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, bringing together business leaders, innovators, and policymakers from the Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, and Galicia to strengthen economic ties.
Hosted by Business Isle of Man, the event expanded to a larger venue following a sell-out of initial tickets, reflecting strong demand for cross-Celtic collaboration. The full-day program, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, and case studies on AI, regenerative tourism, maritime sectors, sustainable finance, advanced manufacturing, and community engagement. An evening reception follows at Noa Market Hall.
Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time, the announcement emphasized the Island’s UNESCO Biosphere status and strengths in engineering and manufacturing, with a spotlight on Albion Knitting Company‘s relocation from London. Selected delegates will tour the factory afterward.
Speakers include representatives from the Scottish Business Network, Cornwall Council, Tramshed Tech, the Irish Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Lloyds Bank International.
Official Reactions
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, 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.’[1]
Charles Kergaravat, Founder of the Interceltic Business Forum, commented:
“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.”[3]
Registration and Coverage
Free tickets are available via Eventbrite, with limited spots remaining. Local outlets including Manx.News and iomtoday.co.im echoed the Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time news, noting prior forums in Lorient and Cardiff. Coverage also appeared on IT Brief UK and Biosphere.im.
Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time aligns with the Island’s Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Strategy.