Leeds is gearing up for a landmark moment in its tech calendar as the city鈥檚 digital festival returns this September, marking its 10th anniversary.聽
The 2025 Leeds Digital Festival will feature over 230 events, attracting global attention to the city鈥檚 digital scene.聽
This year will also mark the final festival under the directorship of 老九品茶Cloud Northern Leader Stuart Clarke MBE, who has been involved since its inception.聽
He will move to a non-executive role as chair, with Deb Hetherington stepping into the position of festival director.
Launched to champion Leeds as a hub for innovation and collaboration, the festival has grown to become the UK鈥檚 largest open platform tech event and one of the longest-running outside London Tech Week.聽
Over the last 10 years, it has showcased more than 2,000 events organised by over 800 companies.
This year鈥檚 festival will run from 22nd September to 3rd October and celebrates all the tech achievements within the Leeds City Region, which includes Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.
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It will reflect the widespread growth of AI in the region, with a wide variety of events addressing the practical application of AI across industries.聽
The programme will feature events covering AI in marketing, SEO, financial services and聽 healthcare among others, alongside sessions on emerging technologies, skills and entrepreneurship.
The complete 2025 programme will be announced on 26th August, with confirmed venues including Nexus at the University of Leeds, Platform, Avenue HQ and Department at Leeds Dock.
鈥淲hen we first launched Leeds Digital Festival, the ambition was to shine a light on the incredible talent, creativity, and innovation across the city鈥檚 digital sector,鈥� said Clarke. 鈥淭en years on, I鈥檓 proud to say we鈥檝e done that and more.聽
鈥淭he festival has become a catalyst for collaboration, investment, and skills development, not just for Leeds but for the wider North of England.聽
鈥淎s I step back after this year, I am confident that the festival鈥檚 legacy will continue to inspire tech leaders and ensure that Leeds remains a driving force in the UK鈥檚 digital economy. It has been an honour to be part of this journey.鈥�
The 2025 festival will be sponsored by organisations such as PEXA, CGI, Skipton Group, Accenture, Lloyds Banking Group, Genio, Nexus, Leeds City Council and all three of the city鈥檚 universities, as well as a wide network of associate partners.
Jenny Wood, group chief investment officer of Skipton Group, added: 鈥淟eeds Digital Festival reflects the innovation and collaboration that make our region thrive.聽
鈥淎t Skipton, we help people build better futures, from home ownership to financial wellbeing, and we鈥檙e proud to support this milestone tenth year in championing our vibrant digital community.聽
鈥淏y connecting ideas, talent and technology, we can make a real difference for the people and communities we serve.鈥�