| 11 December 2025
As we approach the new year, it’s time to start planning for 2026. Healthcare organisations across the UK continue to face significant workforce pressures, from recruitment and retention to skills transformation, digital capability, and new models of care. For professionals working across healthcare – such as NHS leaders, care providers, digital innovators, and workforce planners – attending the right events is more important than ever, as they offer opportunities to learn from national leaders, understand emerging workforce trends, and take away practical approaches to strengthening the workforce.
To make it easier, we’ve compiled a list of seven must-attend healthcare sector events for next year. These conferences and exhibitions offer opportunities to share best practice, celebrate achievements, and connect with leaders across the sector.
What are the key healthcare sector events for 2026?
1. Digital Health Rewired
Date: 24-25 March 2026
Location: NEC Birmingham
Digital Health Rewired is the UK’s leading health tech conference, showcasing digital transformation, AI, and data-driven healthcare solutions.
Why attend?
- Discover best practices in digital health innovation.
- Learn from the UK’s best digital health speakers and NHS case studies.
2. The Care Show London
Date: 29-30 April 2026
Location: ExCeL London
The Care Show is the UK’s leading care sector exhibition, showcasing innovations in care delivery, workforce training, and management.
Why attend?
- Discover, research, and source new products and services, and hear about sector and regulation updates.
- Connect with suppliers and care leaders.
- Gain insights into workforce training and management strategies shaping the future of care delivery.
3. NHS Confed Expo
Date: 10-11 June 2026
Location: Manchester Central
The NHS Confed Expo is one of the largest healthcare conferences in the UK, bringing together NHS leaders, policymakers, and innovators. Visit us at our exhibition stand to explore how we can support your organisation’s goals.
Why attend?
- Stay ahead of NHS workforce and system planning priorities.
- Connect with decision-makers shaping healthcare delivery.
4. HSJ Patient Safety Congress
Date: 28-29 September 2026
Location: Telford International Centre, Telford
The HSJ Patient Safety Congress is a flagship event for NHS professionals, focusing on safety, quality, human factors, and workforce competencies.
Why attend?
- Get insights into the latest innovation and the embedding of improvement policies to manage safety and drive improvement.
- Explore how safety approaches are contributing to reduce avoidable harm and improve the quality of patient care across the system.
- Understand how workforce competencies and human factors are central to embedding sustainable patient safety improvements.
5. HETT Show (Healthcare Excellence Through Technology)
Date: 29-30 September 2026
Location: ExCeL London
The HETT Show focuses on digital health, workforce efficiency, and technology adoption across healthcare.
Why attend?
- Stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends and gain practical insights into healthcare transformation.
- Explore workforce and leadership themes on people, skills, and organisational capabilities for digital transformation success.
6. Urgent Health UK Annual Conference
Date: 13-14 October 2026
Location: Staverton Park Hotel, Daventry
This event focuses on urgent care services, workforce planning, and patient safety in primary care.
Why attend?
- Gain insights into urgent care workforce challenges.
- Share best practice with sector experts.
7. Welsh NHS Confederation Annual Conference
Date: November 2026
Location: Cardiff
The Welsh NHS Confederation’s annual conference explores healthcare priorities in Wales, with a strong focus on system leadership and workforce planning.
Why attend?
- Learn about healthcare system challenges in Wales.
- Explore strategies for workforce resilience and planning.
Ready to plan your 2026 healthcare sector calendar?
We’ll be sharing insights from the events we attend throughout the year.
This year we published summary blogs from events such as Confed Expo and WelshConfed25, including key takeaways, workforce planning insights, and practical lessons that can support your organisation.
→ What ConfedExpo 2025 taught us and why it matters
→ Welsh Confed reflections: Wales is shifting toward skills-based, always-on workforce planning
Want an expert workforce planning speaker for your upcoming event? We have a team of experts in the field. Get in touch with us.