Creative Industries Festival

The Creative Industries Festival returns for its exciting third year from 2nd to 5th September 2026. This dynamic, four-day event is the UK’s premier gathering for the creative sector, offering totally FREE access for emerging creative talent, it brings together the brightest minds, boldest innovators, and emerging talents across art, design, media, technology, and business. 

This year’s Festival explores how creativity can help us find balance in our work, our health, and our lives. As creative practitioners must now navigate increasingly complex ways of working, the festival focuses on what it means to find good work that supports inclusion, health and wellbeing. As the boundaries between professional and personal life continue to blur, creative thinkers and makers are reimagining what “good work” looks like: purposeful, sustainable, and human-centred. Through talks, workshops, and industry collaborations, we’ll explore how creativity can shape workplaces that foster inclusion, wellbeing, and innovation and how we can work together to create an industry where people can truly thrive. 

The Creative Industries Festival spans a wide range of creative disciplines, and is purpose-driven to connect industry leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, students, and emerging creatives - igniting new collaborations, highlighting innovative projects, and spotlighting career opportunities.  From interactive workshops to thought-provoking panels, immersive performances, and a vibrant careers fair, the festival offers a free and accessible platform for creativity and innovation in one of London’s most exciting regeneration hubs: the Royal Docks and at The Source in Stratford. 

Supported by leading partners such as BBC, Canva, XOXO, Foundation for Future London, Searchlight, and London Higher, this Festival is the must-attend event for anyone passionate about the future of the creative industries in the UK.  The 2026 Festival programme includes: 

• Creative Talent Careers Fair - Featuring live job boards, recruitment experts, and talent scouts ready to spot the next wave of creative professionals. 

• Workshops, Panel Discussions & Keynotes - Led by established figures and visionary newcomers sharing insights, trends, and real-world strategies. 

• Research Conference: Bringing together leading researchers, industry experts, policymakers, educators and creative practitioners from across the UK to explore how we can work collectively to build a more inclusive, diverse and sustainable creative sector.

Alison Lowe, Director of The Creative Industries Festival 2025 said “This festival thrives on partnership - between creators, educators, businesses and communities - working side by side to shape the future of the creative industries.” 

For further information and tickets: Creative Industries Festival 2026 Tickets

Email: creativefutures@uel.ac.uk