2026 PROGRAMME

FULL PROGRAMME
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
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Please note that the TechNExt 2026 programme is evolving and more information will be provided as the Hub sessions are curated and Fringe programme finalised. We expect the full programme to be available in April but in the meantime you can sign up to Flagship Events below and get involved in the Festival in a range of ways.

MONDAY 15 JUNE

Flagship Event

Festival Launch

Crowne Plaza, Newcastle, 9:00 - 13:00

Kicking off TechNExt26 with our Festival Launch featuring a stream of thought provoking talks and discussions from leaders in technology and related industries.

Flagship Event

Sponsors Drinks

TBC, Newcastle,

Sponsors Drinks is an exclusive event for sponsors and those businesses and organisations that have signed the TechNExt Pledge.

TUESDAY 16 JUNE

TechNExt Hub

Tech for Good Hub

The Village, North Tyneside, 9:00 - 17:00

Exploring technology initiatives and projects that focus on social and environmental impact, digital inclusion and much more. More information coming soon.

Room 1

9:00
-
9:50

Sustainability in the North East: How to unlock its potential

10:00
-
11:30

Supporting the Offshore Wind sector

11:45
-
12:30

North East Sustainable Technology (NEST) consortium to deliver an #EraOfOpportunity for the region.

13:00
-
14:45

Data’s Untold Story – How AI and Big Tech Are Fueling a Sustainability Crisis

15:00
-
15:50

Green Skills for a Net-Zero Future: Bridging the Sustainability Skills Gap

16:00
-
17:00

Future-proofing business and mitigating business risk from ESG issues

Room 2

9:00
-
9:50

The Green Gold Rush: The Startup Opportunities No One’s Talking About

10:00
-
11:45

Making Teams Tick: Techniques to Make Agile Manageable

12:00
-
12:30

Data for Digital Sustainability: How to begin your data journey

13:00
-
14:30

Heat Networks in Northumberland

14:45
-
16:30

Lego Serious Play for sustainability and innovation

Flagship Event

Industry Dinner

Baltic Rooftop, Gateshead, 18:30 - 23:00

Join peers, tech entrepreneurs, and business leaders from across the North East for an evening of connection and conversation.

Festival Fringe

9:30
-
11:30

Esports Recovery and Future Growth

9:30
-
11:30

NortHFutures Digital Health Hub industry-academic showcase

10:00
-
16:00

Wear VR - 4D High Fidelity Racing and Flying Simulators

11:00
-
12:00

Doing more with less

14:30
-
15:30

Transform your business into a streamlined, scalable, and self-sustainable operation

16:30
-
18:30

The Highstreet Reimagined: Tech Retail Expo

WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE

TechNExt Hub

Tech Startup Hub

Durham Business School, Durham, 9:00 - 17:00

Join our Tech Startup Hub where we have a packed day of activities for Tech Startups at all stages of development and the wider tech ecosystem stakeholders. More information coming soon.

Studio 1

9:30
-
9:50

North East Tech Quarterly: Our tech startup landscape in numbers

10:00
-
10:20

Introduction from Business Durham

10:30
-
11:15

In conversation with Chris Wilds & James Bunting: learnings from 25 years in tech

11:25
-
12:10

Investor Insights: Key Factors for New Business Success

12:20
-
13:20

The Dream Deal: Pitching Competition

13:30
-
14:15

Exit planning: Start With the End in Mind

14:30
-
16:00

The AI Co-Founder: Going From Problem to Product as a Bootstrapped, Non-Technical Founder

Studio 2

10:30
-
11:15

Legal issues to consider for start ups

11:30
-
12:50

Get Funded Without Investors: How Grants Can Kickstart Your Startup

13:30
-
14:15

From Spin-Out to Success: Transforming Ideas into Startups

14:30
-
15:15

"Will AI Replace the Doctor?"

Flagship Event

Schools Challenge

Morpeth Leisure Centre, Northumberland, 9:00 - 15:00

The TechNExt26 Schools Challenge will return this year and offer an opportunity for children in the North East to engage in tech and with tech employers within the region, as part of the regional festival.

Flagship Event

Dynamo North East Careers Fair

Crowne Plaza, Newcastle, 13:00 - 17:00

The Dynamo North East Careers Fair is the North East’s largest digital and tech careers fair, linking individuals with top opportunities, training, and pathways for the future.

Festival Fringe

10:00
-
16:00

Wear VR - 4D High Fidelity Racing and Flying Simulators

11:00
-
12:00

Making innovation happen in healthcare

11:00
-
13:30

The Future of Hiring: Navigating the Evolving Tech Talent Landscape

12:00
-
13:00

Data-Driven Policymaking: Success Stories of Integrating Data and AI into Decision-Making

13:00
-
19:00

Product on the Tyne

14:00
-
15:00

Building digital capability

14:30
-
15:30

Immersive Play Exhibits

14:30
-
15:45

Grow your mindset, grow your business!

17:00
-
19:00

Trust and Security in AI

18:00
-
20:00

Curious in Conversation - Investment & Startups

THURSDAY 18 JUNE

TechNExt Hub

Data and AI Hub

NICD, The Catalyst, Newcastle, 9:00 - 17:00

Join us for a day of activities exploring Data, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with industry leaders from the region and beyond. More information coming soon.

Theatre

9:00
-
10:00

The Global Impact of Data & AI

10:10
-
11:10

Removing barriers to digital adoption for regional SMEs- showing real impact

11:20
-
11:50

AI agents: opportunity and threats

12:00
-
12:30

The Foundations for AI: Why Data Must Come First

13:15
-
14:00

The AI Revolution: Decisions That Shape Our World

14:10
-
15:00

Ctrl+Alt+AI: Rebooting the Future

15:10
-
16:00

Designing a joined up government experience

16:10
-
17:00

What’s Next for Health? Game-Changing Tech on the Horizon!

Gorgon Room

9:00
-
11:00

Build a Podcast AI with Blazor using GitHub Models

11:20
-
12:20

From Burnout to Breakthrough: How AI is Giving Teachers Their Time Back

12:30
-
13:00

AI Voices That Engage: How Voice Direction Can Enhance Speech Models & User Trust

13:30
-
14:30

The Futurist's Toolkit: business strategy in a time of transformation

14:45
-
16:00

AI in Action; Real world use cases

16:10
-
17:10

AI for everyone: why the industry needs your voice

Faraday Room

9:00
-
10:30

Futureproof! Get ahead of the AI regulatory landscape

10:40
-
11:10

The where, what and how of building a data strategy

11:20
-
11:50

Managing expectations of what genAI can do

12:00
-
13:00

Democratising Data Skills: Building a Data-Driven Culture

13:15
-
15:15

How Might We ... explore a killer social impact question together

15:30
-
17:00

"How does it work again?" Demystifying AI for Non-Tech Stakeholders.

Festival Fringe

9:00
-
11:00

Dark Data. Bright Ideas. Better Business.

9:30
-
14:00

The Digital Future

9:30
-
12:30

Deaf Centre Makes Some Noise: Take Courage with Tech!

11:00
-
13:00

Design Talks

11:00
-
17:00

SPUME: Installation

Flagship Event

Festival Party

Revolution de Cuba, Newcastle, 18:00 - 23:00

Revel in the remarkable achievements of the North East tech sector alongside fellow tech enthusiasts and attendees from across the UK.

FRIDAY 19 JUNE

TechNExt Hub

Creative Tech Hub

Culture House, Sunderland, 9:00 - 17:00

In the inspiring setting of the new Culture House in Sunderland, enjoy a day of cutting edge creative technology demonstrations and talks. More information coming soon.

Immersive Hub Programme

9:30
-
10:30

Is XR driving a revolution in patient care?

10:45
-
11:45

Breaking Barriers - Unlocking the Power of Immersive Technologies (XR)

12:30
-
13:30

All Access Pass - The Future of Inclusive Tourism

13:45
-
14:45

Virtual Sustainability: Energy Monitoring in the world of Virtual Production

15:00
-
16:00

Keynote: The Evolution and Future of XR display technologies

16:15
-
17:00

Southpaw Dance Company: The Art of Immersive Performance

Festival Fringe

13:00
-
15:00

Tertiary Education Panel

Proud to be supported by OuR HEADLINE SPONSORS

OE logoOE logoEphicient logo
Sponsor TECHNEXT 2026

Get ready for TechNExt 2026!

Pledge your Involvement

Back the festival by pledging your support and commit to sending members of your team to participate in and benefit from the festival programme throughout June 2026.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

PROPOSE A SESSION

Join the TehNExt community and deliver your own content! You can propose a session for one of our TechNExt Hubs or an event as part of our official TechNExt Fringe.

PROPOSE A SESSION

Join our Mailing List

The best way to ensure you know the latest about TechNExt as our 2026 plans progress is to sign up to our mailing list for event updates and festival news. You can unsubscribe at any time.

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Flagship Events at TechNExt

Festival Launch
15 June 2026
Hilton Hotel, Gateshead
Sponsors Drinks
15 June 2026
TBC, Newcastle
Industry Dinner
16 June 2026
Baltic Rooftop, Gateshead
Schools Challenge
17 June 2026
Morpeth Leisure Centre, Northumberland
Tech Careers Fair
17 June 2026
Crowne Plaza, Newcastle
Festival Party
18 June 2026
Revolution de Cuba, Newcastle
SPONSOR AN EVENTJOIN OUR MAILING LIST

TechNExt is co-organised by Sunderland Software City and BeaconHouse Events, and is supported by Dynamo North East C.I.C. The festival is a collaborative community festival, working with partners across the North East.

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