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The Secretary of State for Culture, Lisa Nandy and Minister for Economic Transformation, Blair McDougall, will today lead a delegation of 250+ strong business and cultural leaders to the US to drive economic growth at a major expo, Greater Together LA.

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, Lisa Nandy and Minister for Economic Transformation Blair McDougall, has attracted major corporate sponsors, including presenting partners American Airlines, British Airways, PwC UK and TSL.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Lisa Nandy and Minister for Economic Transformation, Blair McDougall, will today (Monday 18th May) lead 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, Lisa Nandy 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 Paul Smith, scientist Dr Katie King, WPP CEO Cindy Rose, astronaut Major Tim Peake and ambassador Sir Christian Turner, 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 Lisa Nandy 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.

Author

Aaron Kearney

Editor, Chairman & Founder

Email: aaron.kearney@ck-group.co.uk

Office: 01642501412

Mobile: 07598916878

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