MAD//Fest has today announced that its
northern edition, MAD//North, will return to Aviva Studios, home of Factory
International, as the event expands into an enlarged 'campus' style format
across Manchester's vibrant St John's creative district in February 2026.
The event launched this year at Manchester’s Aviva Studios where it welcomed
attendees from the brand, creative, advertising and marketing industry. For
2026, the event has grown its footprint to encompass a full venue takeover, as
well as expanding into the neighbouring Versa Studios, the former home of Granada Television. The growth will turn the surrounding
St John’s area into a multi-venue village experience for 6,000
attendees on 25-26 February 2026.
This expansion will transform
MAD//North into a campus-style festival, enabling more attendees, content,
stages, activations, experiences, and networking spaces for brands and agencies
to connect.
The St John's district was chosen thanks to its status as a hub for
creativity, media and innovation.
Aviva Studios will continue to host the main headline stages, while Versa
Studios will house a range of new features and content streams, reflecting its
broadcasting heritage and future-facing production facilities.
Dan
Brain, co-founder of MAD//Fest,
said: "The appetite for
MAD//North has been phenomenal, and we knew we had to think bigger for 2026.
Creating a campus across St John’s - a thriving hub for the creative industries
and home of top brands with an increasingly strong infrastructure - is the
perfect next step.
"The
expansion will give the community more of what they value: inspiration,
innovation, and a scaled-up
experience to connect brands and agencies from the north and beyond.”
Scott McVittie, executive commercial director, Factory International, added:
“We’re thrilled that MAD//North will return to Aviva Studios in 2026. It’s just
the sort of event and the kind of audience we love to host here. It complements
our creative and cultural programme, from world-class performances and music to
the business of the creative industries.
“Alongside our neighbours at Versa
Studios, it becomes a real Manchester moment and a creative and inspiring
environment for the marketing, brand, and advertising industry. We can’t wait
to see the campus vision of MAD//North come to life across the venue and the
wider St John’s area.”
Victoria Braddock, managing director,
Marketing Manchester, added: “Greater Manchester is recognised as one of Europe’s
largest creative and marketing clusters, home to some of the world’s best
agencies and media brands, as well as a constantly evolving cultural sector.
We’re delighted therefore, that MAD//North is returning to Manchester for its
second year, anchoring itself in St John’s and set to welcome thousands of the
best creative minds from across the country.”
