University of Westminster set to host On Air 2026 student-led global broadcast
The University of Westminster will host On Air 2026, a student-led global media broadcast scheduled for 22–23 October 2026. The University will act as the primary production hub, working with the Global Media and Entertainment Talent Manifesto (MTM) and industry supporters including the BBC, CNN and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Westminster is a UK university with media and communications programs and production facilities. For On Air 2026, its Harrow Campus studios are expected to operate as the central control point for live output and coordination.
Multi-channel format expands after 2025 launch
Organizers say On Air 2026 builds on the first edition in October 2025, which involved more than 1,000 students and collaborators worldwide. The 2026 event is expected to run as a multi-channel broadcast spanning content areas including culture, news, sport, film and children’s programming.
The expanded format is intended to increase participation across universities and schools globally, connecting student teams across time zones while working within live production constraints.
Carrie Wootten, Founder of MTM, says: “For 2026, we’re taking everything we learned and scaling it up. By expanding the broadcast into multiple channels, we can involve more institutions, more students and more industry partners, while continuing to showcase what the next generation of media talent is capable of on a global stage.”
Harrow studios to coordinate live production and cross-border collaboration
Westminster says students will take roles across production operations, including scriptwriting, vision mixing, newsroom workflows and studio management, working with peers in other countries in real time. The event is also expected to cover a broad range of production and distribution activity, including live output, journalism, sports broadcasting, filmmaking, post-production, accessibility, social media and cloud-based workflows.
The release positions the broadcast as a practical skills environment aligned with current media production practices, though it does not set out how participating institutions will be selected or how editorial oversight will be managed across multiple channels.
University frames broadcast within industry-linked training
The University also linked On Air 2026 to its wider focus on industry-connected training and student employability, including references to a new career and enterprise space in central London.
Dr Doug Specht, Head of the School of Media and Communication at the University of Westminster, says: “We’re delighted to be hosting the On Air 24-hour broadcast at Westminster. This event embodies what drives our work: connecting our students with industry practitioners and providing real-life learning experiences that make an impact. As the University that launched the UK’s first media degree 50 years ago, we continue to shape the future of media and communication by rethinking how we support our students. We're looking to put more focus than ever on bringing students together with industry. Opening our new home for career and enterprise Zone29 in Central London, which will be dedicated to this activity, and hosting this year's global On Air broadcast in Harrow demonstrates Westminster’s ongoing commitment to industry-connected education.”
ETIH Innovation Awards 2026
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 are now open and recognize education technology organizations delivering measurable impact across K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning. The awards are open to entries from the UK, the Americas, and internationally, with submissions assessed on evidence of outcomes and real-world application.
