Bath Digital Festival returns with 'What If?' theme
Fri, 15th May 2026 (Today)
Bath Digital Festival will return to Bath as a three-day event organised by techSPARK, bringing together the South West's technology, digital and creative communities.
This year's programme centres on the theme "What If?", described by organisers as an invitation to challenge assumptions and explore new ideas. The festival will feature workshops, technology showcases, discussions and networking sessions across the city.
It is aimed at a broad cross-section of the regional ecosystem, including innovators, founders, educators, digital creatives and early-career talent. The format is intended to be more interactive than a conventional conference, with an emphasis on hands-on sessions and community-led activity.
Speakers are set to include applied futurist Tom Cheesewright, authors Sam Knowles and Alex Barker, and technology executive Dr Jacky Wright. Contributors from HMRC, OLTA, ART, Binary Syntax, British Esports and Amazon Web Services are also due to take part.
Regional universities will also have a visible presence. Technology showcases are planned from the University of Exeter, Bath Spa University and the University of Bath, which is taking part during its 60th anniversary year.
Regional focus
The festival is positioned as a showcase for the South West's technology and creative sectors as regional clusters seek to attract investment, skills and collaboration outside London. By bringing together companies, public bodies, universities and individual creators, it aims to highlight the breadth of the area's digital economy.
That regional focus has been central to techSPARK's wider work in Bristol and Bath, where the not-for-profit connects founders, employers, investors and educators. The event reflects that mission by creating a space for people in the sector to meet, exchange ideas and form partnerships.
The previous edition drew attendees from technology, education and the creative industries, with participation from senior leaders as well as emerging professionals. The latest festival is set to continue that approach, offering opportunities for networking, skill-sharing and collaboration across the South West.
Second decade
The latest edition marks the festival's entry into its second decade, a level of continuity that remains unusual for regional technology gatherings. That longevity may help Bath retain its place on the calendar for businesses and institutions seeking local industry links and public visibility.
Alongside the programme announcement, Ben Shorrock outlined techSPARK's view of the event's role. "Bath Digital Festival is one of the moments each year where the South West's creativity, curiosity and ambition really shine. With the festival now in its second decade, that longevity is proof that this is where the region thrives: when people come together to share ideas, challenge assumptions and explore what's possible. This year's theme, What If?, captures that spirit perfectly.
"We're proud to bring organisations, innovators and communities into the same space to imagine the future and start building it. Events like this show why our ecosystem continues to grow in confidence and capability, and why collaboration remains at the heart of everything we do," said Ben Shorrock, chief executive of techSPARK.
The programme spans subjects from emerging technologies to digital culture and the future of work. It will focus in part on questions around a digital future that is responsible, inclusive and accessible.
That framing reflects broader debates across the UK technology sector, as businesses, public institutions and educators weigh the social effects of new tools alongside the commercial opportunities. In Bath, the festival aims to place those issues in a local setting by connecting national speakers with regional organisations and communities.
For Bath itself, the event adds to the city's growing profile as a meeting point for technology, education and creative work. The presence of universities, public sector organisations and private companies in one programme underlines how closely linked those strands have become in the South West economy.
The format will include panels, demos, interactive sessions and informal networking, with more events still being added to the programme.