Guests from as far away as India were among the 3,000 people who descended on the North East last week as TechNExt, the region’s largest tech festival, returned for a third year.
Spanning venues from Northumberland to County Durham, the festival brought people from across the world of tech together for a jam-packed programme of events.
BBC Tech Editor Zoe Kleinman (pictured) and Cherrypick CEO and founder Tom Foster-Carter opened up the festival on Monday 16th June in front of a sold-out Main Stage crowd at Crowne Plaza, Newcastle.
Representatives from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and The North East Combined Authority also spoke at the event, giving those in attendance a unique insight into everything from finance to devolution and industrial strategy.
Tom Foster Carter and Jamie Hardesty on TechNExt 2025 main stage
Attendees then spilled out into dozens of themed hub and fringe events throughout the week, from the industry dinner to a festival party, school tech challenge and the region’s largest ever digital and tech careers fair, Tech Talent Live, which took place at City Hall in Sunderland.
The annual festival is hosted by a partnership of North East businesses and stakeholders working collaboratively. It is led by Dynamo North East C.I.C and Sunderland Software City working alongside fellow North East events specialist, BeaconHouse Events.
Immersive tech showcase at TechNExt 2025
Dr David Dunn, CEO of Dynamo North East C.I.C, said: “We set out to make TechNExt 2025 the biggest and best yet and I think everyone involved can safely say we achieved what we set out to do.
“We saw over 3,000 people attend events from Blyth down to Durham over the course of five days, from industry experts and c-suite directors to those simply wanting to find out more about a career in the sector. We even welcomed a group of entrepreneurs from India who were visiting the region on a trade mission.
“It provided the perfect platform for us to shine a light on all the fantastic businesses and people who have helped drive the industry forward over recent years, while also giving us an opportunity to discuss the many challenges and opportunities our businesses are likely to face in the future.
“It was a fantastic celebration of all that is great about the North East tech sector and we are already starting to think about how we can make TechNExt 2026 even bigger and better.”
Leighton, Sage and The North East Combined Authority were the headline sponsors of TechNExt 2025, with REED, Accenture and hedgehog lab also sponsoring events held throughout the week.
Phil Witcherley, director of economic growth and innovation at The North East Combined Authority, said: “The North East is recognised globally as a vibrant, fast-growing tech hub, so it was an absolute privilege for the North East Combined Authority to be part of TechNExt 2025.
“Being there in person and seeing the incredible mix of businesses, talent and ideas from across the sector was a real highlight. The festival was the perfect way to bring people together to champion the best the North East has to offer, foster collaboration and celebrate the energy, ambition and achievements shaping our tech scene. By showcasing the region’s diverse tech talent, TechNExt helps to attract investment, inspire talent, and shape the future of our digital economy.”