This year’s Leeds Digital Festival proved a hit with international audiences, as participants from 46 different countries tuned into a wide range of virtual events themed around the thriving digital and tech sector in Leeds.
The festival, which ended at the beginning of May, moved online in response to the Covid-19 crisis. But that didn’t stop the festival from being a huge success, with 134 events organised across two weeks. With events moving online, the festival was also able to extend its global reach to countries all over the world including Peru, Australia and the USA.
Some of the popular international events included those hosted by Alun Davies, Netcompany, and BJSS.
Commenting on the success of the event Festival Director, Stuart Clarke said: “When we set out to pull together a virtual festival, we had hopes to attract anywhere between 30 to 40 events. To have 134 events organised in total over such a short period of time is incredible.
“Even better, was the fact that not only did the regional community come together to celebrate innovation in Yorkshire, but that people from around the world also came to show support for the Festival. This is testament to the region’s growing reputation as an international technology hub.”
Alun Davies, Director at Alun Davies Marketing, was also impressed by LDF’s international pull: “The Festival has become a global brand: people attended my talks from twelve different countries, from Australia to Singapore, Finland and Canada.”
Registrations for both physical and virtual events in the autumn, which make up part two of this year’s festival, are now open, and can be accessed here: https://leedsdigitalfestival.org/submit-event/
Are you representing an international city looking to take part in the next edition of the festival? Why not drop-us an email on international.relations@leeds.gov.uk to discuss further.