We’re delighted to be returning to St George’s Market on Wednesday 16 September for the NI Chamber Festival of Business 2026 – and this year marks our third year at one of Northern Ireland’s biggest business networking events.
Year after year, the NI Chamber Festival of Business goes from strength to strength, bringing together more than 1,200 professionals for a morning packed with inspiration, insight, networking and opportunities to make new connections.
For the team at Eikon Exhibition Centre, it has become a firm fixture in the business calendar. Each year gives us the opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces, catch up with existing clients and partners, and, just as importantly, meet new people and introduce more businesses to the venue.
And 2026 is shaping up to be another fantastic event!
A morning packed with inspiration
The Festival of Business 2026 features an impressive agenda of speakers, with the Main Stage bringing together business leaders and inspirational voices from a diverse range of sectors.
Among this year’s headline speakers are Sinead Quinn, Director of Inflight at Ryanair, who will explore how customer experience can drive commercial growth; James McManus, CEO of Earth’s Edge, sharing insights on resilience, discipline and performing under pressure; and Sam Shephard, Founder of Juice Jar, who will tell the story of how fresh ideas helped build an award-winning brand.
There’s plenty more to explore across the Business Studio Sessions too, with sessions featuring Jonathan McWhinney and Jamie Thompson of Thompsons Tea, Jordan Graham, Founder of Sugar Snap, and Greg Lucas and Asa Fermandell from IKEA, discussing everything from building brands and social media to sustainability, affordability and commercial success.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be the Festival of Business without the opportunity to discover what’s happening across Northern Ireland’s vibrant business community. With a host of exhibitors from a wide range of industries, there will be plenty of people to meet, ideas to share and conversations to start.
Come and say hello
For our Sales & Business Development Executive, Shona Ayre, the Festival of Business is definitely a calendar highlight.
Shona will be on hand throughout the morning at the Eikon Exhibition Centre stand – No. 69 – ready to chat about the venue, our facilities and the opportunities Eikon can offer businesses looking to host exhibitions, conferences, trade shows and much more.
Whether you’re already familiar with the Eikon Exhibition Centre or have yet to discover what we can offer, come along and say hello. We’d love to meet you.
Three years, countless conversations and plenty of new connections – we can’t wait to see what Festival of Business 2026 brings.
📍 Eikon Exhibition Centre – Stand 69
📅 Wednesday 16 September 2026
⏰ 8.30am – 1.30pm
📍 St George’s Market, Belfast
