The Civic Data Cooperative (CDC) Festival of Data brought schools, researchers, industry partners and families together at Liverpool’s ACC last week, highlighting the life-changing work carried out by health data and artificial intelligence researchers, and marking the conclusion of the organisation’s five-year programme of work across the Liverpool City Region.
Held from 5 to 7 February 2026, the three-day festival showcased the broad range of programmes, researchers, local authority partners and healthcare professionals who have worked in partnership with the CDC and the University of Liverpool, making significant advancements in the field of artificial intelligence and public data research.
Organised in partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and delivered by the CDC, a flagship research project from the Civic Health Innovation Labs at the University of Liverpool (CHIL), the festival highlighted how data can be used responsibly and collaboratively to improve lives across the region, and introduced visitors to the varying and novel ways the CDC and partners are embracing cutting-edge advancements in machine learning to improve lives.
Three Days of Creativity, Collaboration and Public Engagement
The Festival of Data was designed around three distinct days, each focused on different audiences and communities.
The opening day welcomed schoolchildren from across Liverpool for a closed session centred on creativity and participation. Working alongside artists, young people produced interactive artworks exploring the future role of AI and data in healthcare and wider public services. These art works would be displayed in the convention centre throughout the entirety of the three-day event. The CDC worked with the University of Liverpool’s Widening Participation team to engage five schools from across the city region in this event.
Friday’s programme shifted to a professional conference, titled Public Service Transformation Through Data, bringing together researchers, practitioners, community organisations and industry partners. Attendees took part in panel discussions, interactive workshops and networking opportunities aimed at supporting collaboration, developing new professional relationships, and working toward real-world impact.
Tiffany St James, the LCR Combined Authority’s Chief AI Officer who gave a keynote speech at the event, said: “The Festival of Data has shown exactly what has made the CDC so distinctive over the five years of its delivery. They’ve used truly creative and accessible ways to spark conversations about AI and data—especially among young people, who explored these ideas with imagination. At the same time, the CDC has brought together a mix of voices from across our region: researchers, public sector representatives, community groups, industry partners, and families. That diversity of perspective is essential if we want innovation to reflect the needs and realities of the people it serves. And throughout the festival, one message has been clear: our communities are eager to talk about the future of AI and data in Liverpool City Region.”
The day concluded with a Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas, encouraging bold and challenging conversations about how data and AI might shape the future of cities such as Liverpool.
The festival closed on Saturday with a lively public open day, welcoming families and visitors to experience hands-on exhibits, interactive installations and demonstrations. Activities included displays of the children’s artworks, Lego workshops, and engagement stands highlighting projects developed with partners including the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, which offered immersive VR experiences for visitors.
A Celebration — and a Farewell — for the Civic Data Cooperative
Organisers described the festival as both a showcase of the CDC’s achievements and a moment of goodbye, as the initiative prepares to come to an end in 2026.
Emily Rempel and Emma Lo, two of the lead organisers from the CDC, shared that it was a fantastic end to an ambitious project:
“The Festival of Data marks five years of data stewardship and innovation through the Civic Data Cooperative, but it means so much more to our team, collaborators, and communities. We worked with over 260 local school children, eight artists, and dozens of stakeholders to create a meaningful data literacy opportunity.
“As a result, we were able to engage hundreds of children and families in how data shows up in their homes, communities, and personal lives.
“We are so proud of our CDC team members and festival coordinator Louise Garforth for showcasing the breadth of CDC work in a way that appealed to such varied audiences. The most common comment we got back is – what’s happening next year? We take this is a sign of the Liverpool City Region’s readiness to continue to engage with data and AI, long after the CDC ends.”
The Festival of Data was sponsored by ACC Liverpool, Sodexo, the Pullman Hotel and Alchemy AI in Chemistry.
