March 15, 2026 — Douglas, Isle of Man The Isle of Man Government and Business Isle of Man announced on March 12 that Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time, scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Villa Marina in Douglas. The event, bringing together business leaders from the Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, and Galicia, aims to strengthen economic ties and explore opportunities in sectors like AI, regenerative tourism, and advanced manufacturing.
The forum, hosted by Business Isle of Man, initially sold out and relocated to a larger venue, the Royal Hall at the Villa Marina, due to high demand, as noted in a Facebook post.
Event Details
The full-day event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Villa Marina, Harris Promenade, Douglas IM1 2HP, with free tickets available on Eventbrite where few remain. An invite-only evening reception follows at Noa Market Hall. The Interceltic Business Forum site lists the Villa Marina Colonnade Suite location.
Agenda and Speakers
The program includes welcomes from Hon. Alf Cannan MHK, Chief Minister; Charles Kergaravat, forum founder; and Kirree Gooberman, Business Isle of Man CEO. Panels cover AI adoption, hybrid innovation, nature’s value, maritime, and diaspora engagement. Speakers include representatives from Scottish Business Network, Cornwall Council, Tramshed Tech, Irish Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Lloyds Bank International, and Albion Knitting Company, highlighting the Isle of Man’s manufacturing strengths.
Official Statements
‘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…’
— Tim Johnston MHK, Minister for Enterprise
‘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.’
— Chris Murphy, Founder & CEO, The Albion Knitting Company
Background
This marks Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time, building on prior events in Lorient, Cardiff, Galway, and Cornwall, as noted by Biosphere Isle of Man and Celtic Congress Cornwall. The Isle of Man, the world’s first whole-nation UNESCO Biosphere, emphasizes innovation and sustainability, per Finance Isle of Man and a LinkedIn post.
Post-event factory tours and cultural excursions are planned for select delegates, underscoring Isle of Man to host Spring Interceltic Business Forum for the first time as a milestone for Celtic collaboration.