March 12, 2026 — Douglas, Isle of Man — The Isle of Man Government announced that the island will Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time1, bringing together business leaders, innovators, and policymakers from the Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, and Galicia on April 16 at the Villa Marina’s Royal Albert Hall. The event, hosted by Business Isle of Man, aims to strengthen economic connections among Celtic regions following an initial sell-out that prompted a move to a larger venue.
The full-day program includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, and case studies on key opportunities such as AI, regenerative tourism, maritime industries, sustainable finance, advanced manufacturing, and community/diaspora engagement. It highlights the Isle of Man’s strengths in engineering and manufacturing, aligned with its Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Strategy.
Speakers and Highlights
Speakers include representatives from the Scottish Business Network, Cornwall Council, Tramshed Tech, the Irish Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Lloyds Bank International. A case study will feature The Albion Knitting Company‘s relocation from London, showcasing luxury knitwear production.
“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, as well as a dynamic environment that encourages innovation, ideas and creativity. We are pleased to welcome delegates to the Island and to support conversations that will help shape future partnerships and practical collaboration across the Celtic world.”
— Tim Johnston MHK, Minister for Enterprise
Official Reactions
Chris Murphy, Founder and CEO of The Albion Knitting Company, emphasized the island’s appeal:
“The Isle of Man has a long tradition of craftsmanship and entrepreneurialism, and that’s exactly why Albion chose to invest here… 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, stated:
“We’re incredibly excited to bring the Interceltic Business Forum to the Isle of Man for the first time—not only to build deeper connections with another Celtic region, but to showcase the impressive innovation and momentum emerging from the island.”
Background and Significance
This marks the first Isle of Man hosting of the forum, previously held in Lorient, Cardiff, Galway, and Cornwall. The island’s status as the first whole-nation UNESCO Biosphere positions it as a hub for innovation and sustainability. Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time underscores growing cross-Celtic momentum, with tickets available via Eventbrite.
Local coverage highlights its milestone status for regional networking, as noted by Manx.News and Celtic Congress Cornwall.