Welcome to The Publisher Summit 2026


We're delighted to be bringing back The Publisher Summit for another successful year.

This year, there will be a single main stage focused on direct-to-audience product strategies, combining newsletter, app, podcast, print and event expertise and showcasing leading strategies.

There will be Masterclasses alongside dedicated to specific product opportunities and challenges.

As it becomes ever more difficult to acquire audiences and revenue through search and social, building and strengthening direct audience connections will be vital to surviving and thriving as publishers.


Date: July 8th, 8.45am-5.30pm
Location: HUCKSTER, Paddington, London



Tickets are now available at a pre-agenda Early Bird rate! Book now to secure your place.

Tickets

Early agenda

Please note this agenda is still being drafted, and may be subject to change.

Main stage

Masterclass 1
Masterclass 2

08.00 - 08.45

Registration

08.45 - 09.00

Welcome & introduction

Esther Thorpe , Peter Houston



09.00 - 09.25

Opening interview

Speaker to be announced



09.25 - 09.50

How an effective product strategy can support sustainable growth, revenue and audience loyalty

Speaker to be announced



09.50 - 10.30

Panel: 'Quality over quantity' for long-term, sustainable audience growth
The idea of quality over quantity is one publishers have espoused in theory. But the business of digital publishing has pushed many in the opposite direction, publishing as much content as possible in the hope of a few viral hits.

As pressures on traffic and discovery grow, coupled with the bombardment of AI 'slop', there is an opportunity to lean into a true 'quality over quantity' ethos, and reap the benefits.

Speakers to be announced



10.30 - 11.00 Coffee break

11.00 - 11.20 Newsletter case study - to be confirmed
Podcast Masterclass: Master your analytics AI Masterclass: Opportunities for AI in publisher product strategies
11.20 - 11.55 Newsletter panel - to be confirmed
11.55 - 12.05 Brain break

12.05 - 12.25 Podcast case study - to be confirmed

12.25 - 13.00

Does my podcast really need to have video? Arguments for and against turning the cameras on

Apple is the latest platform to turn on support for video. The data seems to overwhelmingly point to video being a mechanism to supercharge audience growth and podcast discovery, but is it really necessary?

Our panel will showcase where they're seeing success in video podcasting and audio-only delivery, and explore where video may and may not be a good investment.

Speakers to be announced

App Masterclass: Strategies for onboarding and supporting early retention

Editorial Masterclass: How to turn audiences into loyal - and paying - communities
(See full description below)

Lead: Sarah Ebner
13.00 - 14.00 Street food lunch

14.00 - 14.20 AI in product case study - to be confirmed Newsletter Masterclass: To be confirmed Podcast Masterclass: To be confirmed
14.20 - 14.55

Why apps are engagement powerhouses in the era of enshittification
Social media is awash with AI-generated (and human!) garbage, but the demand for high-quality, trustworthy, curated information hasn't gone away. On this panel, publishers share how their apps are setting them apart as offering a premium experience, and why that's vital for the future.

Speakers to be announced.
Panel moderator: Jonny Kaldor, CEO, Pugpig
14.55 - 15.05 Brain break

15.05 - 15.30

From traffic to intent: how editorial powers an events-led business
As Sift has evolved from a traditional digital publisher into an events-led business, the role of editorial has fundamentally changed. At AccountingWEB, this has meant moving away from a website-first model, where newsletters exist to drive traffic, to a 365 audience model where editorial, newsletters and live events operate as a single connected system.

This session, Editorial Director Joanne Birtwistle shares how aligning content across platform and event, developing high-value editorial products and using behavioural insights come together in practice to shape future content, audience strategy, and commercial outcomes.

Speaker: Joanne Birtwistle, Editorial Director, SIFT

 Print Masterclass: Innovating in print to meet demands for physical products
15.30 - 15.55 Monetisation case study - to be confirmed
15.55 - 16.30

Closing panel: Putting the customer first

Speakers to be announced



16.30 - 16.45 Closing remarks

16.45 - 17.30 Networking drinks

17.30 - 18.30


THE PUBLISHER NEWSLETTER AWARDS



18.30 - 19.30 Shared Awards bowl food and networking drinks

19.30 - 20.30


THE PUBLISHER PODCAST AWARDS




2026 MediaVoices Masterclasses


These Masterclasses run in parallel to the main agenda. Attendance is free but pre-booking is advised. Masterclasses will open for pre-booking a month before the Summit to ticket-holders.


12.05-13.00 - From reach to relationships: How to turn audiences into loyal - and paying - communities

Lead: Sarah Ebner, Editorial expert, consultant and writer (ex Financial Times, Telegraph, The Times, BBC)

As platforms become less reliable, search and social fragment, and AI reshapes how content is discovered, traditional audience growth strategies are no longer enough.

This Masterclass will explore how media organisations and individuals can build more valuable audiences by focusing on engagement, habit and belonging, not just reach. The workshop will look at the importance of talent and voice, community, formats, experience and membership, using a number of examples. It will emphasise the importance of habit, consistency and becoming part of someone's routine, and also why people choose to stay and pay (they want to belong and feel connected).

The session will also show how relationships can be monetised through subscriptions, membership, advertising and events.

Sarah will show that the future is about meaningful relationships, so those in the media need to change their thinking from building bigger audiences to building better, more valuable ones. These days people follow other people not brands, and engagement is not just passive. How can you make this changing world work for you?


For speaking opportunities or Masterclass suggestions, please email esther@voices.media
For sponsorship opportunities, please email peter@voices.media


2026 venue


2025 guests:


Praise for previous Publisher Summits:

A huge congratulations to you and the team for the events. My colleague and I thoroughly enjoyed the Podcast Summit especially, the content was excellent and we've come away brimming with ideas and enthusiasm.

Managing Director Mark Allen Group

Thank you for a fantastic day. It was great and the venue worked well too. I thought the programme was excellent, and I can only imagine the work in putting together two programmes simultaneously! 

I really enjoyed all the content and it was nice to get out the house and interact with other publishers.

Director OPI

I really enjoyed the Summit yesterday. Thank you for the opportunity to speak, it spurred a great many conversations throughout the day. The humongous effort in building the event was well-received by all in attendance.

Plus it was all capped off with a great end to the evening!

Director of Video Strategy Immediate Media

Thank you for a great event today! As newcomers to the podcasting space, we found it incredibly valuable.

Head of Digital Video, Audio and Social NBCUniversal

This event quite literally changed my life. I came to the conference because one of my clients offered to pay, but I absolutely loved it...it turns out a room full of people nerding out over newsletter strategy is my catnip.

One thing led to another, and soon I will be editor of a newly relaunching magazine. Newsletters will play a central part; podcasts, I'm sure, will follow.

A newly re-converted editor

Any questions or comments? Email team@publisherpodcasts.com or subscribe below for updates.


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