Place unveils MIPIM 2026 programme

From a Dragon’s Den-style showcase of the most investable areas in the North to a deep dive into the region’s untapped economic potential – the North of England MIPIM calendar of events is filled with dynamic and engaging sessions that put the region in the global spotlight.

Place North is proud to share its programme for the global property conference, which starts on 10 March in Cannes. Our events will be held on the UK Stage and in our dedicated North of England Suite, prominently placed overlooking the Croisette.

Below you will find our calendar of events including scheduled speakers. Some speakers are still to be confirmed – but we guarantee they will be worth the wait.

All events are open to the public unless indicated otherwise.

Monday 9 March

4pm-7pm | Place North Arrival Drinks – invite only

This networking get-together kickstarts the MIPIM week by bringing together Place North partners, local government officials, and investors.

Tuesday 10 March

8:30am-10am on the UK Stage | Place North Investor Breakfast – invite only

The breakfast will offer a relaxed and informal setting for senior investors to connect with peers, but also with a carefully curated group of developers and senior local authority representatives from across the UK, including representatives from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Blackpool, Manchester, Salford, East Yorkshire, Trafford, Rochdale, Birmingham, and Dundee. This session is sponsored by Drees & Sommer.

11am-12:30pm on the North of England Suite | Circ_It – The Edge Edition

A live design hack hosted by Layer.studio, Studio Hoodless, and Civic, Circ_It brings city leaders, developers and investors together to explore how good growth moves from ambition to delivery. This is not a panel or a pitch. It is a working session testing a repeatable approach for city regions and development partners who want to deliver better neighbourhoods, faster, without losing sight of place, people or purpose. Request an invite.

2:45pm-3:45pm on the North of England Suite | UK leaders summit

This roundtable discussion with an audience will feature the individuals and groups who are shaping the UK agenda and delivering on its regeneration ambitions. Expect a high-level conversation that will delve into the strength of the UK property market, the practicalities behind turning ambitions into reality, and the great potential the country has for investment.

Confirmed speakers

• Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council
• Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford
• Michelle Duggan, head of investment at the North East Combined Authority
• Cllr Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council
• Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region
• Pam Smith, chief executive of Newcastle City Council
• Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council

4pm-5pm on the North of England Suite | Vision: How the UK and Saudi Arabia are delivering on big ambitions

They may be more than 3,000 miles apart, but when it comes to their commitment to impactful development the UK and Saudi Arabia have more in common than not. Leading figures in development from both countries will discuss best practice when it comes to turning dreams into reality as well as how the two nations can work together to deliver sustainable growth. This session is sponsored by Trowers & Hamlins and Studio Hoodless.

Confirmed speakers

• Jen Hartley, assistant director of capital investment at Newcastle City Council
• Harry Hoodless, founder and director of Studio Hoodless
• Joanne Roney, managing director of Birmingham City Council
• Katie Saunders, head of Manchester office and construction partner at Trowers & Hamlins
• Invest Saudi representative

Wednesday 11 March

8:30am-10:30am at the Canopy by Hilton | How to build a new town – invite only

Join regeneration, housing, leisure, and commercial experts as we craft a community from scratch. We’ll explore what works and what doesn’t when it comes to town and city centres – while also delving into the role property plays in bringing people together. Expect to talk about the high street, stadia, transport, health, housing, and more. With the UK government set to kickstart development on three new towns in the next five years, this discussion is one you won’t want to miss. Request an invite.

Confirmed speakers

• Nick Mullins, co-founder of Axis Real Estate
• Stephen Young, chief executive of Salford City Council

1:30pm-2:30pm on the North of England Suite | Great Minds: How SMEs are transforming North of England

Regeneration is not just the dominion of global conglomerates. SMEs are at the heart of the UK’s property industry, doing their part to shape the communities they work in. This panel will dig into the great work being done by SMEs with local authorities, how this benefits the region, and why this makes the Northern investment prospect even more tantalising. This session is sponsored by Axis-RE and Marco Living.

Confirmed speakers

• Aidan Thatcher, director of place at Wigan Council
• Nick Mullins, co-founder of Axis Real Estate
• Pam Smith, chief executive of Newcastle City Council

3pm-4pm on the North of England Suite | Great Minds: Leisure as a regenerator

A session discussing how leisure can act as a driver of change and anchor for regeneration. We will explore examples of best practice, analyse how to grab the opportunities and avoid the potential pitfalls of this approach. This session is sponsored by Newmark and theleisureway.

Confirmed speakers

• Will Chamberlain, associate director of Newmark
• Cllr Mark Flynn, Leader of Dundee City Council
• Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council

4pm-4:45pm on the UK Stage | The UK’s untapped power player

The North of England is leading the way when it comes to sustainable infrastructure in the UK, from data centres to renewable energy to district heat networks. Hear about the projects that are due to transform the nation’s economy and why the region is a must for investors looking for the next big thing.

Confirmed speakers

• Cllr Neil Emmott, Leader of Rochdale Council
• Nick Gerrard, growth and prosperity programme director at Blackpool Council
• Cllr Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Danielle Phillips, assistant director of inward investment and business growth at North East Combined Authority
• Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region

Thursday 12 March

8:30am-10am on the UK Stage | Industrial and logistics breakfast – invite only

Harnessing the power of one of our hottest sectors, Place North brings a taste of its successful regional I&L conferences to Cannes. Developers, investors, local government leaders and economic development advisers will assess the state of the market and share advice for staying ahead of the competition. Topics could include advanced manufacturing, defence, R&D, power, land availability, transport, and occupier demand. This session is sponsored by Caddick, Tritax Big Box, and DLA Architecture. Request an invite.

Confirmed speakers:

• Andrew Dickman, chairman of Tritax Big Box Developments
• Paul Dodsworth, managing director of Caddick Construction
• Cllr Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Mark Robinson, director of economy and place at Rochdale Council

10:15am-11am on the UK Stage | Investable North

Dragon’s Den meets property in this series of quick, digestible, and impactful presentations spotlighting some of the most ambitious cities and projects in the North of England. This MIPIM Place North panel session will feature leading experts and stakeholders from across the North of England’s property and investment landscape.

Confirmed speakers

• Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford
• Nicola Elsworth, director of strategic growth at Tameside Council
• Cllr Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council

11:15am-12:15pm on the North of England Suite | Edge of Opportunity: Unlocking growth through regeneration at the urban fringe

This session will shine a spotlight on the opportunities emerging across the North, exploring how strategic investment in fringe locations can drive wider economic renewal across the region. While the conversation is rooted in Northern growth priorities, the panel will also draw on select examples from other parts of the UK, including London, the Midlands and the South West, to reveal broader lessons that Northern cities can adapt and apply. This session is sponsored by WSP.

Confirmed speakers

• Alex Ely, founder and director of Mae Architects
• Hari Sothinathan, partner at Deloitte
• Mau Dwivedi, director of transport planning at WSP

4:30pm-7pm on the North of England Suite | North of England and Scotland closing reception – invite only

A private gathering where Place North delegates can reflect and celebrate the week’s successes and learnings. A final chance to get together before heading home. Request an invite.