Departure is the premier launchpad where music, art, culture, business, and technology converge to drive the future of the creative economy. Connect with 3,000+ global visionaries, cultural thought leaders, and creative entrepreneurs at the premier multi-discipline creative conference and festival.

From May 4-10, 2026, Departure transforms Toronto into a city-wide campus for the creative economy. With conference programming, high- value networking, and immersive festival access, we equip you with the tools and inspiration to stay ahead of the curve.

NextGen Registration - Departure 2026

The Departure NextGen program is our firm commitment to fostering the next generation of creative leaders in the industry.

We believe in building accessible pathways and offering accelerated learning for ambitious students and recent graduates. NextGen participants are given the tools to participate in Departure meaningfully, gaining access to our leading industry conference, along with unique insider opportunities like curated mentorship, facilitated networking connections, and much more to launch their careers.

This registration and special NextGen pricing is available to currently enrolled students (any accredited program) or new graduates, up to two years after graduation.