Manchester’s Beyond The Music Festival and Conference Returns in 2026 at MediaCity

Manchester’s Beyond The Music festival and conference returns in 2026, moving to Salford’s MediaCity to spotlight music, creativity, and the future of content industries.

A Fresh Chapter for Beyond The Music Festival in Manchester

Every autumn, Manchester’s vibrant music scene gets a significant boost from the Beyond The Music festival and conference, an event that connects artists, media professionals, and industry leaders from around the globe. This year’s announcement has fans buzzing with excitement as the festival prepares to return from October 7-9, 2026 — but with a twist. Moving out of central Manchester, Beyond The Music will take place at Salford’s MediaCity, a cutting-edge hub for the BBC, ITV, and other northern media powerhouses.

MediaCity’s state-of-the-art facilities make it the perfect setting for this dynamic festival, which blends music showcases with industry insights, keynote conversations, and invaluable networking opportunities. Tickets are already available to snap up, and considering the event’s reputation for unveiling the freshest talent and innovative industry discussions, it’s definitely one to mark on your calendar.

Uniting Music, Media, and Technology for Industry Growth

Beyond The Music isn’t just any festival — it’s a vital platform where the future of music and content creation is debated and shaped. The three-day extravaganza promises to bring together “artists, executives, innovators, and policymakers from across the globe,” reflecting the event’s commitment to unlocking collaboration and accelerating growth in the creative sectors.

As the festival’s third edition, Beyond The Music 2026 aims to “convene leading voices from music, media, technology and the wider creative industries.” Discussions will dive deep into the pressing challenges and opportunities the music industry faces today, from grassroots artist showcases to conversations about digital transformation and content ownership.

Salford’s involvement this year is particularly poignant; the city is celebrating its centenary, and the festival’s move there is a clear nod to expanding Manchester’s musical influence beyond its traditional core. As the organizers put it, the event aims to “solidify the region’s identity as a central destination for music, creativity and content,” signaling a global shift in how we think about digital industries.

The Game-Changer: The Global All Content AI Summit

One of the headline features of Beyond The Music 2026 is the groundbreaking “All Content AI Summit,” hosted by none other than the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham. Known for his passion for supporting the creative industries, Burnham will bring together top practitioners and policymakers from every content sector to tackle the thorny issues surrounding artificial intelligence.

The summit’s goal is to “align on a shared, rights and integrity-first position for AI,” diving into the practicalities of licensing, provenance, attribution, and enforcement. This is crucial because as AI technologies reshape how content is created and consumed, there’s a real need to protect artists’ livelihoods without stifling innovation.

“Greater Manchester has always been at the forefront of cultural innovation, and Beyond The Music is a vital opportunity for the sector to come together and address the challenges and opportunities facing music and content creation.”

— Andy Burnham

He continued:

“That’s why I’m proud to host the All Content AI Summit, which will provide a space to consider the ethical questions raised by new technologies and how we can protect creators’ rights.”

Burnham’s leadership underscores Greater Manchester’s commitment not just to supporting creativity but also to “balancing growth with responsible innovation.” The move to MediaCity and the festival’s expanded program are clear signals that Beyond The Music is positioning the city region as a powerhouse in the global creative economy.

Voices Behind Beyond The Music: Driving Change in the Creative Industry

Behind this ambitious festival are passionate leaders who understand the stakes for music and content these days. Sarah Pearson, Co-founder of Beyond The Music, highlights the festival’s mission:

“Beyond The Music’s mission is to seize this moment, to come together and drive meaningful and lasting change in the music and content industry.”

She points out a truth many fans and creators feel deeply — that while music’s impact has never been greater, its perceived value often doesn’t reflect this importance. With so many creative minds gathered in one place, Pearson believes this event has the power to “venture beyond the music and help redefine the future of the creative economy.” Her call to arms is clear: protecting creativity is not just about survival but ensuring it thrives, even in challenging times.

Alice Webb, CEO of MediaCity and dock10, adds another layer of insight on the choice of venue and the festival’s forward-thinking spirit:

“Beyond The Music arriving at MediaCity signals something bigger than a change of location; it’s a statement about where the future of the creative economy is being built.”

She highlights how the event merges music with broadcasting, digital innovation, and emerging technologies — all converging in Greater Manchester to drive a global shift in how content is created, owned, and valued. Webb stresses the importance of safeguarding “the authenticity of human performance, whilst unlocking new ways to innovate,” a balance that feels especially urgent in our AI-driven age.

Sally Cook, Strategic Lead for Culture and Creative Industries at Salford Culture and Place Partnership, echoes the excitement around the festival’s move to Salford:

“Salford has a rich musical heritage and a thriving network of creatives, so we’re thrilled to be welcoming Beyond The Music to the city this year.”

She looks forward to showcasing Salford’s creative scene and the diverse possibilities that exist there, promising an unmissable event that will draw attendees from across the region and beyond.

Past Highlights and the Festival’s Cultural Impact

Beyond The Music has a strong track record for highlighting grassroots artists and engaging with pressing industry issues. Previous conferences featured showcases of emerging talent throughout Manchester and panels debating the future of the music industry, including candid talks about challenges posed by governmental policies.

Notably, in past editions, big names like Aitch have taken the stage as keynote speakers, reinforcing the event’s blend of star power and forward-looking discourse. In 2024, the festival even hosted a panel with political figures Lisa Nandy and Andy Burnham, tackling the ongoing crisis facing grassroots music venues — a subject close to the hearts of many in the community.

Manchester’s cultural calendar is buzzing these days, making Beyond The Music’s timing perfect. The city recently hosted the BRIT Awards in February and the MOBO Awards just last week. BBC Radio 6 Music also held a festival in Manchester recently, underscoring the city’s vital role as a creative and musical hub in the UK and beyond.

The music scene in Manchester has always been rich with talent and innovation, and Beyond The Music continues to be the perfect stage to celebrate and debate the future of this industry.

FAQ

• What dates will Beyond The Music 2026 take place?
  The festival is scheduled from October 7 to October 9, 2026.
• Where will Beyond The Music be held in 2026?
  The event moves to Salford’s MediaCity, home to the BBC, ITV, and other creative organizations.
• What is the All Content AI Summit?
  It’s a first-of-its-kind global summit focused on AI in content creation, hosted by Mayor Andy Burnham to discuss ethical and practical approaches to AI in the creative industries.
• Who are some key figures involved with Beyond The Music?
  Andy Burnham (Mayor of Manchester), Sarah Pearson (Co-founder), Alice Webb (CEO of MediaCity), and Sally Cook (Strategic Lead for Salford’s culture scene) are among the leading voices.
• How does Beyond The Music support grassroots artists?
  The festival includes showcases that highlight emerging and grassroots musicians, offering them exposure and networking opportunities within the wider industry.

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