BEYOND THE MUSIC UNVEILS 2026 CONFERENCE AS PRIME MINISTER ANDY BURNHAM TO CONVENE LANDMARK AI SUMMIT

First wave of speakers announced alongside industry-leading music curators for Greater Manchester's flagship music and media conference.

Beyond The Music has unveiled the first major details of its 2026 edition, confirming that Prime Minister Andy Burnham will convene a landmark All Content AI Summit alongside a powerhouse conference programme bringing together some of the biggest names from music, media, politics and technology.

Taking place across MediaCity, Salford from 6–9 October 2026, the event returns with the theme Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, tackling the most pressing issues facing the creative industries while showcasing the next generation of musical talent.

A major highlight of this year's programme is the first-ever All Content AI Summit, where Burnham will bring together leaders from across the creative industries to develop The Manchester Principles—a shared, rights-based approach to artificial intelligence designed to protect creative ownership while embracing innovation.

The first wave of conference speakers includes Yungblud manager Tommas Arnby, RCA Co-President Stacey Tang, Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig, BPI CEO Dr Jo Twist OBE, The Ivors Academy Chair Tom Gray, artist Nina Nesbitt, Kneecap manager Dan Lambert, social justice campaigner Nazir Afzal OBE, incoming Royal Television Society CEO Sophie Jones, actor Steve Coogan, director Michael Winterbottom and many more.

Beyond The Music has also announced the first curators for its acclaimed new music showcase, with Amazon Music +44, BBC Radio 6 Music, Louder Than War, Rock & Metal Alliance and NQ joining previously confirmed partners including SXSW, BBC Introducing, Focus Wales, The Line of Best Fit, Notion and Dot to Dot Festival.

By day, delegates can expect three days of keynote talks, debates, networking and industry-defining conversations. By night, MediaCity will transform into a city-wide showcase of emerging artists, reinforcing Beyond The Music's commitment to championing grassroots talent through diverse programming and a 50/50 gender-balanced line-up.

With tickets now on sale and further speakers and artist announcements still to come, Beyond The Music 2026 is shaping up to be one of the UK's most influential gatherings for the creative industries.

For more information and updates join Beyond The Music HERE.