Production Futures

Production Futures ON TOUR Returns to AO Arena in Manchester

Production Futures is excited to announce that its Manchester 2026 ON TOUR event will take place for a third successive year at the city’s AO Arena. The event takes place on Monday April 20^th at the cutting-edge venue, one of the largest of its kind in the UK.

Set to attract a wide range of visitors from across North-West England and beyond, this free-of-charge event will promote employability, transferable skills, diversity, free training, and networking, and will present paid work opportunities to newcomers across the live event and broadcast production industry.

A host of world-leading manufacturers, supply and production companies, venues and distributors, will have representatives present at the event to provide advice, information and insights, and discuss specific job and training opportunities. As well as manufacturers and suppliers, Production Futures also works closely with a range of organisations, initiatives, education partners and associations, connecting employment and training opportunities to a diverse pool of talent. They too will have representatives available to answer questions and offer support.

Visitors will enjoy a packed schedule, which includes special guests, talks and panels, workshops, career and CV guidance, as well as opportunities to get hands on with a variety of technologies,

Production Futures CEO Hannah Eakins looks ahead to the event:

“Both of our previous ON TOUR events at the AO Arena have been incredibly inspiring for everyone in attendance. The venue represents everything that is great about our industry, and we are grateful to its team for their continued support.

“The contribution of the production industries to the UK economy is significant. Many young people are simply unaware of the variety of opportunities that fall under the umbrella of the production sector, and our aim is to increase the visibility of these opportunities and simultaneously improve the prospects of the whole industry. We do everything we possibly can at our ON TOUR events to highlight the wide range of rewarding and creative careers available to the next generation.”

Ellice Eadie, Head of Marketing for the AO Arena, adds:

“It’ll soon be that time of year again - Production Futures back at the AO Arena! As a venue, we remain committed to supporting the next generation looking to break into live events and production. By partnering with Production Futures, we can help to give young people from Manchester and beyond the chance to learn, network, and gain real hands-on experience. We’re excited to see even more emerging professionals take their next big step with us. What will 2026 bring?!”