Tech NExt is back in 2025, bringing together around 3000 attendees for five days of events, workshops and talks about the challenges, opportunities and joys of working in, and with, technology. The festival will run from Monday 16th to Saturday 21st June.
Whilst speakers for this year are still to be announced, Tech NExt has confirmed that their flagship events will be running once again. These include their Main Stage for talks from tech and innovation experts, Tech Talent Live for those wanting to meet North East employers in the industry, Schools Challenge for kids in the region to help solve a real life tech problem, and the networking and social events Festival Party, and Industry Dinner.
Tech NExt also has some new additions for 2025. Tech NExt Family Days are being organised across the region, to get children and adults alike involved in the burgeoning tech sector. Tech NExt have also introduced Tech NExt Hubs; locations around the North East that will be focusing on one key topic, and hosting workshops, demos and talks from businesses, organisations and entrepreneurs. This year, Tech NExt hubs are focused on Sustainability, Data & AI, Immersive Technologies, and Startups.
Speaking at the 2024 TechNExt, Karl Murray of Innovation Supernetwork ,a North East Business Support service, said ‘It’s so important to have festivals like this in the region to bring people together. I think we become a bit too siloed in our day-to-day job and we don’t connect as often as we should, so TechNExt has given us that platform for people from the very north of the North East and the very south of the North East to get together.’
Tech NExt’s ‘Good Festival Ambition’
One of the aspects that sets Tech NExt apart is its Good Festival Ambition, which directly addresses and responds to the challenges that marginalised speakers and delegates can encounter. This year, Tech NExt has stated that ‘the festival focuses on, inclusivity, diversity, accessibility and sustainability, protecting our planet and creating a welcome experience for all.’
Tech NExt are offering fully funded tickets for their Main Stage conference and the Festival Party, to ensure that those who cannot afford a full price ticket are able to attend. Tech NExt also offers funding to organisations hosting fringe events, schools attending the Schools Challenge, and discounts for FE Colleges so students can also enjoy the conference.
Tech NExt have also stated that they are, ‘focused on achieving a balanced representation across gender, race, class, disability and other protected characteristics,’ as well as reaching out to underrepresented communities such as Women in Tech, and Asian Business Connections.
For those who are disabled, neurodivergent or struggle with accessibility, Tech NExt have a buddy system, where an organisation or person can be accompanied to the events. Tech NExt also has a subtitling and a hearing loop as standard for the Main Stage conference, and a quiet room for those who want to attend, but also need a place to move away to.
Tech NExt states that, ‘all curated events are fully accessible for wheelchair users…and where [venues for fringe events] can’t be, to flag this with us in advance so that we can label them as such or support them to find an alternate venue.’ Attendees with additional needs can also use the WelcoME app at the Main Stage conference venue, which allows them to contact the venue ahead of their arrival.
Ready to book your ticket?
Tech NExt are announcing their line up of speakers, flagship and fringe events sometime in the Spring. To keep up to date on the event, and to be informed of when tickets go on sale, sign up to Tech NExt updates.
