Leeds Digital Festival has unveiled the programme for its 11th edition, taking place from 21st September to 2nd October 2026.
As the UK’s largest open-platform tech event, the 2026 festival features 213 sessions designed to connect domestic businesses, international tech firms, and investors. The announcement arrives alongside new research from The Data City indicating that the Leeds technology sector contributes an estimated £1.67bn in gross value added, with local tech businesses growing at 8.3% annually – outpacing the UK average of 8.1%.
This year’s festival marks a leadership transition, with Deb Hetherington taking over as director for the first time, while long-serving founder Stuart Clarke MBE assumes the role of chair.
“Taking over as director from Stuart Clarke is a huge privilege, and I am thrilled to lead my first full festival. Over the last decade, Leeds has built a reputation as a powerhouse for technological innovation, and this 11th year will reflect just how far our community has come. We are pulling out all the stops to deliver our most ambitious programme yet, bringing in incredible guest speakers and creating real opportunities for businesses across Yorkshire to connect, trade and grow.”
— Deb Hetherington, Festival Director at Leeds Digital Festival
The 2026 schedule focuses heavily on practical artificial intelligence deployment, including sessions hosted by LegalTech in Leeds, Fleek Marketing, Genieminds, and Parallax. Additional programming features major regional and national brands, such as Jaywing presenting campaign strategies for PizzaExpress and Yorkshire Tea, alongside events hosted by the Financial Conduct Authority, Hippo, and PEXA.
Global IT and consulting firm CGI returns as headline sponsor, hosting events from its Leeds office alongside regional partners including Skipton Group, SCC, Leeds City Council, Nexus, ALT Legal, and Accenture.
Further details on the full event schedule and attendance options are available at leedsdigitalfestival.org.
