Invest Newcastle will use successful cultural events as part of their bid to attract investment to Tyneside
Sam Fender wins the Mercury music prize (Image: Getty Images)
Newcastle’s success in hosting two of the biggest events in the UK music calendar will be used to help sell the city at the Mipim property event in Cannes next month. The Invest Newcastle group will be hosting events at Mipim.
Newcastle and Gateshead councils, NE1 and the North East Combined Authority will be joined by several private sector firms, including Eldon Square, Ryder Architecture, igloo and Ward Hadaway.
The 2026 delegation will focus on showcasing a portfolio of major projects and investment opportunities that aim to highlight the strengths of the city. Successfully hosting the Mobos and the Mercury music prize last year will part of the pitch.
The three-day programme of events will also highlight developments at Forth Yards, Pilgrim Street and Gateshead’s Old Town Hall, while plans for thousands of homes at the Forth Yards site – which received multimillion-pound backing from Homes England last year – will be a “key focus”.
Pam Smith, chief executive of Newcastle City Council, said: “Mipim presents a unique opportunity for Newcastle to position itself as a city with global scale development opportunities.
The Newcastle skyline, viewed looking across from Gateshead towards the Tyne Bridge and the Glasshouse(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
“Hot off the heels of hosting both Mobo Awards and the first-ever Mercury Prize outside London this year and soon to be welcoming the Euros in 2028, our city continues to position itself as a destination for culture, innovation, and investment.
“We are a city that delivers for our residents. We are the future of urban innovation, culture and investment.
“We are Newcastle, one city, united together and we look forward to working with you in the public and private sector to make it our best one yet.”
Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon added: “Mipim remains a powerful global platform to showcase Gateshead’s potential. With deliverable regeneration plans bringing exciting sites to the market, it provides a valuable opportunity for investors and developers to explore future opportunities with us.
“Gateshead is at a moment of real transformation. This is a chance to highlight the ambition that’s re-imagining our town as a vibrant destination for residents and visitors.”
NGI chief executive Sarah Green said: “It is incredibly important, in the competitive global market, to ensure our city’s voice is heard and working together with the public and private sector. We can do this with a collective voice and a collective story.
“Mipim is one of the world’s largest real estate conferences, attracting 80 of the world’s top 100 real estate investors each year, providing Newcastle and Gateshead with the opportunity to connect with decision makers on our key priorities and on a truly unique platform.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing Newcastle and Gateshead’s vision to life and welcome global investors and developers onto our stand to find out what we are all about.”