Organisers of Leeds Digital Festival 2025 have unveiled the full programme line-up, marking the 10th anniversary of the UK’s largest open-platform tech festival.
Running from 22 September to 3 October, this year’s line-up features over 230 events covering everything from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to FinTech, healthcare technology and digital creativity. The scale and variety of the schedule highlights the strength of Leeds’ digital ecosystem and the festival’s role as a major driver of collaboration, innovation and economic growth across the region.
The extensive autumn programme, where nearly all events are free to attend, offers a diverse range of informative and fully interactive events, some featuring high-profile guest speakers and the most varied schedule in the festival’s history.
Hackathon enthusiasts can dive into Reboot Power Up: Leeds Hackathon (22 September) at Lloyds Banking Group’s headquarters, an all-day, collaborative coding challenge designed to ignite innovation and teamwork.
On 25 September, The Wardrobe hosts the fifth edition of UX Leeds, bringing together user experience specialists, product owners and digital strategists for an afternoon of candid discussion on customer-centric design and its impact on business transformation.
As the festival continues, the spotlight shifts to strategy and governance. On 2 October, ‘Jump In or Hold Back? A Brand Perspective on AI’, hosted by McCann, at Everyman Leeds, offers brand leaders the chance to debate the challenges and opportunities of AI adoption in modern marketing. Closing out the programme on 3 October, law firm Berwins presents ‘AI, Creators, Owners and Tech: The Battle to Protect and Use IP in LLMs’ at Platform, addressing the urgent question of how businesses can harness the power of generative AI while safeguarding intellectual property.
Some of the key issues impacting tech workers will also be addressed, including debt charity Step Change, leading a session on 22 September on how digital technology is being used to support vulnerable people and deprived communities in Leeds. A Women in Tech breakfast event hosted by Accenture on 25 September aims to tackle navigating parenthood in the technology sector.
These standout sessions are merely a snapshot of the festival’s scale. Since 2016, the Leeds Digital Festival has grown from 56 events to over 220 by 2024, cementing its reputation as one of the UK’s longest-running open-platform tech festivals outside London Tech Week.
Over the past decade, more than 2,000 events have been hosted and organised by upwards of 800 companies, highlighting its role as a dynamic catalyst for digital innovation and regional economic growth.
At its core, Leeds Digital Festival 2025 embodies a potent fusion of creativity, inclusion, and economic relevance, uniting students showcasing academic innovation, startup founders seeking funding, corporate technologists adapting to AI, and sustainability advocates advancing GreenTech solutions. Built on open, collaborative principles, the festival continues to elevate Leeds as a vibrant tech backbone for the City Region and beyond.
Commented Stuart Clarke MBE, festival director: “Leeds Digital Festival began as a way to showcase the city’s talent and innovation. A decade on, it has become a catalyst for growth, collaboration and investment across the region, securing Leeds’ place as a driving force in the UK’s digital economy.”
The festival is supported by premier sponsors CGI, Skipton Group and PEXA, executive sponsors Accenture, Genio, Leeds City Council and Lloyds Banking Group. Launch sponsors are Nexus University of Leeds.
Christina Geary, Senior Vice-President and Business Unit Lead for Yorkshire at CGI, added: “The strength of Leeds Digital Festival lies not only in the number of high-quality events but in the sheer variety of its programme. There really is something for everyone, whether you are just starting out on your digital journey or already fully immersed in the city’s vibrant and world-class tech community. That combination of inclusivity and excellence is what makes the festival so significant to both the sector and the regional economy.”
The complete programme is now available to sign up on leedsdigitalfestival.org
