#TBF26: First Big Keynotes – LA28 & SailGP

TheTicketingBusiness Forum 2026 (#TBF26) returns to Manchester from 27–29 April, bringing together the world’s leading ticketing, marketing, and fan engagement professionals.

Our 2026 conference programme is shaping up to be exceptional, featuring some of the most influential figures driving innovation in live sports and entertainment.

Today, we’re delighted to announce a duo of keynotes – across two of the most exciting sports undertakings on the planet:

Leah Davis – Chief Marketing Officer, SailGP

Leah joined SailGP in 2023 and leads the league’s global marketing strategy, focusing on brand development, fan engagement, and communications across twelve international markets.

Previously, she led the brand transformation for Team GB through the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic cycles and has driven global campaigns for the Laureus World Sports Awards. Recognised as one of AdWeek’s 2025 Most Powerful Women in Sports, Leah combines marketing expertise with a strong focus on sustainability and purpose-driven business.

SailGP was founded with a bold vision: to revolutionise the sport of sailing, making it more accessible and delivering a cutting-edge, dynamic experience for fans.

The Rolex SailGP Championship is a global sailing championship that’s bringing high-speed, high-tech racing to iconic locations around the world. 12 national teams battle it out in identical 50-foot foiling catamarans, racing at speeds over 100 km/h. The best athletes in the sport – male and female – compete for a total prize pot of US$12.8m. It’s close-to-shore stadium racing, with world-class, water’s edge excitement and an Après-Sail atmosphere like no other.

Aaron Lampkin – Vice President, Head of Ticketing, LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games

Aaron oversees ticketing for LA28, the largest sports programme in Olympic history, driving revenue and fan engagement across multiple sports. He has extensive experience in the NBA, NHL, and MLS, leading innovative strategies to fill stadiums and optimise ticketing operations. At LA28, Aaron integrates data insights and industry best practices to deliver a world-class ticketing experience for fans.

To put LA28’s ticketing programme in perspective: the Paris 2024 Games, which set a new record, sold approximately 9.5 million tickets for the Olympics and 2.5 million for the Paralympics, totalling 12 million tickets. London 2012 previously held the record, including the Paralympic record of 2.7 million tickets sold. Although not formally announced as yet, the total ticket numbers for LA28 is expected to be in a similar range, with total ticket revenue approaching US$2Bn.

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Join us at #TBF26 to explore the latest ideas, strategies, and innovations shaping the e-commerce ecosystem across ticketing and fan engagement.

>> Get your pass today before the #TBF26 Super Earlybird rate (£595 – saving £200 on the full rate) ends on Friday, 12 December!

Connecting eCommerce and Entertainment
27–29 April 2026 | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

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