FOCAL Forum 2026
London, UK
About the Event:
The FOCAL Forum is a brand-new one-day event bringing together professionals from across the archive, content licensing, media preservation, and production sectors for a day of insight, learning, and networking.
This year’s theme:
The Archive Producer & Researcher Community: A Changing Landscape?
Date: Thursday, 3 December.
Time: 9:30 am - 6:30 pm
Venue: The Vastint Lounge, Chimney Walk, Stratford, London, E15 2TP
Your ticket includes access to the panels, refreshments, lunch, and valuable networking opportunities.
Individual Ticket Prices:
- FOCAL Individual Members: Free
- Individual Non-FOCAL Member: £45 (+VAT)
- FOCAL Company Members: £65 (+VAT)
- Company Non-FOCAL Member: £85 (+VAT)
Our Panels:
Here’s a first look at the panels for the FOCAL Forum 2026. We’ll be announcing the full programme soon.
The Rise of the Archive Team: Why Solo Researchers Are Joining Forces
Why are solo archive producers and researchers joining forces? We explore the rise of the archive team and what this changing model means for the industry.
How Did They Find That?
From the initial brief to the final find, this panel goes behind the scenes of archive research, revealing the processes, workflows and unexpected routes that lead to remarkable discoveries.
The Archive Producer in a Tech-Driven World
How is technology changing archive research? This panel explores what AI and emerging tools can offer archive producers and researchers, where human expertise remains essential, and the ethical questions shaping this evolving relationship.
Music Archive Documentaries: How Hard Can They Be?
What does it really take to make a music archive documentary? Archive producers, a music supervisor and a production manager explore the research, rights and production challenges behind the screen.
The FOCAL Bursary Programme is back!
This initiative supports our members' professional development. This programme provides financial assistance for training, skills‑building courses, and sector‑leading events, helping our community grow, learn, and access opportunities that advance careers across the archival and media industries.
Please note that a limited number of bursaries are available, and awards will be made on a competitive basis.
Online ticket sales are now Open:
- To ensure availability, book in advance.
- Refunds are available only at management's discretion.
- All prices shown exclude VAT, which will be added at checkout.
- Management reserves the right to cancel any tickets purchased at the member's rate from non-members.
- Individual rates are reserved for freelancers/sole traders; company employees are required to purchase tickets at the Company Member/Non-Member rates unless they are FOCAL Individual members.
- Individual members may purchase only one (1) ticket at the Individual members rate. Additional tickets will be void.
- We will send digital tickets with event information the week beginning 23 November 2026.
Ticket sales on the FOCAL website accept card payments only. If you require an invoice and/or purchase order to proceed with the booking or to pay via bank transfer, please email us at [email protected]