Sunderland City Council announced its 2026 Tech Events Calendar in February 2026, releasing a full schedule of technology events for 2026 aimed at helping people in Washington, Tyne and Wear learn new digital skills and find work in growing industries. The programme runs throughout the year and is designed to help local residents and business owners benefit from the city’s growing focus on digital services and technology.
The calendar includes free ‘Tech Talent Ready’ bootcamps delivered by Sunderland Software City. The bootcamps cover skills in Data, AI and software development to help residents access roles in nearby advanced-manufacturing clusters — for example the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) and employers in the Nissan supply chain — as the local economy digitalises. Local business owners can also attend matchmaking ‘Finder’ sessions at the Washington Business Centre to meet experts, investors and support services aimed at helping companies grow.
Several large events are planned across the year, including the TechNExt Festival, scheduled to run from 15–19 June 2026. Earlier in the spring, Dynamo North East is hosting the Dynamo North East Tech Charity Dinner at The Fire Station in Sunderland on 19 March 2026, which will help raise funds for the Dynamo Digital Inclusion Fund to support projects that improve access to the internet and digital tools in the region. The dinner is presented as part of the wider drive to make sure no one in the community is left behind as the local economy changes.
According to Liz St Louis, Director of Smart Cities and Enabling Services at Sunderland City Council, the programme is about using digital technology to deliver social and economic good across Sunderland. As she has said publicly: ‘Everything we do within the smart city programme is about delivering economic or social good. It’s about how digital makes Sunderland a great place to live, work, and play.’ The council plans to use its Smart City infrastructure — including a private 5G network deployed in partnership with Boldyn Networks — to host hybrid and immersive activities and ensure residents can access the training they need for future jobs.
