Safer Crowds, Safer Venues 2026 is the annual flagship conference of the United Kingdom Crowd Management Association (UKCMA), the UK’s professional body dedicated to advancing crowd safety, management, and stewardship across events, venues, and the public realm.
Taking place on 3–4 March 2026 at Middlesbrough Town Hall, the conference will bring together professionals from crowd management, security, events, venues, local authorities, emergency services, and allied sectors for two days of focused discussion, shared learning, and practical insight.
The programme will explore Martyn’s Law readiness, learning from incidents and near-misses, inclusive and accessible event design, the role of local authorities and Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs), emerging technologies, stadium and major event operations, and the language used when assessing and communicating risk.
The conference will open with a keynote panel centred on lived experience, reinforcing the importance of learning directly from those affected by crowd-related tragedies, alongside expert-led sessions, panels, and facilitated discussions across the two days.
Designed for practitioners, policymakers, and strategic leaders, Safer Crowds, Safer Venues 2026 will support professional development, encourage cross-sector collaboration, and promote evidence-informed approaches to crowd safety and risk management.
Further information about the conference and the UKCMA is available at:
www.ukcma.com/safer-crowds-safer-venues-conference-2026/