TechNExt Festival will return from 15-19th June 2026 with what organisers are calling its most ambitious programme yet, expanding on the momentum built over the last three years.
Sage, Accenture and Leighton have been confirmed as headline sponsors, showing the continued backing from major employers for the North East鈥檚 growing tech ecosystem.
Across the week, the festival will host a packed schedule of events including a Festival Launch, Schools Challenge, Tech Talent Live, Festival Party and an Industry Dinner.聽
The thematic hubs also return for 2026, with focused sessions planned around four tracks – Data and AI, Tech for Good, Tech Startups and CreaTech.聽
Organisers are again leaning on community involvement, inviting regional businesses and institutions to sponsor, pledge support and propose hub talks or fringe events when submissions open in early 2026.聽
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The festival鈥檚 wider aim remains to spotlight the depth and diversity of North East tech while bringing founders, corporates, students and communities together.
鈥淪age is delighted to sponsor TechNExt, and to continue our passionate and relentless support to the North East tech sector; specifically, our startups that are driving amazing innovation across AI and hardware design,鈥� said Michael Office, senior vice principal of growth at Sage.聽
鈥淲e are proud to celebrate the creativity, ambition, and talent emerging from the region, and look forward to connecting with the next generation of innovators who are shaping the future of technology.
鈥淭echNExt is a brilliant way for organisations and individuals to get involved with our vibrant tech sector, so pledge your support, come along in June and get involved.鈥�
Laura Healy, internal communications and engagement lead at Accenture, added: 鈥淭echNExt really showcases the very best of the North East鈥檚 tech community – its innovation, its collaboration, its ambition.聽
鈥淟ast year we sponsored the Data and AI hub, which was a fantastic way of gathering likeminded individuals in one space. We are really excited to see what the hubs bring this time around.
鈥淪eeing so many organisations big and small come together over the week to bring technology in the North East to life is always really inspiring.聽
鈥淔or us, this partnership is about more than being headline sponsors and getting our logo on the big screen, it鈥檚 about investing in the region, supporting the incredible talent we have here and helping to create opportunities for people and organisations to thrive.鈥�