Nursing Leaders 2026: Driving the future of care through nurse leadership

 

Nursing Leaders 2026 is the UK’s only event dedicated solely to senior and emerging nurse leaders across NHS, local authority and independent social care settings. Developed in collaboration with influential nurses and forward-thinking industry partners, this one-day strategic forum facilitates transformative discussions aimed at achieving the ambitions of the 10-Year Plan, with particular attention to the three key shifts: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention.

Centred on action, alignment and influence, it provides a powerful platform for leadership, innovation and cross-sector collaboration at a time of significant change across health and social care.

This isn’t about clinical refreshers or operational management. It’s about empowering the people reshaping services, redefining care pathways, and influencing policy across systems, sectors and place-based partnerships.

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As editor of Nursing Times, I know the UK’s nurse leaders are central to delivering care, managing risk, leading teams, and driving innovation under pressure. That’s why we’re launching Nursing Leaders 2026, a new event for those in these vital roles. Focused entirely on nursing leadership and influence, it will support those shaping services and leading change across health and social care. I look forward to seeing you and other nurse leaders at this event next year, so together we can help you lead with impact."

Steve Ford, editor, Nursing Times

Nursing Leaders 2026 in numbers

500+
Senior Nurse Leaders
30+
Exhibitors
50+
Speakers

Nursing Leaders 2026 - Delivering Value for You


Leading Content

Nursing Leaders 2026 focuses on the major system-wide shifts shaping the future of care, and the leadership role nurses play in making them a reality.

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Exhibiting & Sponsoring

Learn more about Exhibiting and Sponsoring at the only event for senior and emerging nurse leaders

Commercial Partnerships

Senior Nurse Leaders

In attendance will be senior decision-makers responsible for strategy, workforce, quality, digital transformation and service delivery

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Webinars

Our free webinar series creates space for deeper discussion on the leadership challenges shaping health and social care today.


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Advisory Board

We are delighted to be supported by the 2026 Nursing Leaders Advisory Board, a group of senior figures chosen for their expertise and commitment to advancing nursing across health and social care.

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Latest Innovations

View our sponsors and exhibitors with breakthrough ideas that put patients first.



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Advisory board

 

Steph Lawrence MBE


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Shelagh Meldrum


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Oliver Soriano


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Janice Stevens CBE


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Fran Beadle


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Deborah Sturdy CBE


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Colin Quick


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Alison McCourt CBE


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Beverley Murphy


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Prof. Steve Hams


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Donna Keenan


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Acosia Nyanin


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Kathy Kenmuir


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Because nurse leaders don’t just deliver care – they shape it

Nursing Leaders 2026 is the UK’s only dedicated platform for senior and aspiring nurse leaders. These professionals are not just clinical experts, they are strategic decision-makers, digital transformation leads and procurement influencers across the NHS and independent sector.

Partnering on this event connects your organisation with:


The real decision-makers

Senior nurses play a pivotal role in NHS procurement decisions, serving as essential clinical stakeholders who ensure that purchasing choices align with patient care needs and clinical effectiveness. From medtech and pharma to products, nurse leaders are increasingly central to procurement and adoption.


Champions of innovation

Nurse leaders are driving new models of care, leading virtual wards, implementing AI tools and shaping patient pathways. Engage with those who will determine how your product is used and whether it’s used at all.


Trusted voices in the system

Nurses are consistently ranked as the most trusted profession. When they advocate for a product or solution, colleagues and patients listen. This event gives you a direct route to building credibility and visibility among the profession’s most respected leaders.

This event brings together the most forward-thinking leaders across nursing, and I’m excited to be part of a forum that challenges us, inspires us, and helps shape the future of our profession

Colin Quick Chief Quality Officer and Honorary Senior Lecturer University of Greater Manchester

It been a great day, we covered a lot of breadth. What we have done really well is talk on the policy all the way to the practice with exciting case studies, helping to keep it grounded in practice.

Natasha Philips Founder Future Nurse

It enables us to get incredibly close to frontline users and understand their challenges

Justine Abson Head of Marketing Radar Healthcare

This is a great opportunity to connect to nursing leadership. It is a key stakeholder group for us. 

Aditya Koirala Customer Success Manager Tendable

The conversations we have had have been fantastic, people are interested in a whole range of opportunities for us.

John Shaw Market and Business Development Director TRIVIAM Digital Care

It has been key to be here, we need to get the nurses on board. We have done many demonstrations and had a lot of interest. It has also been fun and the nurses have been excited and enthusiastic.

Mats Lindegren AS Director, Sales and Support EMEA Sonitor Technologies