In 2026, the programme for Tech NExt is more packed than ever. Like last year, there will be a number of Hub sessions, where the main Tech NExt events are taking place, as well as a Fringe programme where SMEs and organisations will be running one-off talks and activities across Newcastle, Gateshead, Durham and Sunderland.
The Programme for Tech NExt
Tech NExt starts on Monday 15th June with their Festival Launch at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead. This conference will take place from 8:30 until 16:00, bringing all attendees together for a flagship event where technology leaders and entrepreneurs will speak about their experiences, passions and the future. This will be followed by a Sponsors Drinks event from 17:00 - 19:00, for businesses and organisations that have signed the Tech NExt pledge.
The festival will continue with an Industry Dinner at the Baltic in Gateshead on Tuesday 16th June, which will be hosted by Kimberley Turner. Turner is the Co-CEO of Double Eleven, a UK-based games developer and publisher, whose titles include Blindfire, Red Dead Redemption, Fallout 76 and Rust.
The Schools Challenge, and the Careers Fair are both back for 2026, and will take place on Wednesday 17th June. The Schools Challenge is a showcase for children aged 9 - 13 across the whole of the North East, including home schools. Children are prompted to, ‘...develop an innovative tech-based solution that addresses a real life problem and could help them and the world they live in.’
The Careers Fair hosts 35+ stallholders including employers, training providers and educators, and is designed to help professionals at all stages of their career find new opportunities in the tech industry. At the 2026 event, there will also be CV Clinic and career coaching sessions, as well as a free LinkedIn and passport-style photo station, to give all attendees extra support and guidance in their job seeking.
A return of the Tech NExt hubs
From Tuesday 16th June onwards, the Tech NExt hubs will be up and running, hosting different speakers, activities and workshops for techies to take part in. These hubs were a new addition to Tech NExt 2025, and allowed the festival to centralise their Fringe programme where local businesses, organisations and entrepreneurs could lead their own workshops and talks.
There are a number of hubs running events in and around the North East, including the Village in North Tyneside, Durham University Business School, the Catalyst in Newcastle, and Culture House in Sunderland.
Can’t afford a ticket to Tech NExt?
If you’d like to attend Tech NExt festival, but are struggling with the ticket cost, or you know someone who would benefit from attending Tech NExt, you can apply for one of their funded tickets.
The funded tickets are part of Tech NExt’s ‘Good Festival’ pledge, which ensures that the festival remains accessible to everyone. There are 30 individually funded places available for the Launch Conference on 15th June, and 60 individually funded places for the Festival Party on 18th June. You can apply for one, or both of these funded places online.
