Beyond The Music will return in 2026 in a brand new venue, Billboard U.K. can exclusively reveal.
The third edition of the music conference and festival will take place at Salford’s MediaCity from Oct. 7-9 and bring together leading figures from across music, culture, tech, politics and beyond.
The news arrives as Greater Manchester celebrates another bumper year for music, having played host to the 2026 BRIT Awards and the MOBO Awards at the city’s Co-op Live venue. The former had never been held outside for London before, and is also set to be the host of 2027’s 50th anniversary edition.
Beyond The Music will utilise the MediaCity campus, including dock10 Media City studios and various iconic Salford music venues. The programming will feature a number of keynote conversations, industry showcases, networking opportunities and cross-sector partnerships.
The event will coincide with Salford’s centenary celebrations, honoring the 100th anniversary of the Royal Charter that granted Salford city status; the city forms part of the Greater Manchester metropolitan area.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, will host the All Content AI Summit with the aim of being together “leading practitioners and policymakers from every content industry together to align on a shared, rights and integrity-first position for AI.” The event will take place on Oct. 9 and comes as the U.K. government abandoned its plans for an ‘opt-out’ approach to licensing by AI firms; the move was celebrated by a number of the U.K. music industry.
Beyond the Music will utilize a variety of multi-purpose spaces across the campus, studios and the adjoining Quayside shopping centre, with a number of shows to be held at some of Salford’s existing venues. MediaCity is home to a number of broadcasters and media organizations including the BBC and ITV Studios.
Tickets for the event are on sale now, including the introduction of the Pay It Forward scheme, which aims to maximise accessibility for those who are hoping to advance their career within the music industry but may not be able to afford the full ticket price.
Speaking on the announcement, Burnham said, “Greater Manchester has always been at the forefront of cultural innovation, and Beyond The Music is a vital opportunity for the sector to come together and address the challenges and opportunities facing music and content creation. That’s why I’m proud to host the All Content AI Summit, which will provide a space to consider the ethical questions raised by new technologies and how we can protect creators’ rights.”
He added, “Greater Manchester has always been willing to take a stand on the issues that matter — standing up for the people behind the music, making sure they are recognised, rewarded, and able to build sustainable careers. That’s what we mean by balancing growth with responsible innovation. With its move to MediaCity and bigger than ever programme, Beyond The Music is helping to cement our city region’s place at the centre of the creative economy.”
Further lineup announcements will be made in the coming months.
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