It’s time to get festival ready - MAD//Fest London (4-6 July, Old Truman Brewery) is just around the corner and in 4 weeks we’ll have completed the mammoth task of transforming The Old Truman Brewery into a summer playground, purely for the entertainment of all you lovely marketing and advertising folk. 

Like all good festivals, we’ve lined-up a quite frankly ridiculous bill of big names across 5 different stages including the Kantar Marketplace Hexagon Stage, Lumen Attention! Stage and Dept Creativity + Experience Stage.

There’s an array of cool brands activating, meaning you won’t be short of something tasty to eat or drink (did we mention it’s all on the house?) There’s top DJs, parties, The Fifth VIP Roof Terrace, a Newsworks Speakeasy, the Sharethrough Cocktail Bar, The Alliance of Independent Agencies Awards and so much more.

Most importantly, there’s 10,000 of the most dynamic brand and agency leaders for you to meet in two giant concrete car parks (no muddy fields around here!) You’re on solid ground at MAD//Fest, so you can experience the magic, osmosis of creative ideas through a shared experience, and the warm glow you get from attending a festival without getting your feet wet! Hot off the press, here’s our 2023 festival poster.

Here’s 5 highlights you won’t want to miss:

1. GARY NEVILLE ON WHY BRANDS SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING

How can you ride the storm and do the right thing for customers, colleagues and your commercial health? As captain of Manchester United, Gary Neville found a way out of some sticky situations to emerge victorious, often against all the odds. In the business world, Gary has built a thriving empire of businesses and brands including Hotel Football, Stock Exchange Hotel, Relentless Developments, Salford City FC, Education disruptor UA92 and production Company Buzz 16. He's also emerged as an outspoken critic on issues such as NHS pay, workers rights and poverty. So we thought we'd kick things off with a straight-talking session on how hard work and a strong ethical compass can be a winning formula for long-term growth. 

2. FEMALE LEADERS’ BAR - A CONTENT-DRIVEN NETWORKING SPACE

At MAD//Fest, we're always open to a good idea or three. So when we were asked by a trio of female leaders whether we'd be up for hosting a Female Leaders' Bar, naturally we jumped at the opportunity. We've added the FLB to celebrate the achievements of female talent and create a space where women (and all other genders) can network, hear from leaders, and create content that shines a light on the key issues.

Although some of the recent stats suggest we've made progress on female leadership, dig a little deeper and the picture is less rosy - women occupy just 39% of leadership roles in the UK industry, despite making up almost half of the total workforce. (Source: Marketing Week). Some research puts the level of female tech entrepreneurship at just 5%.

Clearly there's a lot of work to be done - so why not check in to the Female Leaders' Bar to boost your network, be inspired by some of the industry's most dynamic women, and contribute to creating an archive of content to support future female leaders?

3. FREE FOOD + DRINK FROM DISHOOM, HEINEKEN, STICKS ‘N’ SUSHI, SENTIA, JIMMY’S COFFEE AND MORE

There is such a thing as a free lunch at MAD//Fest, and free coffee, free aperitivo and free sushi! And to borrow M&S’ famous tagline, this is not just any food, this is MAD//Fest food (and drink). Just look at our 2023 food and drink partners and lick your lips:

Get a ticket and fill your boots!

4. CREATIVE IN THE KITCHEN, CREATIVE IN BUSINESS - TOM KERRIDGE IN CONVERSATION WITH JAY RAYNER

Keeping the food/M&S theme going, be sure to join Chef Tom Kerridge (who also the face of M&S' 'Remarksable Value' campaign) and The Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner as they explore how creativity and innovation in the kitchen has influenced the way in which the 2* Michelin chef has built a resilient portfolio of brands and businesses on 5 July. Tom will share lessons from how he  pivoted the business during COVID, spotted growth opportunities in a challenging market, and rode the storm of challenges facing the hospitality industry in 2023.

5. RORY SUTHERLAND: A MAD//MASTERS MASTERCLASS ON THINKING BIG

Whether it's creative marketing, the psychology of trains or the behavioural science at work on fast food menus, it's always entertaining to hear Rory Sutherland speak. At MAD//Fest this year, Rory will give attendees a flavour of the MAD//Masters By Rory Sutherland online course and urge the industry to think big about its challenges.

For Rory, there is a tendency to define creativity in narrow terms. Agencies develop creative solutions only when there is a client's budget to pay for the work. Yet there is a raft of category challenges that would benefit from our collective creative energy. 

So could there be a future where clients, agencies and disruptors collaboratively solve problems for the benefit of all? Would this kind of model unleash innovative solutions, creative thinking and unconventional ideas that really hit the nail on the head? This day 3 live masterclass is sure to be packed with anecdotes, provocations and punters!

MAD//Fest London is the UK’s largest marketing and advertising festival and recently picked up ‘Event of the Year’ at the UK Event Awards. This year’s show is expected to attract more than 10,000 brands and agencies. Speakers include Tesco Chief Customer Officer Alessandra Bellini, Castore Founder Thomas Beahon and Ben & Jerry’s Director of Global Activism Christoper Miller, LIPTON Global Chief Marketing + Digital Officer  Aparna Sundaresh, Co-op Chief Customer Officer Kenyatte Nelson, S4 Executive Chairman Sir Martin Sorrell and Ogilvy Vice-chair Rory Sutherland. 

Click here to secure your ticket to MAD//Fest London.