Manchester Tech Week 2026 expands into city-wide festival

Manchester Tech Week has set out an expanded city-wide programme for 2026, with more than 10,000 attendees expected across conferences, exhibitions and community-led events focused on AI, cybersecurity and digital transformation.

The programme will run across multiple venues, with two flagship events at Manchester Central and a separate creator economy event at Victoria Warehouse. A Fringe programme will also take place across the city, delivered with a mix of industry bodies and local tech communities.

The 2026 edition shifts from a single-event format to a week-long schedule built around three core events and a wider set of partner-led sessions. Topics include enterprise IT, unified communications, B2B eCommerce and the creator economy, alongside cybersecurity and AI.

Lloyds Banking Group is joining as an official sponsor, with support from Manchester City Council. The week is also backed by organisations including Manchester Digital, GM Business Growth Hub and techUK.

Core events

The main programme includes Digital Transformation EXPO (DTX) and Unified Communications EXPO (UCX), both at Manchester Central and central to the schedule.

DTX is expected to draw IT leaders and teams working across cloud, data, AI and cybersecurity. UCX is set to bring together unified communications and customer experience leaders, alongside contact centre teams, audio-visual specialists and security professionals.

The agenda includes speakers from major corporates and public sector organisations. Listed participants include Microsoft, the FBI's Cyber Division, JD Sports and NatWest. Sessions are positioned around case studies and practical insights from digital transformation projects.

The week also includes the IR B2B eCommerce Conference, described as case-study-focused and aimed at manufacturing, distribution and wholesale leaders. Named speakers include Heineken, McCain Foods, Honeywell and Bostik.

Creator Economy Live Manchester, scheduled for Victoria Warehouse, will bring together brands, agencies and creators for sessions on influencer marketing, digital content and creator economy trends. Brands listed include Boots, Under Armour, Unilever, ITV, TikTok, No7 Beauty Company and Odeon Cinemas.

Fringe programme

Alongside the headline conferences, the city-wide Fringe programme forms a substantial part of the expanded schedule. It will be delivered with partners and community groups including DevOps Society, techUK, GM Business Growth Hub and Preston Tech Connection.

The Fringe programme reflects a broader trend in UK tech events, combining large commercial conferences with independently hosted meetups and sector-focused sessions. In Manchester, the format also links the week to the region's existing tech community, which has grown alongside investment in digital roles and infrastructure.

Greater Manchester has more than 10,000 tech-first businesses and a digital and technology workforce of more than 88,000 people. The sector contributes more than £5bn to the regional economy, according to figures shared alongside the programme announcement.

Gloria Sandrucci, Event Director of Manchester Tech Week, said: "Manchester Tech Week has evolved from what was previously DTX Manchester Tech Week, reflecting how the city's tech ecosystem has grown in recent years. What began as a conference focused primarily on IT leaders has expanded into a broader week of events that brings together people from across the digital and technology sector.

"By opening the programme up to a wider mix of businesses, communities and partners across the city, we hope it gives more people the opportunity to take part and showcases the important role Manchester continues to play in the UK's tech landscape."

Lloyds Banking Group's sponsorship comes as major financial services groups continue to build technology teams outside London and expand AI programmes. Manchester has become a key location for banks and large enterprises recruiting engineers and data specialists, supported by a local university pipeline and a growing base of technology employers.

"Manchester is a critical hub for Lloyds Banking Group, and we're proud to support Manchester Tech Week as we continue to scale our generative and agentic AI teams here in the city. With the scale of the Group behind us, our talented Manchester based engineers are building first of their kind customer and colleague experiences, from voice enabled agents that support customers at key moments, to tools that help colleagues work smarter every day," said Peter Lee, Technology Platform Director at Lloyds Banking Group.

Manchester City Council's backing links the week to wider local priorities around innovation, skills and economic opportunity. The programme is expected to bring together employers, tech leaders and community groups across several parts of the digital economy.

The 2026 programme will combine the three core events with the Fringe schedule across the city, with sessions expected to draw attendees from across the UK tech sector and visiting speakers from international organisations.