March 12, 2026 — Douglas, Isle of Man — The Isle of Man Government announced Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time, with the event set for Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Villa Marina Colonnade Suite. Hosted by Business Isle of Man, it will gather business leaders, innovators, and policymakers from the Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, and Galicia to strengthen economic ties and explore opportunities in key sectors.
The forum expanded to a larger venue after initial tickets sold out due to high demand, as noted in the official announcement. Free tickets are available via Eventbrite, with a full agenda listed there.
Key Topics and Programme
Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time emphasizes discussions on AI, regenerative tourism, maritime sectors, sustainable finance, advanced manufacturing, and community and diaspora engagement. The day includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, case studies—such as The Albion Knitting Company’s relocation from London—and a spotlight on the island’s Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Strategy. Selected delegates will tour the company’s factory afterward.
Speakers
Speakers include representatives from the Scottish Business Network, Cornwall Council, Tramshed Tech, the Irish Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Lloyds Bank International. Chris Murphy, founder and CEO of The Albion Knitting Company, will present on manufacturing successes.
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, 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.[1]
Chris Murphy added:
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.[2]
Charles Kergaravat, forum founder, remarked:
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.[6]
Background and Coverage
This marks Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time, following events in Lorient, Cardiff, Galway, and Cornwall. The island, the world’s first whole-nation UNESCO Biosphere, positions itself as a hub for innovation. Local outlet Manx News covered the news and shared it on X, with additional reports from IT Brief UK.