said Liz Pocock, CEO of Startup Tucson and TENWEST. “This year’s festival builds on that momentum with deeper learning opportunities, more targeted summits, and new collaborations across the Southwest — all designed to help people take action on their biggest ideas.”

Community-Driven Growth

From its origins as a volunteer-led conference to the multi-day, regional festival it is today, TENWEST has always helped attendees understand their role in shaping their communities. As the festival has grown from Southern Arizona’s professional development experience to a Southwest-wide draw, it has remained rooted in Tucson’s distinctive culture and creative energy.

“Whether you’re joining us from Tucson or traveling from across the region, we want you to experience the electricity of our downtown ecosystem,” Pocock said. “TENWEST shows what’s possible when a community embraces creativity and entrepreneurship—and attendees take that momentum home to fuel thriving communities across the Southwest.”

Keynote Speaker: Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief, 

Entrepreneur Magazine

Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine and bestselling author of Build for Tomorrow, will headline the 2026 TENWEST Conference on Thursday, Mar. 26. Feifer, known nationally for helping founders navigate change and seize opportunity, will speak to this year’s festival themes—innovation, resilience, creativity, and the future of entrepreneurship.

“Jason brings a rare blend of insight and optimism at a time when founders need both,” said Pocock. “His perspective on change, adaptability, and opportunity aligns perfectly with the energy of TENWEST. We’re excited for Tucson to hear from one of the leading voices shaping modern entrepreneurship and are so thankful to the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management and McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship as the presenting sponsors for this amazing keynote.”

Festival Highlights & What’s New for 2026

For more than a decade, TENWEST has been where the Southwest’s entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators gather to connect the dots across their ideas, careers, and communities. The 2026 festival introduces several major expansions:

• TENWEST EDU – New Professional Learning Track: Certifications, workshops, and industry intensives in partnership with regional workforce and education leaders.

• Enhanced Three-Day Conference & New 

Summits: Cross-cutting themes for 2026 include:

• AI & Emerging Tech
• Marketing & Branding
• Wellness & Resilience
• Consumer Products Spotlight
• Navigating a Changing Economy / World

Within the conference, attendees can participate in:

Founder’s Summit: For builders, leaders, and early-stage innovators. Sessions focus on growth strategy, investment readiness, leadership, and innovation. Includes the return of IdeaFunding, the Southwest’s largest pitch competition, which provides more than $50,000 in awards for emerging startups.

Creator’s Summit: Supporting digital storytellers, designers, and creative entrepreneurs with programming on monetization, brand building, community growth, and the intersection of creativity and technology.

Culinary Innovator’s Summit: Designed specifically for Southern Arizona’s rapidly expanding consumer product and culinary entrepreneurship sector. Topics include food innovation, sustainability, brand development, and scaling products from concept to market.

• TENWEST x Experiences including “URLAND: Formerly Known As” TENWESTx evening events include concerts, culinary showcases, pitch competitions, and creative performances. Already confirmed: Arizona Arts Live will present a major xEvent, URLAND: Formerly Known As — a genre-defying performance exploring what AI means for art. TENWEST will also continue its collaboration with Made in Tucson for the festival’s closing celebration.

• TENWEST Explores – New Festival Layer: A curated collection of partner-led art, culture, food, and innovation experiences that highlight what makes Southern Arizona distinct — from creative tours to culinary pop-ups to local business activations.

• TENWEST Connects: Daily themed networking gatherings designed to build meaningful professional connections.

Now Fueled by HUSTL 

Startup Tucson is also proud to announce that HUSTL—a digital credit union designed for freelancers, solopreneurs, gig workers, and entrepreneurs, and a division of Vantage West Credit Union—joins as the festival’s title sponsor. Launched in 2024, HUSTL was built to meet the real-world needs of modern microbusinesses with financial tools tailored to the driven. Its mission aligns closely with TENWEST’s commitment to accessible resources, inclusive entrepreneurship, and amplifying diverse creative voices.

How to Participate in TENWEST Insider Festival passes are on sale now at TENWEST.com. 

Organizations interested in sponsoring or hosting partner events within TENWEST can contact                   info@tenwest.com.