BitFest 2026 Manchester
Held November 19-22 at Pendulum Hotel in Manchester, Bitfest 2026 is the UK’s flagship Bitcoin festival. So… is it a conference? Well, yes and no.
Bitfest is a space where people from all walks of life can come together for a weekend powered by Bitcoiners. It’s about community as much as it is about technology: a place to connect, learn, explore, and actually experience Bitcoin culture in action.
While talks and panels are part of the program, Bitfest goes far beyond a traditional conference – incorporating talks, discussions and hands-on workshops covering not just Bitcoin, but other freedom-adjacent topics.
Our inaugural event, Bitfest 2025, featured 5 events and 8 themed zones across 3 days, with 60+ speakers and artists, all hosted across multiple nearby venues. And now Bitfest is back for 2026. Bigger, louder and with even more to explore!
This year’s programme brings together 7 events and 9 zones, creating an even bigger celebration of Bitcoin, freedom technology, creativity and the communities building the future.
Bitfest is designed for everyone – whether you’re deep in the space or just getting started. It’s family-friendly too and so bring the kids along!
Day 0 also features Nostrshire, the UK’s first full-scale conference dedicated entirely to Nostr.
🎦 BITFLIX & PRE-EVENT RECEPTION
Kick off the Bitfest weekend with The Six Billion Dollar Man, Eugene Jarecki’s award-winning documentary exploring Julian Assange, WikiLeaks and the price of truth. Fittingly, when traditional gatekeepers blocked the film, it found a route to audiences through the Bitcoin community.
Full Bitfest ticket holders can then join our exclusive pre-event drinks reception to meet fellow Bitcoiners and get the weekend started.
🌐 Nostrshire (Day 0)
Nostrshire is the UK’s first full-scale Nostr conference, bringing together builders, developers, creatives and enthusiasts under one roof, all in one day. We would have added freedom fighters to the list, but we would say that all these people are on the cutting edge of freedom, privacy and decentralisation technology.
Speakers include:
Nathan Day, btcmap.org
The Crypto Donkey, ForgeSworn
Derek Ross, Soapbox
Pablo Denver, BAO.MARKETS
Gemma, Yojimble
Peter Yared, Layer3.press
Tom Dwyer, BITS
AJ, Nostr.dev
Short Fiat, Fanfares.io
Ben Arc, LNBits/Nostr.com
Dan Gershony, Angor.io
Avi Burra, Plebchain Radio
Bitfest is the centrepiece of the weekend. A full day bringing the wider Bitcoin world together under one roof for talks, workshops, exhibitions, art, culture, technology and a healthy amount of organised chaos. From developers and entrepreneurs to artists, activists, educators and everyday Bitcoiners, it’s a day built around the people, ideas and communities pushing Bitcoin forward.
Speakers include:
Joe Nakamoto, MC
Susie Violet Ward, Journalist, Bitcoin Policy UK
Nicholas Anthony, HRF CBDC Tracker
Jan-Willem Berger, Deciphering Bitcoin
Ben de Waal, Cyber Anarchist/Bitcoin OG
Nigel Sharp, Kitchen Mishap
Rob Gaskell, Appold
Karliatto, Bleskomat/ContextBTC.org
Gary Smith, BSE Conference
Bitoshi Blockamoto, Bitmap.land
Philip Charter, Totally Human Writer
Nzonda Fotsing, Conférence Bitcoin Afrique
Pepe.X is where Bitcoin internet culture escapes the timeline and becomes a real-world experience. Memes, digital art, games, creators, collectors and unapologetically online culture collide in a space celebrating the weird, creative and occasionally ridiculous side of the Bitcoin community. Serious conference behaviour is entirely optional.
Bitfest Sunday Socials is the relaxed final chapter of the weekend. A chance to grab some food, have a drink, reconnect with people you met along the way and squeeze in a few more conversations before everyone heads home. No stages, no packed schedules and no rushing between talks; just Bitcoiners, friends and communities hanging out properly after a very busy couple of days.
Whether you’re attending to learn, build, create, or just vibe with fellow Bitcoiners…
Bitfest is where it all comes together.