- Following King Charles's historic address to Congress, the UK
Government's GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign is
holding a major expo in Los Angeles, California, from 18th - 22nd
May, 2026.
- 250+ of the UK's financial, tech and cultural leaders are
heading to LA to drive growth and transatlantic cooperation
- The event, jointly led by Culture Secretary, and Minister for Economic
Transformation , has attracted major
corporate sponsors, including presenting partners American
Airlines, British Airways, PwC UK and TSL.
The Secretary of State for Culture, and Minister for Economic
Transformation, , today (Monday 18th May)
led a delegation of 250+ strong business and cultural leaders to
the US to drive economic growth at a major expo, Greater Together
LA.
The mission will convene hundreds of business and cultural
leaders to strengthen the vital partnership which is underpinned
by investment stock totalling around $1.5 trillion in each
other's economies, supports over 2.6 million jobs and a $437
billion trading relationship.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said:
The UK's creative industries, sporting heritage and world-class
tourism are among our greatest national assets - and Greater
Together LA is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase them on
the world stage.
From our music and film sectors to sport and the arts, this
delegation will demonstrate the immense cultural and commercial
value the UK brings to our partnership with the United States.
I look forward to deepening those connections and opening new
doors for British talent and creativity.
Greater Together LA will focus on driving commercial outcomes
across the government's Modern Industrial Strategy sectors and
aims to secure new growth opportunities following last year's
record-breaking £150 billion in investment commitments.
The visit, which arrives on a chartered British Airways flight,
follows the recent removal of US tariffs on UK-made whisky, an
industry worth £1 billion in annual exports. It also builds on
the momentum of AstraZeneca's new £300 million investment in the
UK, fueled by the 2025 Pharmaceutical Partnership.
Co-hosted by Sir Lucian Grainge and Sir Jony Ive, the event
features speakers including Simon Cowell, singer/songwriter Leona
Lewis, Sir , scientist Dr Katie King, WPP CEO
Cindy Rose, astronaut Major Tim Peake and ambassador Sir , alongside leading
academics and the chief executives of British Airways, News Corp
and American Airlines.
Following his successful state visit to the US a fortnight ago,
His Majesty the King has called Greater Together LA a “remarkable
gathering”, encouraging delegates to “deepen existing alliances
and forge new ones” and noting that a “willingness to think
boldly about collaboration will help create opportunities that
benefit communities across the United Kingdom, the United States
and beyond”. His Majesty will address the delegates of the
conference via a video message.
The event will explore UK-US cooperation in AI, quantum
computing, cultural exchange, fintech, scientific innovation and
much more.
Culture Secretary is due to visit the Getty Museum
to explore links with British regional museums and galleries, as
well as the Amazon MGM Studios at the Culver Studios complex,
where many classics from Hollywood's Golden Age were filmed.
Britain's tourism offer will be showcased by VisitBritain, which
is forecasting that visitors from the USA will spend £7.5 billion
on their trips to the UK this year, up 4% on the estimate in
2025. That means more than £1 in every £5 spent by overseas
visitors in the UK is by a visitor from the USA.
The growing demand from American students to study abroad will
also be reflected by the GREAT ‘Study UK' Campaign, which will
spotlight transatlantic academic collaboration as both a pathway
for student mobility and driver of economic growth and global
connection.
Presenting partners for the mission include American Airlines,
British Airways, PwC UK and TSL, alongside Payward, The Wall
Street Journal and YouTube as official partners and official
supporters DOOH.com and Premier League.
The UK possesses some of the world's leading life science,
financial and cybersecurity industries. By connecting UK
innovators with US investors, the delegation will drive
high-quality jobs and economic growth in both countries.
