BEYOND 2026 is taking place at MediaCity this November, bringing three days of creative, technology and innovation programming to Greater Manchester.
The event starts on Monday 23 November with a free Festival of live events that celebrates the people, ideas and art forms shaping what’s possible at the intersection of creativity and technology. The Festival runs across all three days, before the main conference gets underway across two themed days.
Tuesday 24 November is EXPERIENCE, while Wednesday 25 November is GROWTH. The two days explore different sides of the creative industries, with Experience looking at creativity, technology, culture and the ways we’re changing how people experience the world, while Growth focuses on building, funding and scaling creative businesses, ideas and innovation.
EXPERIENCE is about exploring what’s new and what’s next, bringing together ideas from across technology, culture and the creative industries.
GROWTH looks at what comes after the idea, exploring how creative businesses and projects can develop, scale and make a lasting impact.
There will also be a range of sessions hosted by the Arts and Humanities Research Council across both days, including presentations from a range of AHRC-funded projects, and an important first announcement about the next wave of Creative Industries Clusters. Whether you’re interested in new technology, creative practice, interactive experiences or simply finding out what other people are working on, there’ll be plenty to take away from the day.
EXPERIENCE
Across Experience, the programme brings together creativity, technology, culture and some of the ideas that are changing how we experience the world around us. There’ll be plenty of different perspectives to explore, from The Playable World with Kim-Leigh Pontin from Merlin Entertainments and Robots Take the Stage, to Creative Intelligence with Keri Elmsly from Southbank Centre.
GROWTH
Growth turns its attention to the people and organisations building, growing and investing in ambitious creative and cultural projects. The programme includes Growing with Character: Aardman at 50 with Emma Hardie, looking at the story behind one of the UK’s best-known creative companies, alongside Universal UK Resort: From Investment to Impact and Wake the Tiger: Scaling Up, Staying Weird.
Across the sessions, there’ll be conversations around what it takes to grow an organisation, build something with a strong identity and turn big ideas and investment into something that has a real impact.
There’ll be a chance to hear from people who have taken creative ideas and turned them into successful businesses, projects and experiences, as well as the challenges they’ve faced along the way. You’ll hear directly from people who have been through that process and pick up ideas that could be useful in your own work.
Alice Webb, CEO of MediaCity, said: “MediaCity is Europe’s leading creative destination, where creativity, technology and business come together. BEYOND provides a powerful platform to welcome international creative leaders to Greater Manchester, to showcase the global appeal of our ecosystem and to demonstrate how their bold ideas, innovation and collaboration can be accelerated here. BEYOND reinforces MediaCity’s role as a globally connected hub, driving growth and shaping the future of the creative industries.”
Access to BEYOND
BEYOND is also making a number of options available for people who might otherwise struggle to attend.
Students, freelancers, micro companies, artists and unemployed people can apply for concession tickets.
The new Pay It Forward scheme offers fully funded conference tickets for people who cannot afford the standard ticket price. The scheme is funded by donations from organisations and individuals, with donations matched by BEYOND Studio.
The supporting free Festival runs from 23 to 25 November, with free events taking place across MediaCity throughout the three days.
With more than 100 speakers, more than 1,000 attendees expected across the conference and festival, and a programme covering everything from creative practice and immersive technology to investment and business growth, there’s plenty to get stuck into at BEYOND 2026.
BEYOND 2026 takes place from 23 to 25 November at MediaCity, Salford. Find out more about the programme and how to attend.
