A major conference designed to support aspiring and established podcasters from across the north of England is to be held in Liverpool.
Podfest North will take place at The Liner Hotel on Friday 13 November 2026 and is expected to attract hundreds of delegates ranging from those starting out to seasoned podcasters.
Organisers say Podfest North will “focus on the practical needs of independent and emerging creators,” with existing podcasters sharing advice alongside industry experts from the BBC and Audio UK.
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“There is a growing ecosystem of podcasters, producers and content creators across the North, but many lack opportunities to access specialist expertise, develop business contacts and learn from others in the sector,” said Podfest North host, award-winning entrepreneur and broadcaster Ngunan Adamu. “We aim to fill that gap by creating a diverse, grassroots event that is accessible, practical and focused on helping creators and businesses grow and thrive.”
The conference will include speakers, workshops, panel discussions and debates covering important topics such as AI, monetisation, audience growth, video and the future of podcasting.
“We’re aiming to establish a thriving network of podcasters across the north of England, North Wales and the wider region by helping creators develop the skills, contacts and commercial opportunities needed to grow successful podcasts,” added Mick Ord, who co-presents the Misadventures in Music podcast with musician Ian Prowse.
The former BBC manager and podcasting colleague Nigel Thompson have brought together a team to create what is hoped to become an annual event, including Helen Cross, creative industries lead from Liverpool City Region’s Combined Authority; former Merseyside and Cheshire tourism chief Chris Brown, and BBC Radio 4 reporter and podcaster Stephanie Powers.
The launch comes at a time when podcasting is experiencing unprecedented growth. More than 25 million people in the UK now listen to podcasts every month, while weekly podcast consumption has doubled over the past decade, according to industry research and Ofcom figures.
The popularity of video podcasts is also reshaping the sector as audiences increasingly expect content to be available in both audio and visual formats.
Experts will also discuss opportunities for advertising and investment across industry from SMEs to large businesses, local authorities and charities.
Speakers include John Gibbons, founder of the hugely successful The Anfield Wrap podcast, BBC audiences expert Adam Bowie, BBC Merseyside editor Ben Anderson and David Reid, professor of AI at Liverpool Hope University, who co-presents “Married to the Machine” with his partner, journalist Stephanie Power.
There’ll be a range of practical workshops from experts specialising in both technical and editorial aspects of podcasting.
Partial funding for the event has come from Liverpool City Region’s Growth Platform, the business support service designed to support business leaders aiming to grow and develop.
“This conference fills an important gap in the market, bringing together both emerging and established podcasters to learn from industry experts, discover the latest tools and explore new opportunities in this rapidly growing channel,” the LCR Combined Authority’s Cross said. “It will also help marketers across the City Region understand the value of podcasting and connect with the creators, studios and producers shaping the sector locally.”
She added: “By bringing the community together, Podfest North will inspire collaboration, spark new ideas and help more businesses realise the potential of podcasting.”
The event has received national support from the audio trade body Audio UK who are promoting Audiotrain, a skills and training platform aimed at sharing good practice and ideas across the industry.
“There is an enormous amount of podcasting and audio talent across the North, and events like Podfest North are vital in creating the connections, skills and commercial opportunities that can help that talent flourish,” Chris Baughen AudioUK’s chief executive said. “At AudioUK, we want to see a strong and diverse podcast and audio industry across the whole of the UK, not just in London.”
He added: “We’re delighted to support Podfest North and its focus on making practical expertise, networking and commercial opportunities more accessible to the growing creative community across the North. We hope this will become an important fixture in the region’s podcasting calendar.”
A limited number of Early Bird tickets available from the Podfest North website.
