About Digifest 2026
From disruption to direction – in-person at the ICC Birmingham or online 10-11 March 2026.
Programme themes
Digifest 2026 will explore the following themes:
Empowering people in the age of complexity
We'll explore how we can build digital fluency that places people, not platforms, at the heart of transformation. As technologies like AI reshape education, we must ensure staff and students alike are equipped not only with technical skills, but with the confidence, curiosity, and critical literacy to navigate change. It acknowledges the stress, fatigue, and anxiety many feel in the face of rapid digital shifts, especially among staff who fear being left behind. By fostering inclusive, compassionate approaches to digital upskilling we can create a culture where innovation supports wellbeing, and where no one is excluded from the future we’re building together.
Re-envisioning the educational experience
We'll explore how pedagogy can evolve to centre student voice, agency, and lived experience while ensuring the curriculum is aligned with the future of industry and society. It focuses on co-creating education with students, where learning is not only inclusive and empowering, but also responsive to emerging technologies, interdisciplinary thinking, and real-world challenges. By embedding innovation into both content and practice, we can prepare learners for a future that demands adaptability, creativity, and ethical leadership.
Creating responsible and ethical futures
We'll explore how we can meet the challenges of our rapidly evolving digital world and thrive through collaboration, innovation, and critical thinking. It asks how we can ensure that technology doesn’t just disrupt our world, but that we actively shape it with an ethical, inclusive, and forward-thinking lens.
"Very well organised, very friendly and relaxed. A lot of useful and stimulating content."
Higher education executive leader
Advisory group
We are proud to be working with an external advisory group to curate this year’s programme.
Members include:
- Kelly Edwards, executive director of quality, Harlow College
- Jonathan Sansom, director of digital strategy, Hills Road Sixth Form College
- Nandy Milan, digital innovation manager, University of Oxford
- Matthew Carl, head of library digital education, The University of Law
- Steve Wileman, head of digital learning, South Staffordshire College
- Abby Parkin, head of digital innovation, York College
- Scott Hayden, head of teaching, learning and digital, Basingstoke College
- Alison Purvis, associate dean teaching and learning, Sheffield Hallam
- Andy Jaffrey, head of the office for digital learning, Ulster University
Digifest 2026 is a CPD accredited event
Jisc is a member of the CPD Certification Service - by attending Digifest 2025 you can add this learning time towards your individual continuing professional development goals. After the event, you'll receive a digital certificate with CPD points to add to your personal log or organisational file.
Venue
International Convention Centre, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA.
Accessibility
- The ICC is wheelchair accessible via ramps and lifts. Tactile signage is also fitted in the majority of lifts.
- Wheelchair-accessible toilets are available throughout the ICC, located on levels 2 and 3 of the Mall.
- Blue Badge parking and accessible parking bays are available in the car parks at Utilita Arena Birmingham (King Edward’s Road, B1 2AA). Find out about accessible parking on the Utilita Arena Birmingham website.
- Assistant dogs are welcome at the ICC.
- A prayer room and a quiet space will be available.
- An induction loop system, which can be linked to visitors’ hearing aids will be available.
- Live captions will be available for all sessions in-person and online.
Sustainability – reducing our global impact
We are working hard to reduce the impact that Digifest has on the environment, locally and globally.
Location
Digifest is held at the ICC in the centre of Birmingham, enabling easy and efficient access using public transport from across the UK.
The ICC is a short walk or tram ride from Birmingham New Street station. Taking the train is actively encouraged; the difference between a mile on the train and a mile in the car is 0.22 kg CO2e vs 0.07 kg CO2e. For those who need to use the car, car-sharing is encouraged. If there are four people using one car, the carbon per person per mile is 0.05 kg. If you are interested in lift sharing visit Liftshare.
We will be sending delegates a short form prior to the event to collect information regarding their journeys, which will help us accurately measure the travel footprint.
Digifest is held at the ICC in the centre of Birmingham, enabling easy and efficient access using public transport from across the UK.
The ICC is a short walk or tram ride from Birmingham New Street station. Taking the train is actively encouraged; the difference between a mile on the train and a mile in the car is 0.22 kg CO2e vs 0.07 kg CO2e. For those who need to use the car, car-sharing is encouraged. If there are four people using one car, the carbon per person per mile is 0.05 kg. If you are interested in lift sharing visit Liftshare.
We will be sending delegates a short form prior to the event to collect information regarding their journeys, which will help us accurately measure the travel footprint.
Venue
The ICC holds the ISO 14001:2004 accreditation for environmental management systems.
- A district-based scheme (Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator) is installed onsite to provide chilled water for air-conditioning, electricity and hot water for heating the ICC and buildings in the immediate vicinity, including Utilita Arena Birmingham. A publicly visible carbon calculator keeps track of the carbon dioxide savings, minimising the ICC’s carbon footprint and providing the ability to sell carbon credit
- Energy saving sensors are fitted and use reduced energy LED lighting where possible throughout the venue. The venue’s switch-off procedure ensures that energy use is kept to a minimum in event spaces and offices and that all equipment and lights are switched of when not in use, which is monitored via security
- All waste is treated, so that glass, cardboard and paper waste is separated and recycled. Waste that cannot be recycled or reused is incinerated to use for energy via a Birmingham City Council-run scheme at the nearby Tyseley Energy Waste Plant
- The ICC is involved in a pilot scheme to turn a flat roof into an eco-friendly environment and to increase insulation and ultimately enhance the landscape of flora and fauna to attract urban species to the environment. The roof provides a haven for the rare black redstart bird whose numbers are thought to be declining following increased development, and whose continuing presence in the city is precarious. The roof has also been designed to encourage ground nesting bees and wasps, invertebrates and other birds
- The ICC is also home to two 'Bee Hotels' to encourage Mason Bees
- The venue team has implemented many initiatives to demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability and can support organisers to minimise or totally offset the carbon emissions of their conference
The ICC holds the ISO 14001:2004 accreditation for environmental management systems.
- A district-based scheme (Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator) is installed onsite to provide chilled water for air-conditioning, electricity and hot water for heating the ICC and buildings in the immediate vicinity, including Utilita Arena Birmingham. A publicly visible carbon calculator keeps track of the carbon dioxide savings, minimising the ICC’s carbon footprint and providing the ability to sell carbon credit
- Energy saving sensors are fitted and use reduced energy LED lighting where possible throughout the venue. The venue’s switch-off procedure ensures that energy use is kept to a minimum in event spaces and offices and that all equipment and lights are switched of when not in use, which is monitored via security
- All waste is treated, so that glass, cardboard and paper waste is separated and recycled. Waste that cannot be recycled or reused is incinerated to use for energy via a Birmingham City Council-run scheme at the nearby Tyseley Energy Waste Plant
- The ICC is involved in a pilot scheme to turn a flat roof into an eco-friendly environment and to increase insulation and ultimately enhance the landscape of flora and fauna to attract urban species to the environment. The roof provides a haven for the rare black redstart bird whose numbers are thought to be declining following increased development, and whose continuing presence in the city is precarious. The roof has also been designed to encourage ground nesting bees and wasps, invertebrates and other birds
- The ICC is also home to two 'Bee Hotels' to encourage Mason Bees
- The venue team has implemented many initiatives to demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability and can support organisers to minimise or totally offset the carbon emissions of their conference
Exhibition
We work with exhibition suppliers who offer multiple display deliveries and re-use stands which further reduce the environmental impact vs traditional “space only” events.
We actively encourage exhibitors to be mindful of their environmental impact.
The approach we take with our exhibitions encourages the use of digital messaging, reducing the opportunity for printed materials, graphics and giveaways.
We work with exhibition suppliers who offer multiple display deliveries and re-use stands which further reduce the environmental impact vs traditional “space only” events.
We actively encourage exhibitors to be mindful of their environmental impact.
The approach we take with our exhibitions encourages the use of digital messaging, reducing the opportunity for printed materials, graphics and giveaways.
Event materials
Our preference is to use digital signage at the event.
The Digifest event app significantly reduces the amount of printing required at the event. Any event printing is now FSC certified and fully recyclable. All laminate or UV finishes have been removed from our marketing materials, ensuring that recycling can occur.
Our lanyards, when used, are made of bamboo and PET materials that are biodegradable.
Our preference is to use digital signage at the event.
The Digifest event app significantly reduces the amount of printing required at the event. Any event printing is now FSC certified and fully recyclable. All laminate or UV finishes have been removed from our marketing materials, ensuring that recycling can occur.
Our lanyards, when used, are made of bamboo and PET materials that are biodegradable.
Catering
To make Digifest more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint, we will be offering a meat free menu. By moving away from the standard buffet selection, we can save between two and seven tonnes of carbon.
Catering is locally sourced and the ICC utilise an anaerobic digestion system for food waste, which further reduces the waste footprint. Crockery will be reusable, and we encourage delegates to bring their own water bottle.
To make Digifest more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint, we will be offering a meat free menu. By moving away from the standard buffet selection, we can save between two and seven tonnes of carbon.
Catering is locally sourced and the ICC utilise an anaerobic digestion system for food waste, which further reduces the waste footprint. Crockery will be reusable, and we encourage delegates to bring their own water bottle.
Contact us
Email digifest@jisc.ac.uk for more information.