MAGAZINE STREET 2026



Agenda
16 SEPTEMBER 2026
The day before Magazine Street!
Please book your tickets separately for our Masterclasses and Pre-Party on 16 September
GSA Caseroom Tour
Our Caseroom Tour is separate to Magazine Street – find out more and book your ticketshere
Masterclasses
Our Masterclasses are separate to Magazine Street – find out more and book your ticketshere
Pre-Party
Our Pre-Party is separate to Magazine Street – please book your ticketshere
17 SEPTEMBER 2026
Welcome to Magazine Street!
Join 100 independent magazine people for an epic day of talks, workshops, chat and inspiration
09.00-09.25
Coffee and registration
09.30-09.40
Welcome
From Nikki Simpson and our host Eloise Leeson-Smith
09.40-10.05
Kevin Whitchurch – Pitch
A game plan to launch – looking for an opportunity
10.10-10.20
Darren Sital-Singh – Three Little Birds
Investment is petrol, not an engine
10.25-10.50
Choose from
Main Stage
Laura Hurst – Paper Arcade
Creatively raised by wolves: a manifesto for doing it your way
or Breakout Room
John Byrne – Writers’ Bloc
How to tell if AI is eating your archive
10.50-11.15
Coffee break
11.20-11.45
Mila Moisio – Tauko
Community is the new circulation
11.50-12.15
Choose from
Main Stage
Rachel Arthur – boom saloon
On 444&2, in conversation with Peter Houston
or Breakout Room
Natalie Smith – Warners Circulation
From features to feelings: how emotion-led subscription offers drive magazine growth
12.20-12.45
Choose from
Main Stage
Mark Millar and Vaughan Statham – Blue Balls
More than a scroll: why the Blue Ballers’ stories needed a magazine
or Breakout Room
Darren Sital-Singh – Three Little Birds
Build the engine first – stress-test your commercial model and find the money that fits
12.50-13.50
Lunch
13.50-13.55
Welcome back
14.00-14.25
Choose from
Main Stage
Peter Allen – Magneto
How indie magazines reignited my creative career
or Breakout Room
Helen Coston – Inktop Commercial
Build your advertising sales strategy in 70 minutes
(please note, Helen’s workshop runs from 14.00-15.10)
14.30-14.40
Maddy Bays – It’s Alright Pet Press
Reframing place: how independent publishing can change the stories we tell about place
(Runs concurrently with Helen Coston’s sales strategy workshop)
14.45-15.10
Amer Safir – Review of Religions
The fear of getting it wrong (and how we got it right)
(Runs concurrently with Helen Coston’s sales strategy workshop)
15.15-15.40
Choose from
Main Stage
Nilly von Baibus – Lonely Hearts Club
Connecting strangers through the power of print
or Breakout Room
Eiman Munro – Fractal Spectrum
Funding your community magazine through partnerships, grants and art
15.40-15.55
Comfort break
16.00-16.25
Choose from
Main Stage
Sadaff Rangrez – Friday
Unstrategic strategies
or Breakout Room
Mark Alker – Singletrack
Could you give it to AI?
16.30-16.55
Max Meighen – Serviette
Eat your words: creative lessons for magazines from the restaurant business
17.00-18.30
Drinks Reception
Kindly sponsored by Acorn Web Offset

“Loved the positivity in the room. Stories of challenging yourself,
building communities and pushing creative boundaries.
Loads of inspiration to be drawn from brilliant speakers.”
Venue
We can’t wait to welcome you to Sloans in Glasgow
Sloans started life as a coffee house back in 1797. Fast forward more than 200 years and it’s now a Glasgow institution, famous for their fantastic events, beautiful courtyard & gorgeous Grand Ballroom!
Coming on foot
Save the planet and walk.
Sloans is located at 108 Argyle St, Glasgow, G2 8BG
Coming by train or bus
Regular trains and buses come from all over the UK to Glasgow.
Sloans is just a
5-minute walk from Glasgow Central Station, or an 9-minute walk from Glasgow Queen Street station.
Buchanan Bus Station is a 15 minute walk from Sloans.
Driving
If you’re driving, why not offer a car share?
We recommend parking at the NCP car park on Oswald Street, a 6-minute walk from Sloans.
Flying
Glasgow Airport is the closest airport.
There is a frequent bus service from the Airport direct to Glasgow city centre.
Service 500 is a 24 hour service, departing every 10 minutes from Glasgow Airport stance 1 and returning from Buchanan Bus Station stance 46.
“I loved discovering new to me magazines and hearing the stories behind them.”

Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Magazine Street start and finish?
Doors will open for registration and breakfast pastries at 9am, with talks beginning at 9.30am. We aim to finish up by 5pm, with a drinks reception afterwards until 7pm, kindly sponsored by Acorn Web Offset, and the bar open until 9pm.
Is the venue accessible?
We want to make Magazine Street as accessible as possible to as many different people as possible. If your needs are not covered we warmly encourage you tocontact uswith any queries.
Hearing loop
We can provide a hearing loop if required as all speakers will use a microphone. Pleaseemail usif you would like us to provide this.
Wheelchair access
Unfortunately Sloans does not have Wheelchair access to the floors where Magazine Street will be held.
Nearest pharmacist
The nearest pharmacist isBoots Pharmacyat Central Station.
Asking questions
If you’d like to ask a question to one of our speakers but don’t feel comfortable raising your hand, we invite you toemail it to usin advance.
Dietary requirements
We can cater to all dietary requirements and will provide vegetarian and vegan options as a matter of course. Please let us know if you’d like anything specific, or if you prefer to bring your own lunch, we can refrigerate this.
Are there places to stay nearby?
There are lots! Within 5 minutes walking distance of Sloans are:
Motel One, 78-82 Oswald St – join their members scheme for a 10% discount
Radisson Blu Hotel, 301 Argyle Street
Voco Grand Central Hotel, 99 Gordon St
Yotel Glasgow, 260 Argyle Street
I’m coming alone and I’m nervous – can you help?
We understand and would be delighted to introduce you to others attending in advance, so you know a few people before you get there. Hopefully that’ll take some nerves away and allow you to look forward to it.Get in touchfor introductions in advance.
What happens if I’m late?
You’re welcome to move around the conference for the duration of the day. If you arrive late for a talk you can sneak in the back no problem.
What is the dress code?
We suggest you wear smart casual, but please come in whatever you feel comfortable in.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
If you use them, we recommend you bring business cards to ensure you don’t lose touch with the people you meet. If you publish a magazine, please do bring a copy with you to show people. Breakfast pastries, lunch and a drink afterwards are included in your ticket price, and delegate bags will include a notepad and pen to take notes on the day.
Will the event be broadcast or captured?
The event will be in-person only, but we’re currently looking for partners to help support us to deliver a hybrid event in future.
Photos of the various goings-on will be taken throughout the day. We’ll also have a portrait photographer offering profile pictures for anyone who would like one.
What happens if my plans change and I can’t attend?
We understand plans change. We’ll refund you:
– 100% of the ticket fee if cancelled by 29 July
– 50% of the ticket fee if cancelled between 30 July and 19 August
– After 20 August we ask you to offer your ticket to a friend or colleague