The next six weeks are the most event-dense Hampshire AI calendar we have seen. Three flagship events land in a single week at the end of March — the AI Arts Festival, Solent FutureScape, and the South Coast Technology Leaders AI Playbook session — making it the region's first genuine AI conference week. April adds a rigorous academic day at the University of Southampton on AI and equality in law. PyData Southampton has no upcoming meetup confirmed at the time of writing; watch their Meetup page for a March or April date announcement. The Spärck AI Scholarship deadline of 15 April is a significant milestone for students considering postgraduate AI study at Southampton — details in Local News.
Top Picks
23-27 Feb - Portsmouth / Fareham / Gosport / Havant
Portsmouth and South Coast Business Week (Hampshire Chamber of Commerce)
Week-long festival with AI, marketing, and business workshops across multiple South Hampshire venues.
Sun 22 Mar - University of Southampton
Winchester AI Arts Festival 2026 (AI@Southampton / Web Science Institute)
Daytime festival exploring AI and creative practice with installations, performances, and discussions across Theatre Royal Winchester and The Arc.
Thur 9 April - Clockwise Southampton
Stop Chasing AI: Start Solving Problems (South Coast Technology Leaders)
An engaging talk by Justin on identifying business problems and where AI fits, followed by a short workshop to apply the concepts to your context.
Wed, 15 Apr - University of Southampton
New Technology, AI and Equality: Problems and Solutions
One-day academic workshop on algorithmic bias, AI governance, and inclusive system design, open to scholars and practitioners.
Full Event Listings (Feb-Mar 2026)
Date & Time | Event (Host) | Venue / City | Type | Cost | RSVP / Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mon-Fri 23-27 Feb | Portsmouth and South Coast Business Week (Hampshire Chamber of Commerce) | Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport, Havant | Business Week Festival | Free | |
Thu 26 Feb, 9:30-15:00 | Fareham Business Expo (Fareham Borough Council / Everyone Active) | Fareham Leisure Centre, Fareham | Expo | Free | |
Thu 19 Mar, 9:00 | SPARK — Hampshire CreaTech Networking | Hampshire Creatives' Advice Hub / Anvil Arts | Networking | Free | |
Sun 22 Mar, 11:00-22:00 | AI@Southampton AI Arts Festival (University of Southampton) | Theatre Royal Winchester & The Arc, Winchester | Festival | Free (day) / Ticketed (evening) | |
Tue 24 Mar, 9:00-15:00 | Solent FutureScape (Solent Growth Partnership) | King's Conference Centre, Southampton | Expo & Conference | TBC | |
Thu 9 April, 17:30 | Stop Chasing AI: Start Solving Problems | South Coast Technology Leaders / Barclays Eagle Lab, Clockwise | Workshop / Meetup | Free | |
Wed 15 Apr, 9:00-17:00 | New Technology, AI and Equality: Problems and Solutions | Univ. of Southampton / Highfield Campus | Academic Workshop | Free |
📰 Hampshire AI in the News
Spärck AI Scholarship applications open this spring at Southampton
The University of Southampton is one of nine UK universities selected for the government-backed Spärck programme, offering fully funded AI master's places with the deadline falling on 15 April 2026, making this directly actionable for students and educators across the region.
Hampshire Chamber flags the "ChatGPT Effect" in the workplace
The Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has highlighted a growing trend in its February newsletter: AI tools such as ChatGPT are increasingly being used by employees to draft grievance letters, disciplinary responses, and Employment Tribunal submissions. HR and legal teams across the region are reporting longer, more complex correspondence without added legal substance.
Solent Growth Partnership launches AI skills mapping survey
The Solent Growth Partnership has opened a regional AI capability survey as part of its AI Skills Partnership programme, running alongside the Hampshire Chamber's Local Skills Improvement Plan refresh. The data collected will be used to attract investment and calibrate the region's responsible AI workshop programme. If you work in AI or employ people who use it, this is a direct opportunity to shape what training provision looks like in Hampshire over the next two years.
Citations & Sources
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