TNW: Events and media signing out, 2006–2025

Summary

TNW has announced that its Events & Media division will close at the end of September 2025 after nearly 20 years. The company attributes the decision to the lasting commercial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and an inability to find a sustainable business model despite the FT Group acquiring a majority stake in 2019. TNW Spaces (the coworking arm) will continue to operate, but there will be no TNW Conference in 2026. The announcement includes reflections from co-founder Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten and thanks to contributors and the community for two decades of work.

Key Points

TNW’s Events & Media division will wind down at the end of September 2025; editorial output stops then.
TNW Spaces (coworking) remains open and will continue operating as usual.
No TNW Conference in 2026 as events are discontinued due to financial unsustainability post-pandemic.
The FT Group acquired a majority stake in 2019; long-term revenue decline and pandemic disruption left no viable commercial path.
Leadership expressed gratitude and pride in TNW’s 2006–2025 legacy in tech media and events.

Content Summary

The announcement explains that while TNW played a significant role as the world digitised, the shift from novelty to norm for digital culture made the business harder to sustain. After efforts to rebuild revenues and explore options since 2019, the board concluded closure of the Events & Media arm was necessary given the broader financial outlook. The piece includes a personal reflection from co-founder Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, thanking the community and noting the achievement of helping accelerate the digital shift. Practical outcomes: editorial publishing continues only until the end of September, and there will be no conference in 2026.

Context and relevance

This is a notable moment for the tech events and media ecosystem. TNW has been a staple for European and global tech communities, acting as a platform for startups, investors and developers. Its closure underscores ongoing pressures on event-driven revenue models since the pandemic, consolidation under larger media owners, and the difficulty of monetising specialised tech journalism. For event organisers, publishers and startups, the decision signals both a gap in the calendar and a reminder to diversify revenue streams and consider new community and content strategies.

Why should I read this?

Short and blunt: if you follow European tech, run or attend events, pitch startups at conferences, or rely on TNW coverage, this affects you. It’s the end of a familiar place in the tech scene and a useful case study in how pandemic-era disruption can permanently reshape media and events. Read on for the timeline, the why, and what stays operational.