What do you want to see on the programme?

Occupational therapy is evolving rapidly. Workforce pressures continue across health and social care. SEND reform is shifting expectations in education. Integrated Care Systems are redefining how services are commissioned and delivered. Digital tools and AI are entering clinical spaces. At the same time, the core of your profession - enabling people to live meaningful, independent lives - remains vital.

The Occupational Therapy Show 2026 must reflect that reality. We want to create a practical, ambitious, honest and forward-looking programme, that provides you and your colleagues with everything you need.

The big questions for 2026

We’re inviting you to help us identify the issues that truly matter. Here are some of the themes we’re exploring - but we want to know what feels most important from your perspective.

Policy and system change

National reform is reshaping the environments many OTs work in.

• What policy developments are most affecting your practice?
• Where do you need greater clarity or practical guidance?
• How can occupational therapy strengthen its influence at system level?

Workforce and professional identity

Across the UK, recruitment, retention and workload pressures remain significant.

• What support do OTs need right now?
• Are advanced practice roles and leadership pathways a priority?
• How can we better articulate the distinct value of occupational therapy?

Clinical practice and innovation

Clinical practice continues to evolve across all settings.

• Which topics feel most pressing in your area of work?
• Where is the evidence shifting?
• What innovations are you trialling that others could learn from?

Service delivery and models of care

Many services are being redesigned in response to demand and resource pressures.

• What models are working well?
• Where are the biggest gaps?

The future of occupational therapy

Perhaps most importantly:

• What conversations is the profession not having - but should be?
• What bold ideas deserve a national platform?

Who do you want to hear from?

A powerful programme depends on powerful voices, and we are keen to hear your suggestions for speakers, including:

• Inspirational clinical leaders
• Researchers advancing the evidence base
• Policy influencers
• Service innovators
• Lived-experience voices
• Cross-sector collaborators

Has someone changed your thinking recently? Is there a colleague whose work deserves national recognition? We want to know.

It’s not just what - it’s how

The format of learning matters just as much as the topic.

Would you like to see:

• More interactive workshops?
• Debate-style panel discussions?
• Practical skills labs?
• Business skills sessions?
• Case-based problem-solving sessions?

The Occupational Therapy Show should be a space not just to listen, but to engage, challenge and collaborate. Tell us what format helps you learn best.

If there’s something you feel is missing from the current format, we want to hear that too.

Help shape your profession’s flagship event

The Occupational Therapy Show is a national platform for occupational therapy - a place to elevate practice, strengthen professional identity and influence the future direction of the sector.

If you have five minutes, please share your thoughts via otshow@closerstillmedia.com. If you have longer reflections, we welcome those too.

We look forward to building the Occupational Therapy Show 2026 with you!