The Social Policy Association is pleased to announce that Liverpool will host the 2026 annual conference, taking place from Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd July.
The 2026 conference theme, Hope in Dark Times: Resistance and Radical Change, will critically engage with the social, political, and economic challenges of our time, foregrounding innovative and transformative approaches to social policy.
Across 1st- 3rd July 2026, we will convene at the Creative Campus of Liverpool Hope University to foster rigorous debate, interdisciplinary dialogue, and collaborative inquiry. This event seeks to create a unique space in which scholars, practitioners, and activists can interrogate structures of inequality, articulate visions of justice, and consider pathways toward sustainable systemic change.
We warmly invite you to join us in exploring how hope, resistance, and radical transformation can reframe possibilities for a more equitable future. The organisers welcome presentations and symposia that engage with these themes and contribute to this important conversation.
Visit our full conference webpage here.
Abstract submission
We welcome abstract submission via Oxford Abstracts for individual papers and symposia from now on, via these links:
Note: In addition to single papers, we welcome proposals for symposia, whereby three or more papers linked to a particular theme are submitted together for consideration. Symposia proposals will need to be submitted by the panel organiser, who should then send an email invitation to contributors that abstracts for papers that are part of that symposia should be submitted.
The deadline for submissions is Monday, 16th March 2026.
Notifications of acceptance will be issued on a rolling basis, at the latest by 17th April 2026.
Contact: For any questions, please contact the conference organisers via spa26@hope.ac.uk
Fees and Registration
You can register for the conference here
The early bird rate will end on Friday, 17th April 2026
Conference registration closes on Friday, 19th June 2026.
On campus accommodation booking ends on Friday, 5th June 2026.
We are also hosting another pre-conference session “Bridging Worlds: Knowledge Exchange Across Academic and Policy Borders”, running 10am-12pm on 1st July. This panel session is specifically designed to equip ECRs and PGRs with the essential knowledge and strategies needed for engaging effectively with policymakers, translating research into real world impact, and positioning themselves at the academic policy interface.
And if you’re a PGR/ECR presenting at the conference, you can now opt in to receive friendly, constructive feedback on your SPA presentation. Just fill out this form to take part!
We are also looking for senior and mid-career colleagues who may like to provide feedback. Please sign up here if you would like to volunteer.
Key Information
Conference accommodation will be conveniently available at the campus, minutes away from the conference venue. You will be able to book this accommodation as part of your registration process.The student accommodation is situated in Gerard Manley Hopkins Hall, a modern purpose built hall. Rooms have a single bed, wardrobe, study area, chair, drawers and shelves, plus an en-suite shower room and toilet. Bedding, towels are provided and guests would need to bring their own toiletries. Please note there is no lift access within the Gerard Manley Hopkins Hall. A number of accessible rooms are located on the ground floor, there is a staircase to floors above.
Registration to the conference will open at 8am on Wednesday, 1st of July for a conference that starts at 12pm (and a PGR event at 10am). On campus accommodation will be available from Tuesday.
The programme (including information on social events and keynote speakers), conference booklet, FAQs, and venue access statements will be available in due course.
The SPA conference dinner on Wednesday 1st of July will be held at Liverpool Town Hall, and on Thursday 2nd of July our delegates will be provided with a complimentary dinner, drinks and networking opportunities in the premises of the Creative Campus.
Please visit the conference website for more information, including registration fees and links to submit abstracts.
For queries, contact: spa26@hope.ac.uk
Follow the official conference social media account on Bluesky: spa26.bsky.social
Google Maps: Liverpool Hope University, Creative Campus, Shaw Street, Liverpool, L6 1HP.
Image credits: Natalija Atas