Steve Coogan and Andy Burnham are among the high-profile figures confirmed for the 2026 edition of Manchester’s Beyond The Music festival, which will take place across multiple venues in MediaCity, Salford, from 6 to 9 October.

The event is designed to bring together leading voices from the music, film, gaming, technology, and wider creative industries to discuss key challenges facing the sector, including sustainability, innovation, and the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

A major highlight of the programme will be a special 24th anniversary screening of the 2002 film ‘24 Hour Party People’, directed by Michael Winterbottom.

The screening will precede the film’s global 4K re-release and will be followed by an exclusive keynote conversation between Winterbottom and actor Steve Coogan, who portrayed Factory Records pioneer Tony Wilson in the film.

Coogan reflected on the project as one of the most meaningful of his career, describing it as deeply connected to his Manchester roots and the city’s creative spirit.Winterbottom also emphasised the film’s role as a celebration of Manchester’s music culture and the legacy of Factory Records.

Alongside the cultural programming, Andy Burnham—former Mayor of Greater Manchester and current Labour MP—will host the ‘All Content Global AI Summit’ as the closing event of the conference.

This summit aims to bring together policymakers, rights holders, and industry professionals to develop a shared approach to artificial intelligence in the creative industries, focusing on protecting artists’ rights while enabling innovation and commercial growth.

Beyond The Music continues to position itself as a platform not only for celebration but also for problem-solving within the creative economy, reinforcing Greater Manchester’s role as a key hub for cultural and technological debate in the UK.