XChange UK 2026: Full agenda revealed

CRN unveils a packed agenda with AI insight, peer debate and Jo Hamilton closing keynote

CRN today unveils the full agenda for XChange UK 2026, revealing two days of research-led insight, peer-level discussion and real-world lessons designed to help senior channel leaders tackle the industry’s biggest challenges.

Taking place March 10 - 11 at The Belfry, Birmingham, XChange UK brings together a curated audience of MSPs, VARs, vendors and distributors for a programme focused on practical execution, strategic thinking and meaningful one-to-one engagement.

A cornerstone of the agenda is CRN’s research session exploring how AI is impacting the channel landscape, examining how MSPs currently rate AI’s influence and how that is expected to change over the next 12 months.

CRN’s Stuart Sumner will delve into where partners are seeing revenue opportunities emerge and how AI is shaping customer demand across the channel.

Later in the programme, Rob Rodger from Ricoh UK will deliver a keynote tackling the realities of scaling managed IT services.

The session will address the pressures MSPs face as they grow, sharing practical lessons on standardisation, automation and integration to help partners scale without compromising service quality or profitability.

Workforce challenges will come into sharp focus on day two, with a dedicated workforce reset panel bringing together senior channel leaders to discuss how businesses are rethinking culture, skills and leadership in the face of ongoing change.

In addition, Rupert Mills, CEO of Krome Technologies, will share insight from the front line, drawing on his experience leading a fast-growing MSP through periods of transformation.

Peer engagement remains central to XChange

As ever, boardroom appointments sit at the heart of the XChange experience.

Attendees are assigned into small peer groups based on business focus and technology interests, creating a setting designed for open discussion and constructive feedback.

Vendors rotate through these sessions, allowing for deeper, more meaningful conversations around products, programmes and partnership opportunities.

Networking continues throughout the day with exhibition sessions and a hosted networking lunch, giving delegates further opportunities to connect and continue discussions in a more informal environment.

Jo Hamilton to deliver standout closing keynote

One of the standout moments in the XChange UK 2026 agenda is the closing keynote from Jo Hamilton OBE, who will share her personal story as one of the subpostmasters wrongfully prosecuted during the Post Office Horizon scandal.

Hamilton’s session will explore her extraordinary fight for justice, as well as the wider implications of the scandal for accountability, technology governance and trust in IT systems: themes that resonate strongly with today’s channel leaders.

Her story, brought into the public spotlight by the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, offers a powerful reminder of the human impact of technology failures and the responsibility that comes with deploying and managing complex systems.

Built for senior channel decisionmakers

XChange UK is designed for senior leaders across the channel, including CEOs, managing directors, CTOs, sales and marketing leaders and heads of operations.

The agenda balances strategic insight with practical guidance, ensuring delegates leave with clear, actionable takeaways.

With AI, managed services growth, cybersecurity and peer learning all firmly on the agenda, alongside a high profile closing keynote from Jo Hamilton, XChange UK promises a programme that reflects the most pressing issues facing the channel today.

Full agenda details are available on the XChange UK event website here.