Beyond The Music 2026 announces speakers, AI summit in Salford

The Beyond The Music conference and festival will return to MediaCity in Salford, Greater Manchester from 6 to 9 October 2026. Organisers have released the first wave of speakers, which includes Stacey Tang, co‑president of RCA Records UK, Sophie Jones, incoming CEO of the Royal Television Society, YolanDa Brown OBE, chair of the BPI, and newly elected Greater Manchester mayor Bev Craig.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will chair a full‑day All Content AI Summit on 9 October, bringing together creative‑industry stakeholders to draft a rights‑based framework for artificial‑intelligence use, dubbed the “Manchester Principles”. Seats for the summit are now open for reservation. The three‑day programme will also feature festival curators, artist‑campaign showcases and panels on new business models, cross‑sector collaboration and the economic value of the creative industries.