User Group Meeting 2026
April 16-17
Royal Northern College of Music
124 Oxford Road
Manchester, M13 9RD
England
What is the User Group Meeting?
The ASIMUT User Group Meeting (UGM) is an annual, two day event taking place in the springtime with participation of delegates from the ASIMUT user institutions and members of the ASIMUT team. The main purpose is to discuss and prioritize future developments, promote knowledge sharing and networking among users and provide training in new functionalities. But it is not all ASIMUT – we are delighted to host a forum where staff from the world’s best run schools of music, drama and art meet, socialize and share professional knowledge and experience.
The first UGM took place in 2014 at the Royal College of Music in London. Since then we have met each year in April at a new school in a new city. Since the first UGM, participation has grown from around 30 to more than 90 delegates, traveling from Europe, Asia and North America to participate. ASIMUT is used broadly at the institutions, and the participants reflect this: The UGM is attended by schedulers, event managers, building coordinators as well as directors, heads of department and student council representatives.
The UGM is brought to you by ASIMUT software and participation is free of charge, including the meals mentioned in the agenda. The 2026 event will be hosted by the Royal Northern College of Music, which will be our second time in England.
Participants must arrange their own travel and accommodation.
Plan your trip
Accommodation
Here you can find a selection of hotels near The Royal Northern College of Music:
Transportation information
Manchester enjoys the convenience of two airports relatively close to the city center. Please explore the options below.
WhatsApp groups
Once again, we will have optional UGM WhatsApp groups, as requested by many of you previously.
Please note that messenger services are not always secure means of communication and bear that in mind when choosing to use this additional service. If you wish to be part of the group(s), please add your phone number in the sign-up form and let us know what group(s) you would like to join.
Please note: If you join a group, all other members can see your phone number. WhatsApp is owned by META/Facebook and subject to their data privacy policy.
Groups:
- UGM 2026 Info: strictly for information and questions regarding program points and changes and session relevant information/exchanges.
- UGM 2026 Socializing: in this group participants can share pictures and all kinds of socializing information.
The app is available in your regular app store and is free of charge. You can find more information at whatsapp.com.
Visa
Remember to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK if needed here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
Erasmus+
The 2026 location in Manchester may affect Erasmus+ funding for travel and accommodation for some institutions. Find more information in the brochure, page 8.
Tourist guide
You will find all kinds of information about Manchester in English here.
Power plugs
Depending on where in the world you’re coming from, you may want to check whether the local plugs are compatible. Click here for info.
Currency
The currency used in England is the Pound Sterling (£ GBP). In most places, you will be able to use your regular credit card (Visa and MasterCard are most popular).
You can easily withdraw pounds from any ATM.
Benefits of participation
If you would like a comprehensive overview of the benefits of attending the User Group Meeting, for instance to obtain financial approval from your management, you can find them here.
Contact
If you have any questions regarding the User Group Meeting 2026, please feel free to reach out to us on the email address below.