In 2026, first direct bank arena welcomed back Leeds Beckett University for its graduation ceremonies, providing a large-scale, professional setting for one of the most important milestones in students’ lives.

Across five live event days, from Monday 13 to Friday 17 July 2026, the arena welcomed 7,300 students and 29,000 guests, with graduation ceremonies delivered across the week.

Having previously hosted events at first direct bank arena, Leeds Beckett University’s experience of the venue made the planning and booking process straightforward from the outset.

The university rated its overall experience with first direct bank arena as excellent, from the initial sales process through to event delivery. The sales and event services teams were praised for their clear communication, responsiveness and collaborative approach, helping to ensure every stage of the event was well planned and delivered.

“I have worked with the team for several years and have consistently found them to be excellent to work with. They are proactive, anticipate requirements well, and are always willing to help solve problems efficiently. Communication is clear and timely, and all documentation is provided to a high standard and well in advance of key deadlines.”

Client: Leeds Beckett University
Event: Leeds Beckett Graduations
Event dates: 13–17 July 2026
Duration: 5 days
Guests: 36,300
Overall experience: Excellent
Likelihood to recommend: 10/10
Likelihood to return: Extremely likely

first direct bank arena welcomed IBSA 2026 in July 2026, with around 6,000 attendees per day across the three-day event.

As a returning client, IBSA already knew the venue and its team, making the planning and delivery process seamless from the outset. The event was delivered as a hybrid experience, with the venue team working closely with the organisers to accommodate the specific requirements of the event.

IBSA rated its overall experience with first direct bank arena as excellent, giving the venue a 10/10 likelihood to recommend and saying it was extremely likely to return.

The organisers particularly praised the team’s knowledge of their event and willingness to accommodate their requirements:

“We run a hybrid event, and the team knows us well and is extremely accommodating."

The Sales and Events teams were both rated excellent, with the transition between teams and the overall booking process also receiving excellent ratings.

During the three-day event, IBSA rated the venue’s ability to meet its day-to-day needs and its overall experience with venue staff as excellent.

The team were described as:

“Very polite and easy to work with.”

With around 18,000 attendees across three days, first direct bank arena provided the scale, flexibility and experienced event team needed to support a major hybrid event.

Client: IBSA
Event: IBSA 2026
Event dates: 3–5 July 2026
Duration: 3 days
Attendance: 6,000 per day / approximately 18,000 total
Event format: Hybrid
Overall experience: Excellent
Likelihood to recommend: 10/10
Likelihood to return: Extremely likely

first direct bank arena welcomed around 210 guests for an awards evening celebrating the people and organisations making a difference in diversity and inclusion.

Using a combination of the Black & White Lounge, L1 concourse and Inner Atrium, the event brought together a drinks reception, dining, charity exhibitors and an awards ceremony, creating a vibrant and engaging setting for the evening.

Our events team worked closely with the organisers to bring their vision to life, supporting the smooth delivery of the event from set-up through to the evening itself.

With flexible spaces and an experienced events team, first direct bank arena provided a memorable setting for an evening celebrating inclusion, achievement and community.

first direct bank arena welcomed over 1,200 visitors each day for a major tattoo exhibition, bringing more than 200 leading tattoo artists together under one roof alongside independent traders, exhibitors and live entertainment.

The event transformed multiple areas of the venue, including the arena bowl, Inner Concourse, Black & White Lounge and Inner Atrium, creating a vibrant and immersive experience for visitors throughout the weekend.

With artists, traders and production teams working across the venue, our events and operations teams supported the smooth delivery of the exhibition, with dedicated arrangements in place to manage guest access, accessibility, security and the movement of people throughout the event.

The result was a unique large-scale exhibition showcasing the best of the tattooing community, with a varied programme of live music, comedy, performances and competitions alongside the main exhibition.

first direct bank arena provided a unique setting for a memorable stakeholder dinner, welcoming guests through a private entrance and red carpet before a drinks reception in the arena’s artist dressing rooms.

Guests then took to the main stage for a three-course dinner, surrounded by elegant table settings and stage décor. With a DJ and full AV provision included, the evening combined exceptional hospitality with a behind-the-scenes arena experience.

For 200 guests, the package included:

• Private venue hire
• Red-carpet arrival
• Champagne reception
• Dressing room access
• Three-course meal and wine
• Stage décor and table settings
• DJ and full AV equipment

first direct bank arena provided a striking backdrop for a fashion-focused gala event, welcoming around 500 guests for an evening combining a Yorkshire showcase, gala dinner, awards and live fashion show.

The event transformed the arena bowl with a fully draped standing configuration, while the Level 1 Inner Concourse hosted a student exhibition and showcase. Guests enjoyed a sparkling drinks reception before sitting down to a three-course dinner and awards ceremony.

The evening culminated in a live fashion show on the main stage, followed by charity presentations and entertainment, creating a unique event that brought together fashion, food, awards and live entertainment under one roof.

The event included

• 500-guest capacity
• Fully draped arena bowl
• Yorkshire showcase exhibition
• Student projects and displays
• Sparkling drinks reception
• Three-course gala dinner
• Awards ceremony
• Live fashion show on the main stage
• Charity presentation
• DJ and entertainment
• Exclusive after-show in the Black & White Lounge