On 22 October, more than 4,000 professionals working on the digital transformation of government will gather at Flanders Expo for Trefdag Vlaanderen Digitaal 2026. Members of the Trustflows community will be present at various booths across the exhibition floor. Come and meet us to discuss trusted data sharing, interoperability and the future of digital government.
The event brings together policymakers, public-sector leaders, researchers, technology partners and GovTech innovators to exchange ideas, discover operational solutions and build new partnerships. Participation is free, but registration is required.
Practical information
| When | Thursday 22 October 2026, 08:00–18:00 |
|---|---|
| Where | Flanders Expo, Hall 8, Maaltekouter 1, 9051 Ghent, Belgium |
| Registration | Participation is free of charge, but advance registration is required. |
Doors open at 08:00. The plenary opening show starts at 09:30 in Hall 5. Flanders Expo is accessible by bicycle and by tram T1 from Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station. Paid parking is available on site. See the official practical information for travel details, catering, badges and the exhibition map.
Sovereign in a connected world
This year’s theme is “Sovereign in a connected world.” AI, digital platforms and geopolitical shifts are changing how public value is created. Governments must remain innovative while ensuring resilience, trust and strategic autonomy. Sovereignty does not mean acting alone: it means making conscious choices about technology, collaboration and infrastructure, while building shared capabilities and reducing strategic dependencies.
The day opens with three keynote speakers offering different perspectives on sovereignty:
- Jan Smedts, Head of Digitaal Vlaanderen, on strategic autonomy for the Flemish government.
- Tom Van de Weghe, VRT journalist and technology expert, on the changing geopolitical balance of technological power.
- Sofie Fransen, surgeon, on remaining in control as technology becomes increasingly important in our work.
Four conference tracks
Participants can compose their own programme from dozens of breakout sessions across four tracks:
- AI as collective intelligence: how humans and machines can work together to build better, more accessible and more personal public services.
- Choosing connectedness: shared platforms, open standards and interoperable ecosystems that enable organisations to collaborate without lock-in.
- Resilience by design: cyber resilience, critical infrastructure, digital autonomy and reducing strategic dependencies.
- Beyond the screen: sensors, connected infrastructure and intelligent systems that observe and respond to the physical world.
Alongside the sessions, an extensive exhibition floor, forums, round-table sessions, a coworking area and the closing reception provide space to meet other participants and exchange knowledge. Most breakout sessions are in Dutch, while the exhibition offers an international networking environment.
View the complete programme on the official website.