Affilifest 2025: The UK Affiliate Conference Reimagined with Festival Vibes and Real Connections

Where partnership marketing meets rollercoasters, roundtables, and relationship-building by the sea.

It’s not every day the UK affiliate marketing industry packs its bags for the seaside, but Affilifest isn’t your standard conference.

Set in the vibrant surroundings of Margate Dreamland, Affilifest 2025 signals a bold shift from the community roots of Affiliate Huddle to something even more ambitious: A space where affiliate partnerships, creativity, and performance meet rollercoasters, retro arcades, and real conversations.

The visionary behind the event is James Little, Group Commercial Director at TopCashback and a respected voice in UK affiliate marketing. A long-time advocate for transparency and meaningful connection, James wanted something less transactional and more transformational.

“We wanted to build something for the community, by the community.”

– James Little, Group Commercial Director at TopCashback

Although new in name, Affilifest is built by those who live and breathe affiliate partnerships, shaped by feedback from brands, publishers, and agencies. With its debut on the horizon, anticipation is high for an event that blends purpose with play.

For Gen3 Marketing, the world’s longest-running affiliate agency, Affilifest was a natural fit.

“The one-day format, focused agenda, and industry-recognised panels make it a must-attend for all sides of the industry.”

– Bruce Clayton, Senior Vice President at Gen3 Marketing

What makes Affilifest different isn’t just the location, though a beachfront venue with dodgems, DJs, and rollercoasters certainly sets the tone. It’s the intent behind it.

“A lot of the bigger shows have become too sales-driven,” says James. “We wanted to create something more grounded, a space where people come to actually learn, connect, and have conversations that move the industry forward.”

That philosophy runs throughout the event. From curated content to stripped-back formats, the goal is to keep things collaborative, curious, and just the right amount of unconventional, all while keeping the focus on partnerships that work.

For Gen3, events like Affilifest are more than just calendar dates, they’re opportunities to engage with the real challenges and momentum shaping the UK affiliate landscape.

“The most forward-thinking brands are now looking at affiliate as a true performance channel, not just bottom-funnel, but full-funnel,” says Greg Baines, SVP at Gen3. “That means smarter partnerships, stronger creative, and tech that can tie it all together.” He adds: “There’s a ton of noise right now, attribution debates, AI, evolving data privacy rules, and events like this give the space to step back and make sense of what really matters.”

“There’s a ton of noise right now… Events like this help us make sense of what matters.”

– Greg Baines, Senior Vice President at Gen3 Marketing

That same focus on clarity and community is core to Affilifest’s programming.

“The idea behind Affilifest is to put learning and connection at the heart of it,” says James. “We’ve created space for industry voices who don’t normally get a platform, the people who are actually doing the work, day in and day out.”

Representing Gen3 on the ground in Margate will be Mel Blue (Senior Director), Elise Landrieu-Bratu (Director), and Mikey Williams, (Senior Affiliate Manager). With over 25 years of combined experience across affiliate strategy and client services, they’ll be there not just to attend, but to listen, learn, and engage.

For Elise, it’s those behind-the-scenes conversations that offer the most value. “These events give us a chance to hear directly from partners, how they’re thinking, what they’re prioritising, and where they see the space evolving.”

“These events give us space to hear directly from partners.”

– Elise Landrieu-Bratu, Senior Director at Gen3 Marketing

That perspective carries through to Mikey, who’s especially focused on the pace of change across content, tech, and consumer behaviour.

“I’m particularly looking forward to discussions around how AI and automation are impacting publisher strategies, and the way consumer expectations are evolving across affiliate and content platforms.”

It’s a view that aligns closely with the Affilifest agenda, curated to spotlight innovation, challenge assumptions, and reflect the reality of how performance marketing is changing.

“AI and content shifts are changing the space, and Affilifest is the place to explore that.”

– Mikey Williams, Senior Affiliate Manager at Gen3 Marketing

So yes, there will be seaside views. There’ll be drinks, rides, and a little bit of that Margate magic. But Affilifest isn’t just a festival in name. It’s a moment.

A moment shaped by collaboration, creativity, and community, and grounded in something more personal.

“We needed a new venue,” says James. “And while Huddle was amazing, we’d outgrown it. As a kid, I used to go to Dreamland in Margate every year with my grandparents. When we started scouting, I thought, ‘I wonder if we could do something there.’ We saw the space and fell in love with it straight away. I mean, who wouldn’t want to run an event at a theme park?”

For James, it’s about more than nostalgia, it’s about giving the affiliate industry something it truly deserves.

“I can’t wait to make new memories there with all my affiliate friends and hopefully create a space where we can keep moving this channel forward, together.”

“Less transactional. More collaborative. That’s how affiliate has evolved, and that’s the energy we’re building at Affilifest.”

– James Little, Group Commercial Director at TopCashback

With affiliate marketers gathering from every corner of the industry, from fresh talent to seasoned veterans, the Gen3 team will be right there in the mix. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with the affiliate community, spark new affiliate partnerships, or explore the latest in affiliate marketing trends, the Gen3 team will be there ready to talk.

Affilifest takes place Thursday, May 1st at Dreamland in Margate. You can learn more or book your place at affilifest.com.

Use code GEN3 to claim 30% off your ticket!

Attending Affilifest? Reach out to the Gen3 team on the ground to connect in person and explore how we can support your affiliate strategy with smarter, performance-driven solutions.

Want to connect with Gen3? Contact us to learn more about what we can do for you.

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