Leaders' Conference 2026
Our annual conference for church leaders of all kinds across the UK, focusing on the God who delights in those who pour out their hearts to him in prayer.
Prayer is the heartbeat of leadership. It reflects a love for the Father, a trust in the Saviour, and a dependence on the work of the Spirit.
Join us in Blackpool as we focus on the God who delights in those who "pour out their hearts to him" (Psalm 62:8).
Contributors include: Ste Casey, Carolyn Lacey, Krisztina Mair, Andy Mason, Aubrey Sequeira, and others.
The conference is for every kind of church leader – and their spouses: pastors, elders, deacons, women’s workers, seniors and youth workers, evangelists, administrators, musicians, and other leaders: all are welcome to explore what it means to fully rely on God in prayer.
As always, the conference will also provide lots of opportunity to take time out, share meals, and meet with friends old and new. You will also be able to browse a bookstall of relevant and affordable resources provided by 10ofThose.
The conference opens from 1pm on Monday for arrival and registration with the first gathering at 3pm. The conference will end after the final gathering on Wednesday afternoon at 3pm.
What to expect
See what last year's conference was like
You can read about 2025's conference and see a gallery of photos to find out more.
Venue
The conference takes place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool - one of the country’s best-known venues, on the seafront in the north west of England. There’s lots of space, it's easy to get to, and there are plenty of accommodation options nearby.
Our seminars and exhibitions take place in the conference centre and our mealtimes are shared in the grand Empress Ballroom.
New for 2026 is that our main gatherings will take place in the Winter Gardens' historic Opera House, one of the largest theatres in Europe. This will allow more people to attend, and to use space in the modern conference centre for larger seminar rooms.
This iconic venue has a close connection to the gospel based on remarkable prayer. Find out more at the conference...
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The Opera House
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The Empress Ballroom
Programme
Main gatherings
What is prayer? It is nothing less than a deep experience and realisation of who God is – Father, Son and Spirit – and who we are in him. A prayerful leader is first and foremost one who deeply trust the character of our three-in-one God and walks closely and intimately with him.
For our main ministry, we’re turning to Psalms 146-150 to explore these themes and lift our eyes heavenward.
Each psalm reflects a rich seam of truth which always leads to praise, but along the way shapes and defines our relationship with the living God of the universe. As we delve deeper into this wonderful portion of scripture, we will encounter the God who is near us, the one who is for us, the one who provides for us, and the one who delights in us.
That is why we can pour out our hearts to him.
Bible ministry will come from John Stevens, Ste Casey, Andy Mason, Aubrey Sequeira, and others.
Seminars
Three seminar sessions will help us to go deeper into particular aspects of prayer, and to tackle other practical and pastoral issues in church leadership.
- Session one will address the leaders’ personal walk with Christ and encourage us to develop a deeper and more meaningful walk with him. We’ll be looking at subjects like The Lord’s Prayer, the power of praying together, and how prayer interacts with our emotions.
- Session two will address what it means to lead a church in prayer, including how our view of God should shape our public praying. We’ll also address the challenging question: does prayer change God’s mind?
- Session three will address all kinds of practical leadership topics that are current and important.
These seminars are optional and do not require booking. Just turn up to whichever one you wish.
More details to be announced soon.
Seminar track
There will be one seminar track available this year, especially for ministry couples who attend.
Steve and Siân Robinson (The Cornerstone Collective) will lead a 'marriage MOT', similar to one they led at Rising Lights, to help husbands and wives deepen in their love for one another and focus their marriage on Jesus Christ himself, who loved the church and gave himself for her.
To join the track you must book your place and commit to attending all three sessions in place of the standalone seminars.
The conference opens from 1pm on Monday for arrival and registration with the first gathering at 3pm. The conference will end after the final gathering on Wednesday afternoon at 3pm.
Leading a Prayerful Church
Our after-conference event
When we think about a healthy prayer life in church, we might think of our mid-week prayer meeting and wish that it were better attended.
But, rather than focus on events and meetings, it is better to consider "what is a praying church?"
Leading a Prayerful Church is our after-conference event, starting on Wednesday afternoon, immediately following the main conference, when Aubrey Sequeira will lead us through 24 hours of teaching, discussion, and sharing with one another.
Aubrey is the pastor of the Evangelical Community Church of Abu Dhabi (ECCAD) and has recently spent a considerable time changing the church culture to make the church more prayerfully dependent. He will tell his story, share some of the ups and downs, and help leaders as they seek to nurture prayerfulness in church.
Venue and booking
Our venue will be Blackpool Tabernacle Church which is a ten minute walk from the Leaders' Conference location. Our main sessions, breakout sessions, and meals will all take place here. There is no parking at the venue but plenty of 'pay & display' options nearby. Blackpool North train station is a short walk away.
This event is an additional cost to the main conference and extends the conference programme through to Thursday lunchtime: £55 includes three sessions, an evening meal, and a light lunch.
You can book for this after-conference event when booking your conference pass. Places are limited and will be given on a first-come first-served basis (a reserve list is available).
Accommodation and travel
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included in your conference booking so you will need to book your own. Although there is no accommodation at the venue, there is a wide range to choose from in Blackpool: from Travelodge and Premier Inn to B&Bs and self-catering.
Many options are within walking distance of the conference venue and there is also a regular tram service which stops nearby if you need it. We advise booking your accommodation early!
To find more hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering options in Blackpool, you might find the Visit Blackpool website helpful.
Travel
By car
Blackpool has a motorway link direct to the heart of the town – take Junction 32 off the M6, and the M55 will lead you almost to the beachfront. There is no parking at the venue so we recommend parking at your accommodation and using public transport to travel to the conference - there is a tram stop very close by.
If you do need to park for the conference, there is a multi-storey, pay-on-return car park available nearby within the Houndshill Shopping Centre (FY1 4NY) or ground level, pay-and-display parking available on the corner of Adelaide Street and Alfred Street, also close to the venue (FY1 4LA).
By rail
Blackpool North Station is a ten-minute walk from the Winter Gardens and there are direct train routes into the town from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and York.
From Edinburgh and Glasgow, there are direct train routes to Preston with one change on to Blackpool.
The conference opens from 1pm on Monday for arrival and registration with the first gathering at 3pm. The conference will end after the final gathering on Wednesday afternoon at 3pm.
Booking
Please use the button below to book your place. If you are making a group booking, please include a separate email address for each person/ticket. Please note full payment is required at the time of booking.
You can read the conference terms and conditions here.
Conference pass prices are as follows:
- Early bird (before 20 July): £265
- Advance (before 6 October): £285
- Standard (from 6 October): £305
Bookings will close on Sunday 1 November at midnight. Payments must be made by card - no invoicing is available.
Your event pass includes access to all the conference sessions, meals (excluding breakfast), and tea and coffee in the scheduled breaks.
We have a limited number of half-price tickets available to those who are willing to join our stewarding team for the main plenary sessions. For more information on how to apply, please email Laura Dampney (Events Director).
Don't forget that you must book your accommodation in Blackpool separately. We are not able to accommodate children at the conference.
The conference opens from 1pm on Monday for arrival and registration with the first gathering at 3pm. The conference will end after the final gathering on Wednesday afternoon at 3pm.
Bursary passes
If the cost is a barrier to you being able to attend the conference, we have a limited bursary fund available to help you. You can find out more and apply for a bursary using our application form.
Can you help others attend?
To enable us to encourage gospel workers from deprived communities to attend the conference with a bursary, we would love for churches to ‘pay it forward’ before the conference itself.
So please can we ask your church – only if it is able – to consider such a gift? £20 would pay towards a meal, £60 would contribute towards someone's accommodation, or £265 would pay for the entire conference for one delegate.
You can donate as an option when booking your conference ticket, or choose your own gift amount on our Bursary Fund donation page. Our fund is currently low, so any amount you can give will help.