Welcome to Cultural Tides
Cultural Tides is Hull’s flagship annual culture conference—bringing together local, national and international voices to shape the future of culture, creativity and place. Held every March, the event convenes artists, policymakers, educators, cultural leaders and communities for a day of ideas, dialogue and action. From the launch of Hull’s new Culture and Heritage Strategy to keynote insights from global leaders, Cultural Tides provides a collaborative space to explore how cities grow through culture. With powerful contributions from across Europe, and a focus on innovation, inclusion and impact, the conference champions Hull as a bold, creative city—and invites others to join its cultural journey.
Cultural Tides 2026
Cultural Tides 2026 unfolded as a day of momentum and imagination - a moment where Hull’s cultural future felt not just possible, but already forming beneath our feet. Lou Yates BEM opened the day, followed by Cllr Mike Ross setting out how far the city has travelled in just one year of its Culture & Heritage Strategy.
The morning belonged to ideas. Dresden’s Ulrike Cadot‑Knorr offered a vivid glimpse into what joining the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities can unlock - quick wins, long arcs of change, and the power of learning woven through everyday life. Lady Jane Gibson’s Q&A turned those ideas toward Hull: how we build a learning city that is bold, inclusive, and unmistakably ours.
From there, the focus shifted to heritage as fuel. Chris Jackson introduced a powerhouse panel exploring Hull Maritime’s landmark 2026 opening and the wider role of heritage in shaping identity, regeneration and community voice. Speakers from ICOMOS, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England and the Maritime Programme painted a picture of a city ready to elevate its past into its future.
After lunch, the room hummed with curiosity as Dr Harriet Deacon steered a panel on AI, creativity and cultural possibility. From the future of music rights to immersive storytelling, digital equity and emerging talent, the message was clear: Hull has everything it needs to carve out a distinctive digital-cultural identity.
Breakout sessions invited hands‑on dreaming—from international working to festival design and imagining Hull as a UNESCO Music City.
The day closed with strategic insight from HEY Creative and Arts Council England, and a forward look toward the Music Cities Convention—ending with optimism, purpose and a shared sense of what comes next.
