March 12, 2026 — Douglas, Isle of Man — The Isle of Man Government announced that the Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time, scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Villa Marina Colonnade Suite. The event, hosted by Business Isle of Man, will unite business leaders, innovators, and policymakers from the Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, and Galicia to strengthen economic ties among Celtic regions.
The forum expanded to a larger venue after initial tickets sold out, reflecting high demand for cross-Celtic collaboration. The full-day program includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, and case studies on key opportunities such as AI, regenerative tourism, maritime sectors, sustainable finance, advanced manufacturing, and community and diaspora engagement.
Speakers will include representatives from the Scottish Business Network, Cornwall Council, Tramshed Tech, the Irish Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Lloyds Bank International. The event will spotlight the Isle of Man’s strengths in engineering and manufacturing, featuring Albion Knitting Company‘s relocation from London, with factory tours for select delegates.
Key Quotes
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.’
Chris Murphy, Founder and CEO of The 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, 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.”
Background and Coverage
The Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time marks a milestone, following previous editions in Lorient, Cardiff, Galway, and Cornwall. The Isle of Man, the world’s first whole-nation UNESCO Biosphere, positions itself as a hub for innovation and sustainability.
Manx.News and IT Brief UK highlighted the focus on tech, green growth, and economic opportunities. Celtic Congress Cornwall covered the announcement, linking to official sources and noting related promotions on social media.
Registration is available via Eventbrite, with limited spaces. The Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time underscores growing Celtic business networks.