November 2025

CREATIVE CITIES CONVENTION NAMES LIVERPOOL AS 2026 HOST CITY

20^th November 2025

The Creative Cities Convention (CCC) has announced that Liverpool will host its eighth annual event on May 6–7, 2026, bringing the UK’s leading screen-sector conference to one of the country’s most dynamic creative cities.

The only event dedicated to professionals making film, TV and digital content outside London, the two-day convention travels to a different UK city each year, attracting hundreds of delegates to hear from leading broadcasters, producers and creative innovators.

Liverpool 2026: Where TV Meets Digital

The 2026 Creative Cities Convention will be staged at Camp and Furnace, Liverpool’s foremost live events and music venue, located in the heart of the Baltic Triangle — a thriving creative and digital hub known for its independent studios, production spaces and innovative businesses.

While hosted in Liverpool, the convention will shine a spotlight on the creative strengths of the wider North West region, from world-class TV and film production to cutting-edge digital, gaming and immersive content.

This year’s theme, “Where TV Meets Digital,” will explore how traditional storytelling and emerging technologies are converging to shape the future of the UK’s screen industries — with artificial intelligence, new production technologies, and cross-platform storytelling all on the agenda.

The Convention will kick off with a welcome address from Tony Hall, Lord Hall of Birkenhead CBE, whose former roles include Director General of the BBC and Deputy Chair of Channel 4.  

BAFTA-winning journalist and filmmaker Mobeen Azhar returns as host after his popular appearance at CCC 25. New appointments to the team include Sol Papadopoulos, founder of Liverpool’s Hurricane Films, as Executive Producer; Nina Harrison-Bell as head of partnerships.

Last year’s convention in Bradford coincided with the city’s UK City of Culture celebrations. It featured record delegate numbers, a debut Skills Summit, public screenings, commissioner meetings and a buzzing YouTube Creators Collective networking event.

Headline speakers included outgoing BBC Director-General Tim Davie, YouTube UK MD Alison Lomax, soap stars from Hollyoaks and Coronation Street and the Warp Films team behind the year’s biggest global drama, Adolescence and groundbreaking drama Reunion. The Skills Summit will return in Liverpool in 2026.

Natalie Wyatt – Managing Director Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership said: ‘‘We are delighted that Creative Cities Convention has chosen Liverpool as the host city in 2026. Liverpool will extend its warmest welcome to delegates, and they will no doubt feel at home here in a city that is synonymous for creative talent where innovative industries flourish especially within the arts and media sectors. Not only will it showcase why Liverpool City Region is a fantastic place to visit, it will be the leading meeting place for creative people making or distributing network screen content outside London.’’

Lisa Campbell, Executive Director of the Creative Cities Convention, said:

“Liverpool’s creative spirit is legendary, and the North West is one of the UK’s most exciting regions for screen production and digital innovation. With its thriving TV, film and gaming communities, it’s the perfect place to explore how television meets new forms of storytelling. The city’s talent and energy will make 2026 a landmark year for the Creative Cities Convention.”

About the Creative Cities Convention

Founded in 2018 by media executive Ruth Pitt and John McVay (PACT), the CCC is led by Executive Director Lisa Campbell, Director of Operations, Susie Townson, Executive Producer Sol Papadopoulos, Head of Partnerships Nina Harrison-Bell and Advisory Chair Ruth Pitt. Sarah Wood is head of the Skills Summit.
It is backed by BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Paramount and PACT.

Previous host cities include Leeds, Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle, Bristol and Bradford.
Further info on speakers and programme details for CCC 2026 will be announced soon.

ABOUT CREATIVE CITIES CONVENTION

Creative Cities Convention is a leading event bringing together producers and distributors in the fields of film, television, and digital media outside London. Established in 2018, the convention is supported by key stakeholders, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5/Paramount, and Pact, and is committed to promoting practical support and networking opportunities for professionals in the screen sector. The 2025 conference was held in Bradford, the 2025 City of Culture.

For further information contact press@creativecitiesconvention.com.