Leeds Digital Festival 2026 Returns as Tech Grows

The UK’s largest open tech event returns for an 11th year with 213 events, as new data shows the Leeds tech sector growing faster than the national average

Leeds Digital Festival is back for an 11th year, and new figures show why the city has plenty to celebrate. Running from 21 September to 2 October, the UK’s largest open-platform technology event will stage 213 events across the city, bringing together entrepreneurs, tech leaders and investors. It arrives alongside research from The Data City showing the Leeds tech sector growing faster than the national average and now contributing an estimated £1.67bn to the economy. The festival has become a showcase for one of the North’s strongest digital economies.

Why This Matters For Leeds

The technology sector is one of the clearest engines of growth in the Leeds economy, and a festival on this scale turns that strength into connections, deals and visibility. Thousands of founders, developers and investors coming into the city creates real opportunity for local businesses and puts Leeds on the map for the firms the region wants to attract. The underlying data — faster growth than the UK average, a cluster of high-growth companies — is the substance behind the events, and it means jobs and investment for the city.

What the Leeds Digital Festival Data Shows

The Data City research finds Leeds tech companies expanding at an estimated 8.3% a year, ahead of the 8.1% UK average and the fastest of any local authority outside London. Almost one in eight are classified as high-growth, posting annual growth above 20%, and the sector is estimated to contribute £1.67bn in gross value added. This year’s programme leans heavily into artificial intelligence, but with a deliberate shift towards real-world use rather than hype: sessions range from applied AI and SME integration to legal strategy and executive planning. Major brands feature too, with agency Jaywing dissecting campaigns for PizzaExpress and Yorkshire Tea, the Financial Conduct Authority on user-first design, and entrepreneur Adam Hildreth launching Hard Graft Ventures. The festival also marks a leadership change with Deb Hetherington taking over as director from founder Stuart Clarke, now chair.

“Over the last decade, Leeds has built a reputation as a powerhouse for technological innovation and this 11th year will reflect just how far our community has come.”

— Deb Hetherington, Festival Director, Leeds Digital Festival

Leeds Today’s Own Festival Event

Leeds Today are hosting an event as part of the programme; ‘Leeds 2031: Insight into a Northern Powerhouse’ is an event for Leeds business leaders to connect over a shared interest in our region’s future. Taking place on Tuesday 29 September at CGI’s offices on Whitehall Quay from 4pm, we’re bringing together four senior voices chaired by Zandra Moore MBE of Zygens, including Alex Craven of The Data City, Rich McIntyre of CGI UK and Lizzie Young of PXN Ventures. The panel will give an independent data led discussion into the growth and opportunity in the Leeds region over the next five years, looking at where Leeds is performing, case studies from companies built here and the investment landscape for Leeds. Full details of the whole programme are on the Leeds Digital Festival website.