Save the date: BASES Conference 2026

BASES is taking a strategic pause from its student and annual conference programme in 2025. We have purposefully made this decision to allow a reimagined combined conference to be held in June 2026. We have listened to members’ feedback on our conferences, are considerate of the sector demands for conference funding to support delegate attendance, as well as reflecting on the time of year we hold our events. We feel it is time to respond with enthusiasm and vigour to these challenges to offer a national learning and networking experience in 2026 that will be the ‘go to’ event for academics, practitioners, students, and those working amongst the sport and exercise sector. We are bold in our commitment to celebrate the ‘Best of British’ as regards our impact on the world, and will invite colleagues across the UK, as well as those who started career journeys in the UK to ‘come back and see us’ to inspire the next generation of sport and exercise scientists to make a difference globally.

Manchester Metropolitan University will host the three-day event, over 2 to 4 June 2026, as we pilot how the BASES combined conference will look in the future, with delegates from a range of career stages interacting, a return to a university base, a wide choice of city centre accommodation to suit all budgets, and a range of conference ticket options. Taking a versatile approach to conference programming, spaces used and the detail within sessions, BASES 2026 will offer delegates an inclusive and innovative experience. There are spaces for satellite events post conference, for commercial/product events, for Special Interest Groups, and collaborative ventures with other societies, all with flexible options as regards format.

In taking this decision we welcome past members to look at the Association from a fresh perspective and join us; times have changed, and so have we, now as a Chartered Association. We ask our current members to help us realise our ambitions by committing to the conference in the 2025-26 academic year and helping us to shape the programme. Finally, our message to the sector is that of a call to action to encourage those for which the future of sport and exercise science beckons to join us at Manchester Metropolitan University on 2 to 4 June 2026. A warm welcome awaits.