Beyond The Music has confirmed its 2026 edition will take over MediaCity in Salford from 6–9 October, marking the event’s first year at the site. The programme, titled “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”, frames the conference as a cross-industry conversation between music, film, gaming, media and tech.
The opening night pairs a 24 Hour Party People anniversary screening with a keynote from Steve Coogan, Michael Winterbottom and Andrew Eaton. That sets a tone less interested in celebration than in structural questions: the class divide inside creative industries, creative activism, investment, live music’s future and, on Friday, a full-day AI summit convened by Andy Burnham. The summit aims to align creative leaders around what organisers call The Manchester Principles — a rights-and-integrity-first approach to AI.
By night, MediaCity’s studios, outdoor spaces and bars become a showcase for grassroots talent, curated by co-founder Oli Wilson with SXSW, BBC Introducing and DMY. The lineup commits to a 50/50 gender split and a focus on underrepresented scenes, particularly from Greater Manchester. New names include Kofi Stone, Scorcher, Daudi Matsiko, Abbie Ozard and HotWax, joining ALT BLK ERA, Walt Disco, The Slow Readers Club, LIINES and others.
Delegate passes and tickets are available via beyondthemusic.co.uk.
