BEYOND 2026
Nov 23-25 | MediaCity, Salford, Manchester, UK
Three days ·100+ speakers · Workshops · Showcases · Networking · Festival
Speakers
BEYOND 2026 brings together speakers from Aardman, Ars Electronica, Arup, British Council, CoSTAR National Lab, Creative UK, The Design Council, Merlin Entertainments, UK Research and Innovation, and Universal Destinations and Experiences, with many more still to be announced…
Themes
BEYOND Conference is shaped around two distinct days, Experience and Growth — each with its own focus, energy and agenda.
EXPERIENCE
Tues 24 Nov
Create, Discover & Innovate
Shared, felt and remembered: at the heart of every creative experience is a human moment. As technology reshapes how culture is made and consumed, BEYOND Conference explores what comes next — across screen, music, live performance, immersive and the wider experience economy.
Screen industries · XR & Immersive · AI & Creative Practice · Gaming · VFX · Live Performance · Music · Emerging Innovators
GROWTH
Weds 25 Nov
Build, Fund & Scale
The creative industries are one of the most dynamic investment frontiers of our time. BEYOND Conference brings together investors, founders, policymakers and cluster leads to explore the funding models, IP frameworks and infrastructure that creative businesses need to grow - and to scale.
CreaTech · Capital Flows · Founder Journeys · Funding Models · Creative Clusters · IP & Copyright · Global Markets · Emerging Innovators
monday 25 nov
tuesday 26 nov
wednesday 27 nov
Visit programme
Explore
Explore, visit & connect
09:00 – 17:00
Curated for international delegates.
- Briefings
- Cultural visits
- Networking lunch
- Delegate showcases
- Panel discussions
Conference
Experience
Create, discover & innovate
09:00 – 17:00
Curated programme on the EXPERIENCE theme:
- Keynotes
- Panel discussions
- Creative interludes
- Workshops
- Short-talks
- Showcases
- Networking
Conference
Growth
Build, fund & scale
09:00 – 17:00
Curated programme on the GROWTH theme:
- Breakfast events
- Keynotes
- Panel discussions
- Creative interludes
- Provocations
- Short-talks
- Showcases
- Networking
Festival programme
- Festival sessions
- Manchester showcase
- Creative Networking
- Panel discussions
- Creative & Tech demos
- Immersive installations
Emerging innovators programme
Showcasing the UK's leading creative innovators aged 18-29
Festival programme
Festival programme
Emerging innovators programme
Showcasing the UK's leading creative innovators aged 18-29
Festival programme
BLOG
Pay it Forward: Fully funded BEYOND tickets
BEYOND's new Pay it Forward scheme hopes to bring BEYOND Conference to a wider audience, providing fully funded tickets through donations from organisations and individuals, with...
Experience Greater Manchester’s pioneering creative scene
Discover the very best of Greater Manchester's pioneering creative and placemaking scene with the BEYOND Visit Programme - a bespoke...
Get ready for Festival! Register now
Get ready for Festival, a series of live events celebrating the people, ideas and art forms reshaping what's possible at the intersection of creativity and technology. Taking...
Why attend?
INSPIRING IDEAS
Hear from leading voices working at the edge of culture, research and emerging technology.
HANDS-ON LEARNING
Join practical workshops, labs and demos designed for real-world creative practice.
NEW CONNECTIONS
Meet peers, collaborators and partners – and leave with relationships and ideas that extend beyond the event.
What to expect
TALKS
Insights from leading voices on innovation, strategy and emerging trends across the creative industries.
WORKSHOPS
Practical, hands-on sessions focused on tools, methods and applied R&D for business impact.
SHOWCASES and Expo
Explore an expanded EXPO and new pop-up showcases — pioneering projects, prototypes and partnerships at your fingertips.
NETWORKING
Build valuable connections with potential collaborators, funders and industry leaders.
EMERGING INNOVATORS
Build valuable connections with potential collaborators, funders and industry leaders.
GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
Connect and collaborate with international peers, partners and pioneers shaping the creative industries across the globe.
2026 Conference and Festival Partners
Programme Partner
Festival Partner
Production Partner
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