Creating meaningful connections for East London's creatives & young professionals beyond the algorithms.
Hosted again at the gorgeous Second Home Spitalfields co-working space, the 2026 edition of URL To IRL welcomed around 100 attendees from across London's arts, cultural and creative industries for an evening of conversation, collaboration, music and community.
Designed around our belief that careers are often shaped by relationships as much as talent, the event created an accessible space where attendees could meet new people, exchange ideas and discover future collaborators in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Our Approach
Every aspect of the event was intentionally designed to encourage meaningful interaction rather than passive networking.
The programme included:
- Facilitated introductions and icebreakers
- Guided connection activities using bespoke conversation cards
- Community pitches, giving attendees the opportunity to share ideas, celebrate achievements and ask for support
- Live DJ, food and games to create a relaxed & inclusive atmosphere
When England's World Cup semi-final was confirmed for the same evening, our team quickly adapted the programme in partnership with Second Home to incorporate a live screening, allowing attendees to enjoy the match without sacrificing the purpose of the event. The result was an evening that balanced culture, conversation and community.
Impact
URL to IRL demonstrated the demand for thoughtfully curated community spaces for young creatives and professionals.
The event also supported independent food businesses, vendors and our sponsors.
Attendee feedback reflected the impact of the evening:
"I really enjoyed this event and the location. Having food, drinks and an activity was so nice."
"It was lovely meeting fellow creatives and connecting in an organic way."
"I enjoyed it. Being able to network with people and show myself."
URL to IRL directly supports the objectives of Nourish East CIC by reducing social isolation, increasing access to creative networks and creating spaces where young people from underrepresented backgrounds can build confidence, community and opportunity. Rather than leaving networking to chance, we design experiences that help people make meaningful introductions, discover collaborators and develop the relationships that often shape creative careers.
Partners:
This event was delivered in partnership with Second Home Spitalfields, with support from drinks partner Cháps, Jay's Kitchen, Bun Babylon Bakery, DJ Sets by SALD3E, our volunteer team and a network of young photographers, content creators and creatives who helped bring the evening to life.