As Leeds Digital Festival launches its 11th edition in the city this week, the event’s organisers are reinforcing its influence as a major showcase of economic and commercial expansion across the region’s thriving technology sector.
Leeds has cemented its position as the UK’s leading tech hub outside London, with new data from The Data City revealing that 853 tech companies are now based in the city, more than any other local authority outside the capital, ahead of Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham.
The study shows the sector’s growth is also outpacing the national picture when compared with any other local authority outside London. Leeds tech companies are expanding at an estimated 8.3% a year, compared with a UK average of 8.1%, while almost one in eight (13%) are classified as high-growth, posting annual growth rates above 20%. Altogether, Leeds’ tech sector is estimated to contribute £1.67bn in gross value added, at a scale and pace of growth that the city’s digital community will put centre stage at Leeds Digital Festival.
Running from 21 September to 2 October, the UK’s largest open-platform technology festival will convene thousands of founders, software engineers, corporate leaders and international investors. The 2026 programme focuses squarely on how digital maturity in Leeds is reinforcing the broader economic stability of the north, highlighting outstanding regional achievements and commercial success while opening up critical career pathways for local talent.
This year marks the first full festival under the leadership of Deb Hetherington, who took over as director from founder Stuart Clarke MBE following his move to festival chair.
Deb Hetherington, festival director, said: “Stepping into the director role for my first full festival is an absolute honour. Over the past decade, Leeds Digital Festival has established an extraordinary platform, and today Leeds stands as a genuine powerhouse for tech innovation. This 11th edition is designed to showcase the massive economic impact our regional sector creates. We are bringing together local visionaries and international voices to inspire the next generation, demonstrate the sheer range of tech careers available here, and fuel long-term commercial growth across Yorkshire.”
The 2026 schedule features a broad spectrum of independent and collaborative sessions spanning artificial intelligence, financial technology, cybersecurity, data ethics and green tech. With 221 events in the programme, AI features heavily across this year’s line-up. Key sessions cover everything from legal strategy with LegalTech in Leeds (The LegalTech Confessional) and executive planning with Fleek Marketing (When AI Joins Your Leadership Team), to practical SME integration via Genieminds (Beyond the Hype) and hands-on technical execution with Parallax (Applied AI). Northern AI Collective also tackles brand identity in Why Your AI Sounds Like Everyone Else’s.
Beyond AI, the schedule pulls in major regional and national brands. Jaywing breaks down campaigns for PizzaExpress (Inside the Growth Strategy) and Yorkshire Tea (Behind the Brew), while the Financial Conduct Authority explores human-centred design in Building a User-first Culture.
The festival continues to benefit from strong support across the region’s financial and corporate landscape.
Jenny Wood, Group CIO at Skipton Group, said: “As the technology ecosystem in Leeds continues to expand, our investment in regional tech capability has never been more important. Skipton Group is proud to support an event that directly stimulates local economic stability and digital advancement. The festival plays an invaluable role in showcasing Yorkshire as a world-class destination for tech investment, skills development and long-term business resilience.”
Supported by headline sponsors CGI and a range of major regional partners, including Skipton Group, SCC, Leeds City Council, Nexus, ALT Legal, Accenture, and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the festival highlights the critical role technology plays in powering both the local and national economies.
The complete programme is now available to sign up on leedsdigitalfestival.org