TechNExt26 Creative Tech Hub

Join us for the Creative Tech Hub at TechNExt Festival 2026. Hear from inspirational speakers, panels, performances and lots more.

TechNExt26 returns for its fourth edition to showcase the North East’s thriving technology sector. The festival celebrates the region’s commitment to supporting, developing, and growing technology for the benefit of everyone.

Across the week, the festival attracts more than 3,000 attendees from the North East, across the UK, and internationally. The programme brings together a series of flagship events and a dynamic festival fringe, with TechNExt Hubs delivering four one-day, themed locations across the region focused on Tech for Good, Tech Startups, Data and AI, and Creative Tech.

Creative Tech Hub, Friday 19 June (9am - 5pm) - Sheepfolds Stables, Sunderland

Join us for the Creative Tech Hub at TechNExt26 where we will have inspiring talks, panel sessions and creative performances across a day of exciting activities. The festivities will continue long into the night with our partners Sunderland Music City.

This year we have simplified booking with one ticket for the whole day, but please note for sessions in smaller rooms entry is on a first-come-first-served basis.

Good Festival Ambition

The festival is planned as a Good Festival with ‘for good’ being a core value running through everything. This will ensure a focus on quality, inclusivity, diversity, accessibility, and sustainability.

As part of this ambition, we are offering a buddy system where attendees can select the option to be met by a friendly face from the TechNExt team or wider community on arrival. Your buddy would help you feel comfortable at the event perhaps by chatting over a coffee on arrival, introducing you to new faces, or help you understand more about the content of the event and what's planned that day. You can apply for a 'buddy' through the ticket purchase process.

We are also committed to minimising the impact of our events on the environment. We work closely with our clients, venues, suppliers and delegates to reduce the impact of our activity wherever possible. Last year, the festival’s curated events generated 18.19 tCO₂e, and we offset this by supporting the Dynamo Digital Inclusion Fund. More measures will be intoduced this year, tracking the festival's carbon footprint once again, leading us to further reduce our impact and become carbon neutral in future years.

You will be asked to complete some questions about your planned travel which will help us create the carbon footprint for the festival.