CyberFest 2026: The North East’s Premier Cyber Security Festival Returns
The North East of England is set to host its biggest cyber security festival this October, marking the ninth year of CyberFest, which has evolved into a pivotal national platform showcasing the region’s achievements in cyber security and secure artificial intelligence (AI). Slated to take place throughout the month across various venues in the North East, CyberFest aims to connect a diverse array of stakeholders including businesses, innovators, government officials, and specialized clusters from around the UK. The festival is designed to highlight the North East’s considerable talent, ambition, and capabilities, firmly positioning it in the national spotlight.
Organized by CyberNorth, a membership community that unites individuals, organizations, and ideas from across the North East, CyberFest is dedicated to driving progress in cyber security, AI, data, and quantum technologies. This initiative has allowed the festival to grow from a regionally focused gathering to a significant national event. According to Jon Holden, CEO of CyberNorth, “CyberFest is about bringing the UK’s cyber community to the North East and showing the country what this region can do. What started as a regional festival has now blossomed into a national platform, bringing together businesses, government, innovators, and industry leaders to connect, collaborate, and create new opportunities.”
The festival’s mission is straightforward: to connect, educate, and empower the region’s digital ecosystem while ensuring the North East is recognized as a prime location for innovation, investment, and collaboration. Last year, more than 1,000 participants attended CyberFest events, and the organizers are keen to build on that momentum, exploring both the opportunities and challenges that the UK faces in the cyber realm.
This year’s program features a series of high-impact events spread throughout October, including the CyberFest Community Conference scheduled for October 19 and the CyberNorth Awards set for October 21. Additionally, various specialized afternoon sessions will delve into the critical role of cybersecurity across adjacent industries.
The CyberFest Community Conference stands out as a focal event, serving as a significant gathering for the North East’s cyber community and inviting national and international businesses, government officials, industry leaders, and specialized clusters. The conference is set to deliver a packed agenda filled with insights, debates, and networking opportunities, featuring keynote speakers from prominent organizations like the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre and CFC Insurance. These discussions will cover pressing topics such as data resilience, the dark web, and the rapidly evolving landscape of cyber threats.
Furthermore, attendees will gain insight from a distinguished panel comprising cyber and AI experts from organizations like the Department for Work & Pensions and Tombola. This session will focus on the importance of cultivating human-centric security cultures and examining the emerging challenges and opportunities presented by the increasing interconnectedness of cyber and AI.
Specialized afternoon sessions will also facilitate collaboration between cyber professionals and experts from vital adjacent sectors, including Space, Defence, AI, Energy, and Advanced Manufacturing. These interactions will underscore the North East’s strengths in cross-cluster collaboration and highlight the integral role that cybersecurity plays in various sectors, whether it involves securing the UK’s AI Growth Zone, protecting offshore energy infrastructures, or ensuring the safety of digital production lines in preparation for future defence threats.
Jon Holden emphasized the North East’s potential saying, “The region has a massive opportunity to lead in secure AI and technology, but it is crucial that growth aligns with security. CyberFest enables us to showcase our regional talent, businesses, and innovations while facilitating vital conversations that matter most.”
This year, CyberFest places a particular emphasis on secure AI, reflecting the North East’s growing ambition to position itself as a key player in the UK’s secure AI innovation landscape. The festival will delve into strategies for maximizing the region’s status as an AI Growth Zone, while highlighting the necessity for growth to coexist alongside security imperatives.
The event concludes with the CyberNorth Awards on October 21, which will recognize the individuals and organizations instrumental in advancing the region’s cyber and AI sectors. CyberNorth is encouraging nominations from North East businesses, organizations, and cyber professionals before the submission deadline of 5:00 PM on September 14.
The awards are open to all CyberNorth members and affiliations, celebrating achievements across six notable categories, including Rising Star and Outstanding Cyber Professional. Two new categories have been introduced this year to honor micro businesses and international contributions. A prestigious judging panel will feature representatives from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Barclays, Northstar Ventures, TLT LLP, and the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.
Jon Holden stressed the festival’s importance for the region by stating, “CyberFest is about showcasing and celebrating the North East — we aim to elevate the region onto the national stage, welcoming the UK’s cyber and technology community and transforming connections into tangible opportunities.”
With a month packed with events and a diverse array of national and international organizations participating, CyberFest 2026 is poised to position the North East at the forefront of the UK’s discourse surrounding cyber security and secure AI innovation.