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Conference Programme 2026

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We've curated an agenda packed with innovation, insights, and inspiration. We have 9 content theatres including sessions on cutting-edge trends to actionable strategies, there's something for everyone in the events industry. 🎤✨

Highlights to Note:
👉 Sessions will be made live as speakers confirm their participation
👉 The process took months, but was made easier by our trusted content partner, Lineup Ninja

25 Feb 2026
    • Agency Hub
    Agency Hub
     
    • Agency Hub
    Agency Hub
    The Client Table: What Event Coordinators Actually Want from Agency Partners
    What do CMOs want from their agency partners, and what are they not getting? In this session, senior marketers share real feedback on collaboration, creative briefs, measurement, and what agencies nee ...
    • Agency Hub
    Agency Hub
    Clients may not always know exactly what they want, but they usually have a sense of the direction they are heading. And they’re not looking for order-takers, they are looking for partners, creative i ...
    • Agency Hub
    Agency Hub
    Agencies are tired. Clients are sceptical. The traditional RFP model is facing serious scrutiny. This open conversation will explore why the procurement process is broken and what needs to change to r ...
    • Agency Hub
    Agency Hub
    Understanding financial foundations is critical for new and growing agencies. This session shares practical lessons on pricing, forecasting, cash flow and cost control. Whether you're about to start o ...
26 Feb 2026
    • Agency Hub
    Agency Hub
    Events are more than gatherings; they’re change-makers, transformational. From raising funds to shifting perspectives, this session explores powerful examples of events that influenced politics, busin ...
    • Agency Hub
    Agency Hub
    Founders and leaders discuss how to scale without selling out. This fireside chat dives into the growing pains of expansion, hiring, profitability, leadership transitions and staying rooted in the val ...
    • Agency Hub
    Agency Hub
    From brand reinvention to budget brilliance, this session highlights 10 event productions that redefined what agency-led delivery can look like. We explore bold moves, unexpected formats and how each ...
    • Agency Hub
    Agency Hub
    With a talent shortage on one hand and rising wage costs on the other, agencies are increasingly turning to freelance talent. This session explores the benefits and limitations of the freelance model, ...
    • Agency Hub
    Agency Hub
    Leading Humans in an AI World AI is reshaping work, but no one knows how or what will happen this week let alone in 2030. This is a massive opportunity for the events sector as organisations are strug ...
25 Feb 2026
    • AI & Data Zone
    AI & Data Zone
    How much of your tech stack are you actually using? Only 21% have fully consolidated their event tech stack (Forrester, 2025). This practical session helps you bridge the gap between investment and us ...
    • AI & Data Zone
    AI & Data Zone
    The Meeting Revolution: Why Matchmaking is the Ultimate Growth Lever
    Today, connection is the primary reason people attend events. Research reveals that 51% of attendees say effective networking is a key reason to return to an event, according to Freeman. To deliver va ...
    • AI & Data Zone
    AI & Data Zone
    AI in 2026: What’s real, what’s next, and best practices
    The exhibition industry is entering a new phase of AI transformation. Whilst AI activity in 2025 was dominated by exploratory projects and attention-grabbing best practices, many companies are now mat ...
    • Exhibition HQ
    AI & Data Zone
     
    • AI & Data Zone
    AI & Data Zone
    Real Deal or Just Hype? Breaking Down 2026 Event Trends
    Forget generic industry predictions. This session takes a fresh look at the trends shaping 2026 and asks one simple question: are they the real deal or just hype? You’ll have the chance to weigh in, b ...
    • AI & Data Zone
    AI & Data Zone
    Actually Innovative: AI in events
    Not all AI is created equal. This session will strip away the jargon and highlight truly innovative uses of AI in events. From efficiencies and personalisation to content creation and data analysis, w ...
26 Feb 2026
    • AI & Data Zone
    AI & Data Zone
    Good registration flows create confident conversions. Poor ones create drop-offs. This best practice session walks through how event organisers nailed user experience, increased conversion, and delive ...
    • AI & Data Zone
    AI & Data Zone
    Marketing Events in an AI World: What Still Works in Search & PPC
    AI is changing how audiences discover events - but many organisers are still spending money on search and paid media without clear confidence in what actually works. In this live panel discussion, eve ...
    • AI & Data Zone
    AI & Data Zone
    Why event technology still needs a human touch
    With automation on the rise, how do we preserve the human element in event technology? This reflective session brings together planners and technologists to explore how empathy, creativity and intuiti ...
    • AI & Data Zone
    AI & Data Zone
    From app to AI agent: the next evolution of live experiences
    Agents are changing the event industry game - guiding connections, elevating conversations, and turning live experiences into intelligence. The organizers who understand this shift early will lead. Th ...
    • AI & Data Zone
    AI & Data Zone
    Thought leaders with a thought: what leaders want to hear in an age of global transformation
    The next decade will be the most disruptive in history. AI is transforming every organisation, industry and company in astonishing ways. We face a new age of global volatility, as geopolitical challen ...
25 Feb 2026
    • Association Theatre
    Association & Workshop Theatre
    At Alzheimer's Society we want to ensure that the conferences and events we run (both internal and external) are as inclusive and welcoming as possible for all individuals. We have developed guidance, ...
    • Association Theatre
    Association & Workshop Theatre
    Orla Pearson shares practical ways associations can make events more accessible to include disability and vulnerability. The session focuses on simple adjustments, common barriers and how to plan incl ...
    • Association Theatre
    Association & Workshop Theatre
    Hyperlocal & Digital Advertising: ROI Campaigns for Events and Conferences
    The world of hyperlocal advertising is here - and it is the fastest growing channel of digital marketing - especially for events and conferences. Combined with a particular social media formula for su ...
    • Association Theatre
    Association & Workshop Theatre
    How to Create Transformational Events – 10 Steps to shape gatherings that have an impact around the boardroom table
    Geopolitics is on fast-forward. The map is shifting - alliances, supply chains, sanctions, tariffs, regulation. We live in an age of high-speed change. Deepfakes. Misinformation. AI. Live events are w ...
26 Feb 2026
    • Association Theatre
    Association & Workshop Theatre
    Max Agostini chats with ABPCO’s new Executive Director Matt Stalker about the future direction of ABPCO (Association of British Professional Conference Organisers), followed by ‘Connecting Event Profe ...
    • Association Theatre
    Association & Workshop Theatre
    What is burnout and how can we talk about it in the industry - hosted by MIA Speakers: Camilla Woods Amanda Nutt Mitchell Collier From Hospitality Action & Elevo
25 Feb 2026
    • Agency Hub
    Brand Experience Lab
    This session challenges how we define “success” in live experiences. As attention becomes harder to earn and budgets face greater scrutiny, traditional metrics like attendance, leads, and NPS no longe ...
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
     
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
    Winning Not Fighting: John Vincent Founder of Leon
    John Vincent shares the entrepreneurial journey behind founding LEON and growing it into one of the UK’s most recognisable fast-food brands. He explores the strategic and personal reasons for selling ...
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
    Internal events are having a renaissance. Whether it’s a town hall, team summit or hybrid get-together, brands are rethinking how to build culture through experience. This session explores new formats ...
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
    A quick-fire overview and demo of ReelFlow. Interactive video for event websites to drive sponsor enquiries, visitor registrations and a more human experience for online audiences, all-year-round.
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
    The Future of Live: Where Entertainment, Production and Event Management Converge
    Live events have changed - not just in scale, but in how they’re conceived and delivered. This panel brings together voices from venues, planning, production and venue sourcing to talk honestly about ...
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
    As we navigate the ever-evolving digital era, one timeless strategy continues to prove its effectiveness: events. Hosting and attending events should be an integral part of your growth marketing strat ...
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
    Measuring What Matters: Turning Event Data into Decisions Leaders Can Stand Behind
    Event data is everywhere, but decision-grade insight is still rare. In this session, senior corporate event leaders share how they’ve evolved event measurement beyond activity reporting and surface-le ...
26 Feb 2026
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
    Creating immersive experiences that do not break the budget
    Not every big idea needs a big budget. This session spotlights cost-effective ways to deliver immersive and memorable event experiences. From AV and lighting to storytelling and design, we’ll explore ...
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
    5 Minutes With iBentos
     
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
    How to Build a Team That Doesn't Want to Leave
    Every company loves to shout, 'Our staff are our most important asset'. But what does that really mean? How does it look in practice? And most importantly - does their team agree? Matt Turner, founder ...
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
    The science behind the art: designing memorable event experiences to leave a lasting impression
    In a world where in-person gatherings are no longer guaranteed but consciously chosen, the pressure is on for events to deliver more than just great content. Attendees expect connection, meaning, and ...
    • Brand Experience Lab
    Brand Experience Lab
    How to use events to strengthen employer branding in 2026
    In an era where teams are scattered across time zones, emojis have replaced handshakes, and “You’re on mute” is practically the new hello, employers are under more pressure than ever to create meaning ...
25 Feb 2026
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    Forget the doom and gloom, this session celebrates the momentum. Event industry leaders share how they’re moving beyond ambition and into implementation when it comes to sustainable practices for ESG. ...
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    Power of Events Session: Unplanned and uncensored -
     
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    Power of Events Session: Is the increased level of mergers and acquisitions good for the industry?
    This panel explores how events businesses can grow through mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. It covers best practices for identifying opportunities, integrating teams and cultures, an ...
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    F*CK BEING HUMBLE: GROWING UNAPOLOGETIC CONFIDENCE
    Join TEDx speaker, award-winning founder and author of F*ck Being Humble, Stefanie Sword-Williams, for an inspiring keynote speech on how to build unstoppable self-belief, be proactive and not let the ...
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    CN 30 Under 30 Award Ceremony
    A dedicated celebration to officially recognise the CN 30underThirty Class of 2026. This closed session brings together the winners, their plus-ones, judges and sponsors for the awards ceremony to mar ...
26 Feb 2026
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    From talent shortages to shifting audience expectations, we ask senior event professionals to share their biggest concerns for the year ahead. Then we open the floor to practical solutions. This sessi ...
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    Power of Events Session: What does employability look like in 2026 - does current government policy help or hinder?
    Skills and Experience - what's out there to develop and keep expertise relevant to an ever-changing market? Has the baseline expectation of knowledge changed and have their evolved skillsets now requi ...
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    With more students entering the industry through event management degrees, what happens after graduation? This session brings together educators, employers and young professionals to explore how prepa ...
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    Power of Events Session: Is there a culture clash between the current and next gen eventprofs - what will be the impact on the industry's future?
    This session is dedicated to the future of the industry—how to attract, train, and retain the next generation of talent. It covers educational initiatives, apprenticeships, and the importance of diver ...
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    Participate in the UK event industry’s leading podcast Bums on Seats, recording LIVE for the first time with hosts, Martin Richardson and Dom Garner, stepping far beyond the camera and live onto stage ...
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    FF15 presents University Challenge - Programme Launch
    Connecting education with industry, Fay Sharpe, founder of leading mentoring programme Fast Forward 15 launches the second edition of University Challenge. This session welcomes the student teams acro ...
    • Events Unplugged
    Events Unplugged
    EN30U30 - Award Ceremony
    Join us as we celebrate the EN 30underThirty Class of 2026. This uplifting ceremony recognises thirty exceptional rising stars who are already making their mark on the UK exhibition industry. From mar ...
25 Feb 2026
    • Exhibition HQ
    Exhibition HQ
    How Chat GPT can deliver bums on seats at your next event
     
    • Exhibition HQ
    Exhibition HQ
    Exploring fringe events and whether they are a threat or opportunity
    Fringe events are exploding in popularity, but are they complementing or competing with your core show? This session unpacks how to respond as an organiser, whether that means integrating, ignoring or ...
    • Exhibition HQ
    Exhibition HQ
    Why good employer branding and culture is your companies secret weapon
    In a competitive talent market, your employer brand can be just as powerful as your visitor campaign. This session unpacks how culture, internal communications and team experience shape how your busin ...
    • Exhibition HQ
    Exhibition HQ
    Reimagining the show floor and measure movement to create a meaningful exhibition
    Today’s delegates expect more than rows of shell schemes. This session explores new approaches to layout, movement and design on the show floor, creating energy, flow and a better ROI for both visitor ...
26 Feb 2026
    • Exhibition HQ
    Exhibition HQ
    What are the biggest exhibitors really asking for? We go behind the scenes with brand-side marketers to uncover how they judge organiser and stand builder value, from footfall and data to creativity a ...
    • Exhibition HQ
    Exhibition HQ
    Just go viral? Smarter marketing tactics for modern exhibitions
    Going viral is not a strategy. In this session, we explore smarter, more sustainable marketing tactics for exhibitions, covering audience segmentation, social proof, email journeys and the messaging t ...
    • Exhibition HQ
    Exhibition HQ
    Trying to make one platform do everything rarely delivers the best results. In this session, four event tech specialists explore how registration, event websites, engagement platforms and exhibitor ma ...
    • Exhibition HQ
    Exhibition HQ
    This panel will explore intellectual property in the exhibition world and where legal and ethical lines should be drawn. Expect strong opinions from both organisers, corporate exhibitors and contracto ...
    • Exhibition HQ
    Exhibition HQ
    Your sessions might be brilliant, but are they being seen, heard and remembered? This session looks at content delivery strategy in exhibitions, including staging design, AV, programming and signage. ...
25 Feb 2026
    • Fieryside Chats
    Fieryside Chats
    With so much technology servicing the events space, are we actually moving forward, or just using shinier tools to get the same results? This session asks organisers what they genuinely want from even ...
    • Fieryside Chats
    Fieryside Chats
    Sky-high catering charges. Inflexible hotel packages. It’s one of the biggest gripes from organisers, exhibitors and visitors alike. But are hotels and caterers listening, or are they just cashing in? ...
26 Feb 2026
    • Fieryside Chats
    Fieryside Chats
    Are hosted buyer programmes still delivering value, or has the model lost its way? With increasing pressure to justify ROI, this session explores whether hosted buyers are genuinely converting into bu ...
    • Fieryside Chats
    Fieryside Chats
    It’s time to stop obsessing over footfall and start measuring what matters. This session and forum challenges the traditional metrics of exhibition success and asks whether ‘10,000 attendees’ really t ...
25 Feb 2026
    • London Calling
    London Calling
    World rankings: how does our capital truly fare against other major cities as an event destination
    London is often hailed as a world-class destination for events, but how does it actually compare to the global competition? This session dives into international rankings, organiser sentiment, delegat ...
    • London Calling
    London Calling
    Tick-box sustainability is no longer enough. Today’s planners are looking for real data, visible impact, and venue partners who walk the talk. This session brings together leading London venues and ev ...
    • London Calling
    London Calling
    With so much choice in the capital, what truly makes a venue stand out? This session dives into what planners value in 2026, from service and flexibility to tech, atmosphere and social impact. Hear fr ...
    • London Calling
    London Calling
    Should you go all out, or dial things back? This session helps planners navigate the tension between scale and intimacy, from venue selection to production choices. Learn how to make a lasting impact ...
    • London Calling
    London Calling
    Think London is too expensive for your next event? Think again. This session unpacks real-world examples of how planners have delivered high-impact events across the capital while keeping costs under ...
26 Feb 2026
    • London Calling
    London Calling
    Events have always been governed by a simple truth: value concentrates around a small number of attendees. What's changed is that we can no longer pretend otherwise. Most event design still optimises ...
    • London Calling
    London Calling
    Behind the scenes with greener venues and meaningful data
    Behind the promises, what’s the real environmental impact of London’s leading venues? This session goes deep on sustainability performance, from energy use and waste to carbon tracking and reporting. ...
    • London Calling
    London Calling
    Why major brands continue to activate their products in London
    Despite rising costs, London remains a top choice for major brands. But why? This session uncovers the unique advantages of the capital, including visibility, talent access, infrastructure, and cultur ...
    • London Calling
    London Calling
    Events that tap into local identity stand out. This session explores how planners can draw on London’s neighbourhoods, heritage, communities and creators to add value, authenticity and memorability to ...
25 Feb 2026
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    Diversity, equity and inclusion can’t just live in a policy doc or pitch deck, so how do you turn values into a real business strategy? This session speaks directly to event business owners and leader ...
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    Is B-Corp right for your business? This session shares the honest experience of agencies that’ve gone through the process, weighing the pros, the paperwork and the potential ROI.
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    Designing neuroinclusive events - where to start
    We will be seeking to underline to planners the important consideration of neuroinclusive planning at business events, exhibitions, and brand activations. The session will delve into what the events i ...
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    Women make up 77% of the global events workforce, yet hold only 16% of leadership roles. In this panel, female leaders discuss their challenges, perspectives and experiences of being a female leader w ...
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    Integrating your current partners to build an ethical supply chain
    Sustainability and ethics don’t start with a new supplier; they start with the ones you already have. This session explores how to review, engage and elevate your existing partners to build a supply c ...
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    Full Circle: The year that changed how we work the room
    This panel reflects on the full-circle moments that shape career growth, from saying yes to unexpected opportunities, to finding confidence in how we communicate and show up in professional spaces. Th ...
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
     
26 Feb 2026
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    Guilt-free green guidance: a blueprint for launching sustainable events without the finger pointing
    Sustainability shouldn’t feel like a guilt trip. This session offers clear, accessible guidance for launching greener events, without the judgement or jargon. Whether you're just starting out or refre ...
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    Are carbon calculators fast becoming a buzzword in sustainable event planning? Are they genuinely useful or just another tick-box tool? This session brings together an event organiser, a sustainabilit ...
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    Session Summary - In this fireside chat, Orla Pearson and Ryan Curtis-Johnson explore how accessibility in events is evolving through the combination of AI captioning and professional human expertise. ...
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    The rules have changed. Learn where the new minimum standard sits, for compliance, culture, and credibility. Not only is the language of progress evolving, but sustainability expectations are shifting ...
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    What do we have to do to get accessibility embedded once and for all
    What if accessibility were the very first thing we budgeted for? This session flips the script on inclusive planning and explores what happens when you put access, not add-ons, at the core of your eve ...
    • People & Planet
    People & Planet Theatre
    ‘Two die in terrorist attack at Fishmonger’s Hall conference’; ‘Lighting rigger fell from arena roof’ and ‘Fire damages Somerset House.' The consequences of crises can be overwhelming. It’s not only d ...