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Middlesbrough Mela returns to Albert Park as one of the North East’s largest, most anticipated, and longest-running multicultural festivals. Organized by Middlesbrough Borough Council in partnership with community event specialists, this grand two-day celebration brings together tens of thousands of visitors from across Teesside, Yorkshire, and the wider UK. Rooted in unity, artistic expression, and community inclusion, the festival offers a rich tapestry of music, dance, visual arts, and international street food. The word "Mela" means gathering, and true to its name, this weekend creates an open, welcoming, and uplifting space for people of all backgrounds, ages, and walks of life to celebrate shared human connections. World-Class Live Music and Main Stage Performances The heart of the festival revolves around the iconic Main Stage, delivering dynamic live music and dance performances throughout Saturday and Sunday. Audiences can experience a stellar lineup featuring international headline acts, acclaimed UK urban and South Asian fusion singers, traditional Bhangra ensembles, and energetic tribute showcases. Complementing headline performers are regional community groups, emerging youth talent, and traditional folk troupes representing Caribbean, African, Far Eastern, and Eastern European heritage. Broadcast live in partnership with the BBC Asian Network, the main stage delivers non-stop, electrifying entertainment that keeps crowds dancing from afternoon to evening. Global Street Food Market and Cultural Bazaar An essential highlight of Middlesbrough Mela is the sprawling global market setup across the green lawns of Albert Park. Visitors are invited to take a culinary journey through dozens of artisan food stalls serving freshly cooked street food from around the globe. From authentic South Asian curries, kebabs, and samosas to Caribbean jerk dishes, sweet churros, and refreshing icy drinks, there are choices to satisfy every palate. Adjacent to the food village, the colorful bazaar features traders selling traditional textiles, embroidered garments, handmade jewelry, Henna body art, home décor, and unique handcrafted souvenirs created by independent regional makers. Interactive Family Activities and Community Engagement Middlesbrough Mela is designed with families and children in mind, offering an extensive range of free interactive activities, games, and creative creative zones. Children can participate in artist-led workshops covering clay modeling, banner making, and lantern creation, while enjoying walkabout street performers, face painting stations, and storytelling corners. A bustling funfair with rides for all ages adds to the celebratory carnival atmosphere. Local community organizations, health charities, and educational groups also host interactive stalls, providing valuable resources and promoting health, wellness, and civic participation across the local borough. Exploring Historic Albert Park Facilities Set in the iconic, award-winning greenery of Albert Park in central Middlesbrough, the event makes full use of the park’s heritage surroundings. Attendees can stroll around the lake, visit the historic bandstand, relax on open grass spaces, and enjoy the park’s natural beauty between musical acts. Middlesbrough Borough Council ensures the festival is fully accessible, providing designated quiet zones, accessible toilets, medical support, and information hubs throughout the grounds to ensure every visitor experiences a safe, comfortable, and thoroughly enjoyable day. Plan Your Visit and Transport Information Middlesbrough Mela is completely free to enter, requiring no tickets in advance. The festival runs from 12:00 PM to 07:00 PM on both days, making it an ideal weekend day out for groups of friends and whole families. Situated conveniently near Middlesbrough town centre on Linthorpe Road, the park is easily reached via local bus routes, train services to Middlesbrough Station, or nearby town centre car parks. Gather your family and friends to experience the warmth, rhythm, and festive spirit of Middlesbrough’s signature cultural event.

Transforming Classroom Literacy with Talk for WritingThe Talk for Writing Primary Literacy Conference in Huddersfield offers educators a immersive professional development opportunity designed to revolutionize the teaching of writing across primary education. Rooted in the innovative pedagogical approach developed by Pie Corbett and Julia Strong, this full-day event demonstrates how children can build deep linguistic confidence by first internalising spoken language patterns before putting pen to paper. Delegates will explore the core three-stage framework—Imitation, Innovation, and Independent Application—which equips pupils with the foundational tools to become articulate, creative, and confident writers across all genres. Mastering the Core Three-Stage FrameworkThroughout the conference, expert literacy trainers break down each phase of the Talk for Writing process with concrete classroom examples. Attendees will discover how oral storytelling, text mapping, and interactive actions help pupils retain complex text structures without relying on memorization. During the Imitation stage, educators will learn how to select and adapt model texts that target specific grammar and vocabulary objectives. Moving into Innovation, delegates will explore structured techniques for co-constructing stories with pupils, fostering collaborative creativity. Finally, the Independent Application stage equips teachers with formative assessment methods that encourage children to transfer learned structures into original compositions independently. Bridging the Gap Between Oral Language and Written WorkA major highlight of this conference focuses on bridging the persistent gap between spoken communication and high-quality written output. Key workshops address how to engage reluctant writers, particularly pupils who struggle with vocabulary retrieval or structural planning. Through 'Book-talk' and 'Writer-talk' methodologies, delegates will discover actionable ways to help pupils articulate creative decisions before writing. Attendees will also examine how targeted vocabulary games, role-play exercises, and shared writing sessions build rich language banks that directly translate into improved writing quality across EYFS, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2. Implementing a Whole-School Literacy StrategySuccessful literacy development requires a consistent and aligned approach across all year groups. This conference provides school leadership teams and English leads with practical guidance on embedding Talk for Writing into the wider curriculum. Sessions offer insight into curriculum mapping, managing progression from early years to upper primary, and sustaining long-term impact on national assessment benchmarks. Leaders will leave with actionable strategies for conducting peer observations, guiding internal CPD workshops, and fostering a school-wide culture where creative writing thrives naturally. Interactive Workshops and Real-World Case StudiesIn addition to keynotes, the Huddersfield conference incorporates hands-on breakout sessions where participants actively practice text mapping, shared writing, and live editing. Delegates will examine video case studies from certified Talk for Writing training centers showcasing real classroom transformations and measurable pupil outcomes. The event also presents dedicated opportunities to network with peer educators, share best practices, and discuss tailored solutions for unique school environ

The OS Innovation Festival 2026 serves as a premier gathering for leaders, innovators, and visionaries across the public, private, and academic sectors. Hosted at the Ordnance Survey headquarters, this two-day immersive experience is dedicated to exploring how high-fidelity location data and mapping solutions can address complex, real-world challenges. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the event fosters an environment where attendees can transform abstract concepts into practical, impact-driven applications that support national priorities and government agendas. The Innovation Sprints At the core of the festival are the signature "Innovation Sprints." These intensive, hands-on collaborative sessions provide a unique opportunity for participants to deep-dive into specific problem spaces. Guided by experts, attendees work alongside peers to develop solutions across critical high-impact themes, including transport logistics, financial services, telecommunications, utilities management, land and property development, security, and emergency services. These sprints are designed to move beyond traditional networking, forcing participants to get hands-on with data to create tangible results. Expert Insights and Thought Leadership The programme features an exceptional lineup of keynote speakers and industry leaders. Renowned figures, such as British firefighter and author Sabrina Cohen Hatton and CENTURY Tech founder Priya Lakhani OBE, headline the event to share their unique expertise. The festival also hosts critical panel discussions on governance, interoperability, and the strategic synergy between start-ups and large-scale enterprises. Whether unpacking the technical standards of data security or exploring the future of collaborative innovation, the sessions provide actionable insights for every professional in the location intelligence space. Engaging Features: The Map Musings Tent New for 2026, the "Map Musings" tent offers a creative space to explore the cultural and social impact of mapping. Featuring guests such as "The Map Men," this area is dedicated to inspiring talks that show how maps spark adventure, ignite creativity, and help us make sense of our world. This lighter, yet deeply thought-provoking addition complements the technical rigor of the event, ensuring that every attendee leaves with both a new technical toolkit and a renewed appreciation for the power of location. A Collaborative Future By grounding all discussions and workshops in Ordnance Survey’s trusted, national-scale data, the festival creates a unique bridge between policy, technology, and implementation. Representatives from the Cabinet Office, the Department for Transport, and various environmental and emergency agencies ensure that the solutions developed are grounded in real-world necessity. The festival is not merely a conference; it is a catalyst for innovation that makes a measurable difference for communities, businesses, and government sectors across the United Kingdom.