Web Summit cancels Day 2 in Lisbon as Storm Charles hits Portugal

Web Summit has called off Wednesday’s programme in Lisbon because of Storm Charles. Portugal’s government advised the organisers that Day 2 should not take place. Web Summit told attendees by email on Tuesday evening that it aims to hold Day 3, on Thursday 12 November, as planned.

The government cited the risk of tidal flooding and severe disruption to public transport. It also pointed to the effect of high winds on outdoor structures, Web Summit said. The advice followed talks with the civil protection authority, ANEPC, and the Public Security Police (PSP).

“The safety and security of our attendees, staff and contractors is always our absolute priority,” the Web Summit team wrote.

Web Summit said it will keep working with the authorities and emergency services. It will contact those affected directly.

A state of alert across Portugal

Earlier on Tuesday, Lisbon mayor Carlos Moedas said “everything indicates” the event could not run on Wednesday. Stephen Conneely reported his comments for The Irish Times. Moedas said more than 60,000 people were at the venue in Parque das Nações.

The government has declared a state of alert across mainland Portugal for Wednesday, The Portugal News reported. Schools and non-essential public services will close. Lisbon is shutting its tunnels, parks, gardens and cultural venues from midnight. The weather service IPMA forecast gusts of up to 120km/h.

Web Summit runs from 9 to 12 November. Last month, it released its tech industry survey. In it, 60% of people in tech said AI had increased their workload.