March 12, 2026 — Douglas, Isle of Man The Isle of Man Government announced that the island will host the Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Villa Marina Colonnade Suite. The event aims to strengthen economic ties among Celtic nations, including the Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, and Galicia, by bringing together business leaders, innovators, and policymakers.
The full-day conference, hosted by Business Isle of Man, expanded to a larger venue after initial tickets sold out, reflecting strong interest in cross-Celtic collaboration.
Instagram post from Locate IOM featuring the event graphic.
Key Topics and Speakers
The forum will cover AI, regenerative tourism, maritime sectors, sustainable finance, advanced manufacturing, and community/diaspora engagement. It will spotlight the Isle of Man’s engineering and manufacturing strengths, including Albion Knitting Company‘s relocation from London.
Speakers include representatives from the Scottish Business Network, Cornwall Council, Tramshed Tech, Irish Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Lloyds Bank International. Selected delegates will tour Albion’s factory post-event.
Official Statements
Tim Johnston MHK, Minister for Enterprise, stated:
The Interceltic Business Forum is an important opportunity to bring together business and policy leaders from across the Celtic nations. Hosting the Spring Forum underlines the Isle of Man’s role as a connected and collaborative place to do business.
Chris Murphy, Founder & CEO of Albion Knitting Company, added:
The Isle of Man has a long tradition of craftsmanship and entrepreneurialism… It’s also a great opportunity to showcase what manufacturing on the Isle of Man can achieve today.
Charles Kergaravat, Founder of the Interceltic Business Forum, said:
We’re incredibly excited to bring the Interceltic Business Forum to the Isle of Man for the first time.
Promotion and Registration
Locate Isle of Man promoted free attendance with limited spaces. Registrations are available via Eventbrite.
Business Isle of Man on LinkedIn confirmed the sell-out and venue expansion.
Media Coverage
Manx.News and IT Brief UK covered the Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time, highlighting Celtic partnerships. The Interceltic Business Forum site noted the Isle of Man’s UNESCO Biosphere status and heritage as reasons for selection. No coverage from major outlets like BBC or Manx Radio as of March 14, 2026.