Black Tech Fest, Europe’s largest event celebrating Black culture and technology, made waves in 2024 as it expanded into Drumsheds—a space as bold and forward-thinking as the festival itself.
After a successful run at Magazine London, Black Tech Fest chose a new space that could match the scale of its growing influence. Drumsheds was the ultimate backdrop for an event dedicated to challenging conventions and sparking new conversations about the future of tech and culture.
This year’s Black Tech Fest welcomed over 7,000 attendees from more than 70 countries, with 120+ speakers taking the stage across a wide array of programming. Keynote speakers like Rapman, creator of Blue Story and Netflix’s Supacell, brought fresh insights into the creative and tech industries, while leading brands like Activision, Deliveroo, and Bloomberg offered an industry perspective on innovation. Discussions spanned everything from emerging technologies to diversity and inclusion, with Tesla also hosting test drives to give attendees a hands-on experience of their electric vehicles. Workshops, interactive panels, and a vibrant afterparty featuring top DJs and cultural moments were just some of the highlights, offering a dynamic mix of knowledge sharing and celebration.
Drumsheds, along with 9.8 Charity, pushed boundaries by creating an inclusive space where culture and technology could converge. 9.8 was integral to ensuring the festival’s mission of amplifying underrepresented voices in tech was achieved. Drumsheds’ vast and versatile layout allowed Black Tech Fest to expand its programming into new realms, creating spaces for talks, workshops, and immersive experiences. But beyond the logistics, the venue’s industrial aesthetic complemented the festival’s ethos of breaking down barriers and creating a platform for underrepresented voices in tech. From its expansive rooms to its quiet workspaces, Drumsheds became more than just a venue—it was a canvas for ideas.
As Black Tech Fest continues to grow, it represents not just the future of technology, but the intersection of culture, community, and creativity. Drumsheds provided the perfect environment for that dialogue to flourish, offering a space where innovation and culture converged, and where the future of tech was reimagined in bold, inclusive ways.
