Following the success of last year's Festival of AI in Practice, which attracted more than 1,100 registrations and over 1,600 session dial-ins, we're bringing together colleagues from across local government and the wider public sector to continue the AI conversation.
Together, we challenged myths, explored possibilities and discovered that AI wasn't simply another piece of technology to implement, it had the potential, and early evidence, to reshape how we work, lead and serve our communities.
Twelve months on, the questions have changed.
The challenge is no longer whether AI matters. It's how we lead through it.
How do we build public trust?
How do we scale the ideas that are genuinely making a difference? How do we prepare our organisations for a future where AI doesn't simply respond to prompts, but increasingly becomes part of how work gets done?
The AI Festival returns in February 2027 to explore exactly that. Over five days and 10 live sessions, we'll bring together some of the most interesting thinkers and practitioners from across the public sector to share what they're learning, what's working, what's proving harder than expected and what leaders should be thinking about next. The programme is building and we're already delighted to confirm some of our outstanding speakers who perfectly frame this year's conversation.
No sales pitches. Just honest conversations, practical examples and the opportunity to learn from organisations already navigating this rapidly changing landscape.
Throughout the week we'll explore:
- Building public trust in AI
- Scaling successful AI initiatives
- Developing workforce capability
- Supporting organisational transformation
- Preparing for the next generation of AI technologies
Choose the tracks that matter to you and take practical AI learning back to your organisation.
Why attend?
Whether you're shaping organisational strategy, leading a service, supporting workforce transformation, exploring Copilot, influencing digital change or simply trying to understand what all this means for your team, this festival is designed to help you think more clearly and act more confidently.
You'll hear from nationally recognised experts, public sector pioneers and organisations willing to share their successes, lessons learned and the questions they're still wrestling with.
All the sessions are remote, each an hour long and designed for you to attend the ones of interest to you.
Can't attend a session? Register a colleague instead. Your booking belongs to your organisation, not an individual.
Most importantly, you'll leave with ideas you can actually take
back and use.
Who should attend?
This is a festival for the whole public sector.
- Chief Executives
- Directors
- Elected Members
- HR & OD professionals
- Digital, ICT & Data teams
- Communications professionals
- Transformation teams
- Service Managers
- Policy & Innovation teams
- Frontline services
If you're helping shape the future of public services and
trying to understand how AI might or is shaping yours, you'll
find your people here.
Our keynote speakers
The programme is building and we're already delighted to confirm some of
our outstanding speakers who perfectly frame this year's conversation.
Alex Newton
Assistant Director, More in Common
Alex will open the festival by exploring what the people really think about public service, and where that trust is built or lost.
Veena Allison
WME Associate and Employment Law Specialist
Veena will explore what it could mean for workforce relations when everyone has a lawyer in their pocket.
Alex Newton, Assistant Director at More in Common
Monday 22 February 10am
Public trust sits at the heart of every public service. As AI becomes increasingly visible in our organisations and communities, understanding how citizens perceive us has never been more important. Trust matters.Alex will open the festival by exploring what the people really think about public service, and where that trust is built or lost. It will set us up perfectly for the remainder of the week as we understand exactly what AI is landing into.
Veena Allison, WME Associate and Employment Law Specialist
Monday 22 February 12pm
As AI become parts of our everyday, Veena will explore what it could mean for workforce relations when everyone has a lawyer in their pocket.Choose the tracks that matter to you and take practical AI learning back to your organisation.
Eddie Copeland
LOTI (London office Technology and Innovation)
Eddie will share some of the key AI use cases being trialled in London - both individually and collectively.
Heather Murray
Founder and CEO of AI for Non-Techies and WME associate
Heather returns after one of the highest-rated sessions from last year's festival and one of our regions favourite speakers.
Eddie Copeland, LOTI (London office Technology and Innovation)
Wednesday 24 February 10am
In this presentation, Eddie will share some of the key AI use cases being trialled in London, and explore how councils - both individually and collectively - are establishing the enabling conditions for AI to deliver real value.
Heather Murray, Founder and CEO of AI for Non-Techies and WME Associate
Friday 26 February 2pm
As the week draws to a close, Heather will help us look beyond today's AI tools towards what's coming next. From the latest developments in Copilot to the emergence of agentic AI, Heather will explore how work itself is changing and what leaders and organisations should be doing now to prepare.
Choose the tracks that matter to you and take practical AI learning back to your organisation.
Secret Track
Not everything on a great mixtape is listed on the cover.
We're busy confirming more speakers and case studies for the week and will be announcing them soon. Until then, consider this your hidden track.
Competition time!
We're giving away four places on our Public Sector Ultimate Copilot Programme, each worth £450. This 12-week programme is designed to help public sector teams get the most out of Copilot, and four lucky winners will be chosen completely at random to take part when it kicks off in March 2027.
Entering is simple - just join to be in with a chance of winning. Whether you're new to
Copilot or looking to sharpen your skills, this is a great opportunity to build confidence and
capability over the 12-week programme, at no cost if you're selected. Good luck!
We'd love to showcase your story
Some of the most valuable conversations last year came not from keynote speakers, but from public sector organisations generously sharing what they'd learned.
We're once again looking for councils and public sector partners who are willing to open the doors and talk honestly about their AI journey. Whether you've found a brilliant use case, discovered an unexpected challenge, or are simply asking questions others haven't considered yet, we'd love to hear from you. Interested in becoming one of our festival speakers?
Get in touch with the team to discuss your AI journey.
Booking Information
The Festival of AI takes place virtually from 22–26 February 2027.
As part of their shareholder membership, colleagues from West Midlands Employers' member councils will once again be able to attend festival sessions free of charge, enabling organisations to involve different teams however they choose throughout the week. Not sure if your organisation is a shareholder? Check our Shareholder Council list.
For our corporate subscribers, a weeklong pass is £100 per person. Check our Corporate Subscriber list to see if your organisation is included.
And for non WME members, £150 per person will give you access to everything across the week. If your organisation is based outside the West Midlands, contact your Regional Employers Organisation (REO) to receive a 10% discount code before booking
WME MEMBER COUNCILS
FULL FESTIVAL ACCESS
WEEKLONG PASS
FREE
CORPORATE SUBSCRIBERS
FULL FESTIVAL ACCESS
WEEKLONG PASS
£100
NON-WME MEMBERS
FULL FESTIVAL ACCESS
WEEKLONG PASS
£150
Get your Festival Pass
You will receive a festival playlist with all session details and links (shared in November) Our shareholder councils will also get a 'Promo Kit' to help spread the word internally
As soon as our playlist is released, all you need to do is choose the sessions that matter to you, and dial in.
No pressure to attend everything. No tech knowledge required. Just insight, ideas and practical learning from people like you.