The Ipswich Thrive Business Festival will return to Ipswich, Suffolk, for two weeks starting on 9 March 2026. This year’s event has grown to include more than 30 free sessions designed to help local shops, start-ups, and workers gain new skills and grow their businesses.
Organised by Ipswich Borough Council, the festival will run until 20 March 2026. The council is working with partners like the Department for Work and Pensions and the University of Suffolk to provide networking opportunities and expert-led workshops.
The programme includes several major events, such as a session on the future of the local high street on 9 March 2026 and a large jobs and careers fair on 11 March 2026. A special meeting for technology businesses focused on how to use artificial intelligence is also set for 19 March 2026.
Council leader Neil MacDonald explained that the festival was extended to a full fortnight because of the high demand and positive feedback from the first event held in 2025. He said the aim is to build on that success by offering even more support for innovation and collaboration across the town.
Other local groups helping with the festival include Ipswich Central and the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce. These organisations are working together to make sure the festival helps everyone from women-led businesses to tech innovators find the support they need to succeed in the local economy.
