On June 4 – 5th 2026 The Inspiring Leadership Conference returns for its 12th year to the ICC, Birmingham and it’s set to be the best year yet, for reasons we are proud to share with you in this update!

Inspiring Leadership is a staple event in the educational calendar and welcomes over 1000 senior leaders, head teachers and CEOs from within the education industry.

Why should you be part of the UK’s longest standing leadership in education experience?

Find out as the Inspiring Leadership team have put together 12 interesting reasons to attend their 12th annual conference.

So, it’s not quite the 12 days of Christmas but we’re in the giving mood and to top things off you can get discounted tickets when you take advantage of the super early bird offer available until 31st December.

1. CPD Points Up for Grabs

New for 2026, Inspiring Leadership Conference attendees now get more value than ever before with up to 15 CPD points available for the taking. The conference team are delighted that the agenda has been recognised and certified for the quality of speakers and content with that the opportunity it presents to attendees to enhance their professional skills and knowledge.

2. Practical Workshops

Back by popular demand, The Inspiring Leadership Conference has re-introduced its practical workshop sessions which will take place on the Thursday which is day one of the conference. The aim of these workshops is to provide practical insights and solutions to modern day topics and issues within the education industry. Feedback reports stated that attendees found our workshop sessions “highly useful and a great way to step away from the day to day and re-energise.”

3. Thought-Provoking Speakers

Each year Inspiring Leadership Conference invites nine keynote speakers from sectors such as TV, business, sports, arts and education to take centre stage and delve into their own personal and professional experiences that have shaped them as a leader. The conference’s legacy and purpose attracts key opinion leaders from all backgrounds including celebrities such as Chris Packham, Athletes such as Olympic Gold Medalist, Ben Hunt and active MPs -giving the audience a broad perspective on a variety of leadership approaches.

4. Widen Your Peer Network

The Inspiring Leadership Conference boasts delegates from over 14 countries and the opportunity for attendees to connect with peers from across the UK and beyond. Learn new ways of thinking by discussing trending topics with colleagues in the same industry and hear how others approach the ever-changing environment of the educational sector. Stay connected post event and create your own community for future ideas and support. “Two brains are better than one!”

5. Feel Good & Give Back

In 2026, The Inspiring Leadership Conference are working alongside ECOsmart certified event management agency – Blackberry Events. This partnership has enabled the IL team to focus on reducing the carbon footprint of the conference whilst improving their environmental and social impact overall.

They are now thrilled to announce a new charity link with Titan Partnership, Birmingham. The gala dinner held at the Birmingham Library will be a place to raise donations for Titan Olympians - a community event that brings over 400 primary school children together from schools in deprived areas for a day of sporting fun. See a more detailed overview of our ESG initiatives over on our website.

6. Easy Access

The central location of the conference is a win for your budget and the planet. The ICC Birmingham is as central as it gets, for commuters across the UK. Based in the heart of the UK’s second largest city – Birmingham, it is just a twelve-minute walk from New Street Train Station, a couple of minutes’ walk to tram and bus services and a 30-minute drive to Birmingham Airport. The ideal location assures easy access for delegates, speakers and anyone else attending the event. Being midlands based and so close to public transport should also help reduce carbon emissions from delegate travel.

7. Something for All in the Sector

The Inspiring Leadership Conference is a place for leaders across the educational sector no matter the phase of education they specialise in or the type of school or organisation they are part of. The conference welcomes leaders, CEOs and head teachers from primary schools predominantly followed by Multi-academy Trusts, secondary, independent schools and other educational settings. The agenda focuses on leadership as a whole and the educational industry itself, not one specific phase of education, making it valuable for all in the sector.

8. All the Tools Under One Roof

Held at the same time as the conference, The Inspiring Leadership exhibition sees over 50 exhibitors take to the stand to showcase their latest products, services and initiatives that help your school or organisation thrive. Whether you are looking for ways to help your team be more efficient, classroom infrastructure or tech and software the exhibition floor is packed with innovation and solutions.

9. Perks and Prizes

The next conference sees the return of the ‘Visitor Passport’ for the second year but with new and improved features. The visitor passport allows delegates to be rewarded with the chance to win amazing prizes when they visit stands across the exhibition. To top it off, we are also giving away some incredible prizes at the gala dinner on the night of the 4th June at The Birmingham Library, in the aim of raising donations for our charity partners, Titan. Expect experiences, overnight stays and much more!

10. Celebrate Your Year in Style

Whether you are with your team, MAT or alone you can celebrate a successful year in style at our gala dinner, thanks to its new and exciting venue – The Birmingham Library. Head to the roof top terrace for a glamourous drinks reception surrounded by breath-taking views overlooking the city of Birmingham, followed by photos in the famous Rotunda against their iconic bookshelf backdrop. Lastly, reside to a delicious three course dinner for a relaxed evening of fun, food, entertainment and networking. Be part of the celebration of the industry and the inspiring people within it.

11. Meet Our Mascot

Look out for our conference mascot who is quite the hit with our leaders. Have you spotted the colourful geese in the Inspiring Leadership logo? Did you know that geese can teach you many lessons about leadership? Yep you heard it right. Geese are clever and operate in ways that empower one another to achieve a shared goal. Flocks will fly in a rotation formation sharing the brunt of the wind by swapping leadership position at the front. 

12. Collaborate With Your Team

We welcome individuals and groups whether that is your senior leadership team or a multi-academy trust. We make it fair for all by presenting discounts for all types of booking, even smaller schools of less than 100 pupils, giving you the chance to save up to £80 per person before 31st December 2025. If you are thinking about attending in a group, not only will you receive discounts on tickets, but you can also gain further value from our meeting room offer. On a first come first serve basis we can offer meeting space for select times of the day for groups for their own internal meetings around the conference. This is a great opportunity to gather your team post sessions and discuss putting thoughts into practice. If you book your room around midday you could have lunch as a team, perfect for colleagues who work wish to spend some time re-connecting.

Book your tickets here today.