The Financial Times’ 2026 ranking of Europe’s top startup hubs has spotlighted four hubs in this region. The list covers 180 hubs in 25 countries across Europe in total. UK, Germany and Spain were home to the best performers overall. This ranking of Europe’s leading start-up hubs, now in its third year, recognises the top centres providing programmes to help people build or grow a company.
The Financial Times co-operated with the international data and research company Statista as well as the FT-backed European tech site Sifted.
From the region 4 hubs where in the list:
- DTU
- Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship
- DTU Science Park
- Minc
CBS was a new entry for this year, as it was not on the previous list from 2025.
DTU also stood out for being on of the top 10 best ranked Hubs on both the networking score and the best office and lab space score.
These hubs reinforce the cross-border ecosystem’s growing influence in technology, sustainability, and deep-tech innovation.
More details on the listing:
DTU (Technical University of Denmark)
Rank: 46
Score: 79.83
City: Kongens Lyngby (Greater Copenhagen)
Focus: No specific focus
Founded: 1829
2025 Ranking: Yes
Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship
Rank: 84
Score: 77.50
City: Frederiksberg (Copenhagen)
Focus: No specific focus
Founded: 2008
2025 Ranking: No
DTU Science Park
Rank: 174
Score: 72.56
City: Kongens Lyngby (Greater Copenhagen)
Focus: Technology
Founded: 2014
2025 Ranking: Yes
Minc
Rank: 178
Score: 72.34
City: Malmö
Focus: Technology
Founded: 2002
2025 Ranking: Yes
Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs 2026, in its third edition, is a ranking of the top centres offering incubator and/or accelerator programmes to people who want to build or grow a company. Requiring at least one physical location within Europe, these centres are called start-up hubs. In total, 180 such hubs were recognised in this ranking. To identify the leading hubs, a two-phase application and evaluation process was conducted.
Several elements were considered, with the main criterion being the assessment by alumni who participated in at least one programme run by the respective hub. In addition, the recommendations of external experts, such as investors (business angels, representatives of venture capital firms), entrepreneurs and academics were included. Also, the most successfull startup from the hubs where analysed as well.
You can view the entire ranking here:
https://www.ft.com/content/ab05487c-72f9-4c1c-9acf-07768693b105
