Conference 2026 FAQs

Headline sponsor

Conference FAQs

Got a question about the conference? You’ll find answers to the most common queries on this page — from tickets and travel to accessibility, sessions, and what to expect on the day — to help you plan your visit with confidence.

We’ll keep this page updated as new information is confirmed, so check back for the latest details.

General FAQs

When and where is the UK Evaluation Society conference taking place in 2026?

The UK Evaluation Society annual conference will take place from 18–21 May 2026. Day 1 is online and day 2, 3 and 4 are in-person at Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield

18 May — Virtual conference day (online, Zoom)
19–21 May — In-person conference in Sheffield, England, UK.

Please note: Tuesday 19 May is designated as a travel day, with optional free member workshops in the afternoon, followed by early registration and evening networking at a local venue.

Travel and directions: For full travel guidance, directions and details of a discount code for nearby parking, please visit the venue’s information page here: Directions

Image: Front entrance view of Sheffield City Hall, the in-person venue for the 2026 UK Evaluation Society conference on Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20, and Thursday 21 May.

Where can I see the full conference programme?

The full conference programme is now available, including detailed session information, timings, fringe activities and meet-ups—helping you plan your time, travel and accommodation with confidence.

View full programme

Creating your personal conference itinerary

All registered ticketholders will be sent an email two weeks prior to the conference confirming access details to Mecon, an online platform that helps us organise and run the conference.

Once you have created an account, you will be able to view and customise your own timetable view. Please ensure you have added hello@evaluation.org.uk to your safe senders list so the email is not sent to your junk folder.

How do I access online sessions on the virtual day (18 May 2026)?

View instructions for joining online sessions on 18 May

Can I create my own personal conference itinerary?

Creating your personal conference itinerary (ticket holders only)

All registered ticketholders will be sent an email two weeks prior to the conference confirming access details to Mecon, an online platform that helps us organise and run the conference.

View full programme

How do I get to Sheffield City Hall?

Sheffield City Hall is serviced by the Supertram, with the ‘City Hall’ tram stop at the rear of the building. The site is a 10 minute walk from Sheffield Train Station.

If you are travelling by car and using a sat nav please ensure your final destination is the City Hall on Barker’s Pool which is off Holly Street. The full address is Barker’s Pool, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2JA.

There is no onsite parking for visitors at Sheffield City Hall. As the preferred parking partner for Sheffield City Hall, visitors will receive a 35% discount on parking at the Q-Park on Rockingham Street. Just a five-minute walk from the venue.

To receive the 35% discount on parking at the Q-Park on Rockingham Street, parking must be pre-booked through the Q-Park website here and use the promo code CITYHALL35

You can also read about hiring bikes in Sheffield on this local information site

What is the theme of the conference in 2026?

Our 2026 conference, Bridging the gap: evaluation to action, explores how evaluation can better drive meaningful, real-world change. The themes below set out the focus areas for discussion—ranging from influencing policy and building evaluation cultures to communicating findings in ways that turn evidence into action.

Themes

1. Influencing policy & programmes

Examining how evaluation has influenced decisions and outcomes, and what we can learn from barriers, context, and adaptive approaches in shaping policy and programmes.

2. Building evaluation cultures

Embedding evaluation into daily practice, from co-production and participatory and user-centred methods to the impact of technology, AI, ethics, and power on how evidence is valued and used.

3. Communicating evaluation

Facilitating the move from technical findings to meaningful action through timely communication, visual storytelling, and strategies that help stakeholders make sense of evidence.

How do I book tickets?

Tickets can be purchased online via the conference website. Confirmation and joining information will be sent by email after booking.

View ticket options

Is there a cloakroom/luggage storage on-site?

Yes, a cloakroom is available on-site. Please note that space is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To access the cloakroom, please speak to a steward or member of the team—items will be managed using a raffle ticket system.

Please be aware that belongings cannot be stored overnight, so all items must be collected at the end of each day.

Are member discounts available?

Yes. Members receive discounted ticket rates, and membership + ticket bundles may also be available for best value.

What spaces and rooms will be available at the conference venue? E.g., wellbeing, prayer room, working space etc

In addition to the main conference spaces, a number of other rooms will be used for conference sessions throughout the event. Alongside these, a Wellbeing Room will be available for anyone who needs a private space, including for breastfeeding, expressing, or taking medication. A quiet working area will also be available for those who need space to work, take calls, or step away from the main conference sessions. A prayer room will be available on site.

View venue rooms

Are meals included in the ticket price?

Refreshments and lunch are included on the main in-person days on 20 & 21 May, which is included in ticket prices. Dietary requirements can be shared during booking.

All dietary requirements must be provided to the UK Evaluation Society by Thursday 30 April.

What facilities are available at the venue?

At Sheffield City Hall, a range of facilities will be available to support delegates’ needs during the conference. This includes access to a quiet or prayer space, a private room for breastfeeding or personal needs, and cloakroom or luggage storage facilities, particularly helpful on arrival and departure days.

Full details will be confirmed closer to the event, and if you have specific requirements, we encourage you to contact the conference team in advance so appropriate arrangements can be made.

Is the venue accessible?

Yes. There is a ramp on the front of the building for wheelchair users – this leads to the main entrance. There are lifts to all floors except the Memorial Hall balcony level.

They also welcome guidance dogs. If you need assistance at the venue, please do not hesitate to contact on of the stewards who will assist wherever possible.

Hearing loops are available in the auditoriums.

The following devices are available at our venue:-

Stethoset receivers earphones are built in – for people who need a clearer audio feed, predominantly spoken word type events where background noise and reverberation in the hall reduces the intelligibility of what customers hear.

Bodypack receivers – with 3.5 mm audio port – as above, but for people who want to use their own earphones/headphones OR for hearing aid users via an induction neck loop.

Induction neck loops – for use with the bodypack receivers, they plug into the audio port and then create a small induction loop for the user to then connect their hearing aid to.

There are accessible toilets on every level.

Oval Hall x 4
Memorial Hall x 1
Ballroom x 1

Sheffield City Hall has designated access points for wheelchairs users:

Foyer & Oval Hall

When looking at the main entrance to the City Hall there is an access ramp located at the front of the building to the left hand side, behind the row of poster adverts (///dips.files.matter – What 3 Words).

Memorial Hall

Entry to the Memorial Hall, which is located at the back of the City Hall (///notes.degree.torn – What 3 Words), is ground level making the stalls area accessible for all. Please note that the balcony level seats in the Memorial Hall are only accessible via stairs.

Ballroom

Entrance to the Ballroom is at the side of the City Hall (///punt.comb.counts – What 3 Words) and customers can gain access to the Ballroom via a lift at the Ballroom entrance.

Parking

There are a number of parking spaces available for Blue Badge holders on Holly Street – please note that this is operated via Sheffield City Council and is strictly a first come first served basis.

Is there accommodation available and are special rates or discounts offered?

Yes — there is a wide range of hotels and guest accommodation in and around Sheffield for the conference dates. We have secured special discounted rates for delegates in partnership with Visit Sheffield, the city’s official tourist board.

You can access these discounted hotel rates now via this dedicated booking link.

Alternatively, you may prefer to book through well-known accommodation websites.

Who are the conference sponsors?

We’re grateful for the support of our conference sponsors, led by our headline sponsor Ipsos. You can view the full list of partners and supporters on the conference sponsors page.

What are the conference ticket terms and conditions

View conference terms and conditions

1 / 1

Presenter and speaker information

When should I arrive for my session?

For those presenting in-person in Sheffield, please arrive at least 10 minutes before your session start time.

Presenting online on 18 May? Please join your session 20 minutes before the start time: View instructions for joining your session

There will be members of our team on-hand in the room to help with setup and ensure everything runs smoothly.

How can I promote my session / poster etc?

We encourage speakers to share that they are taking part in the conference on social media in the run-up to the event. The UK Evaluation Society is active on LinkedIn and Bluesky, and we regularly reshare speaker posts on both platforms.

Where possible, please include:

the title of your presentation (Use the share icon in the programme to copy a direct link to any session.)

your session number
the day and time you are speaking

#UKEval26 is the main hashtag we use to bring together all conference conversations, updates, photos, and reflections before, during, and after the event.

UK Evaluation Society on social media

LinkedIn: UK Evaluation Society
Bluesky: @ukevalsociety.bsky.social

Session presenters (PowerPoint)

Presenters should prepare their slides in PowerPoint format (16:9). Further guidance on submission deadlines and seeking permission to share slides post-event will be shared in due course.

To support accessibility, we suggest:

Body text: minimum 24pt
Headings: 32pt or larger
Use high-contrast colours (for example, dark text on a light background)
Avoid dense tables or small charts that are hard to read at a distance.

World Café sessions

These sessions are discussion-led and interactive. Slides are not usually required; if used, they should be minimal and focus on framing discussion rather than presenting content.

Poster presenters

To ensure your poster fits the display board, we recommend the size, whether landscape or portrait, to be A1 or smaller.

Portrait poster template (pptx)

Landscape poster template (pptx)

Poster printing

Please note that poster printing should be arranged by presenters. The conference organisers are not liable for printing or for any issues relating to delivery, including delays, errors, or posters not arriving on time.

We are partnering with Sheffield Hallam University printshop to print and deliver posters to this conference. The charge for printing an A1 poster is £15.60 in addition to delivery costs.

If your poster is being delivered via the Sheffield Hallam University print shop, our team will display it for you.

If you are bringing your poster with you on Wednesday morning, please allow a little time to display it yourself when you arrive, as our team will be unavailable to help display it at this time. We’ll provide all the materials you need, along with your poster reference number to help you find your space.

Orders with Sheffield Hallam University print shop, need to be placed by 8 May, 17:00 BST. Please ensure you request a poster tube as part of your order to assist with safe storage and minimize the risk of any damage.

Click here to place an order for poster printing

Please note the additional requirements from the printers below:

Put CITY HALL in the title of your order
Make the delivery address:

Gemma Bale (2026 UK Evaluation Society Conference)
Sheffield City Hall

Barker’s Pool

Sheffield

S1 2JA

Poster display

Posters will be on display in the Ballroom from 9am on the Wednesday and will remain until Thursday lunch-time.

Poster voting

There will be a voting system that allows delegates to vote for the poster they thought was the best. The poster winner will be able to host a webinar with the UK Evaluation Society within the next year.

Detailed specifications and submission deadlines will be provided ahead of the event.

Poster collection

Poster collection

Posters can be collected from the Ballroom from 5pm on Thursday 21st May 26.

If you are leaving the conference early though please note that the poster competition will run until Thursday lunchtime so we would recommend leaving it up till then.

Click here for full information for poster exhibitors

Pecha Kucha presentations

PechaKucha presentations should follow the standard format of 20 slides, automatically advancing every 20 seconds. Speakers will be asked to submit their slides in advance to ensure timing and technical requirements are met.

Slides should be image-led, with limited text. Any text on slides needs to be comfortably readable within 20 seconds.
Use clear, bold visuals that reinforce your message at a glance
Avoid small text, detailed charts, or complex diagrams
Remember that slides will advance automatically — simplicity and strong visual cues work best

View Pecha Kucha presentation template (pptx)

These guidelines are designed to help your session land well for both in-room and online audiences.

Full information for pecha kucha presenters

How do I share my bio and headshot?

Please ensure your professional bio and headshot are uploaded via the speaker portal (Mecon). Check the spelling of your name and other key information carefully because these details will be automatically added to the full conference programme when it is published.

Keynote speakers will be contacted separately regarding biography and headshot requirements.

Sponsor and exhibitor information

When can I set-up and breakdown my exhibition stand?

Setting-up

It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to transport deliveries from the designated storage area to the exhibition area in the Ballroom (See images). The exhibition area in the Ballroom may be a short distance from the storage area.

Storage and limitations

Due to storage constraints, each exhibitor is allocated space for up to two banner stands and three boxes. If you anticipate needing additional space, please let us know in advance and as soon as possible.

Set-up times

Set-up times are available from 17:00–20:00 BST on 19 May and 08:00–08:55 BST on 20 May 2026.

Please ensure your stand is fully set up and ready by 09:00 BST on Wednesday 20 May, when the in-person conference starts.

Breakdown time

Exhibitors must vacate the exhibition space between 17:00–18:00 BST on Thursday 21 May 2026. All stands and materials must be fully removed/collected from the exhibition area in the Ballroom by this time.

For health and safety reasons, please do not begin dismantling your stand before this time.

Removing exhibitor materials and clearing up

The venue has very limited storage facilities, and exhibitors must arrange collection of all exhibition materials by 16:00 BST on Friday 22 May 2026. A charge may be applied to cover administration and storage costs for items not removed before this time.

Exhibitors are responsible for taking away all their materials after the event. Any items not collected by Friday 22nd May, 4pm will be disposed of unless alternative arrangements have been agreed in advance. Charges may apply if there are significant boxes/materials left behind.

What do the main rooms at the venue look like?

View main conference venue rooms

When and where should I have exhibition materials delivered / collected?

Courier deliveries

Deliveries can be accepted on Friday 15 May, Monday 18 May, and Tuesday 19 May, between 09:00–17:00 BST only. Weekend deliveries and deliveries outside these hours will not be accepted by the venue.

Please ensure all items are clearly labelled as follows:

Gemma Bale (2026 UK Evaluation Society Conference)
Sheffield City Hall
Barker’s Pool
Sheffield
S1 2JA

Please note that deliveries cannot be accepted before this date, as the event space will be in use. Early deliveries will not be accepted. All items will be stored in the Ballroom, South Hall or North Hall.

Courier collections

Exhibitors are responsible for ensuring any items for collection are stored in the Ballroom.

The venue has very limited storage facilities, and exhibitors must arrange collection of all exhibition materials by 16:00 BST on Friday 22 May 2026. A charge may be applied to cover administration and storage costs for items not removed before this time.
Exhibitors are responsible for labelling and sealing all items they wish to leave for collection.
It is the responsibility of each exhibitor to ensure their courier has all relevant collection details, including what is being collected and from where within the venue. As there are multiple exhibitors at the conference, please ensure your materials are appropriately labelled to assist with collection.
Couriers will not accept or collect items that are damaged, inadequately packaged, or incorrectly labelled (including where the address differs from that provided in the courier collection instructions).
If you need to move boxes, banners or similar items, you may wish to bring a small trolley.
Exhibitors are responsible for taking away all their materials after the event. Any items not collected by this time will be disposed of unless alternative arrangements have been agreed in advance. Charges may apply if there are significant boxes/materials left behind

Is assistance available for set-up and breakdown of exhibition stands?

Exhibitors or exhibition contractors are responsible for setting up and breaking down their own stands and transporting their own exhibition materials. Trolleys are not provided by the venue and we strongly advise exhibitors to bring their own.

Are there any restrictions on what we can do to our exhibitor space?

Posters – Posters or other materials must not be pinned, taped or attached to walls, doors or windows. Any damage caused will incur charges to cover the cost of repairing or redecorating the affected area. If you require a poster board, please speak to the conference organiser.

Floors and walls – Tape must not be used on floor or wall surfaces. Any damage caused will incur charges to cover the cost of repairing or refurbishing the affected area.

Packaging – For safety and presentation reasons, all packaging must be removed from view before the event opens. Please note that the venue does not have storage facilities for packaging.

What is provided for exhibitors?

Each exhibitor will be provided with one trestle table (6ft x 2.5ft), a tablecloth, and two chairs.

Is power and internet available for exhibitors?

Power sockets

If you require power, please let us know as soon as possible. A limited number of exhibition stands have access to power, and availability cannot be guaranteed.

Wi-fi access

Free Wi-Fi is available for all exhibitors and delegates. Access details, including the network name and password, will be provided on arrival.

Who is liable if items are lost or damaged?

The venue or conference organiser will not accept responsibility for lost or damaged items and we strongly advise exhibitors to take out necessary insurance cover for items.

Tickets available now

Book your ticket for the UK's biggest cross-sector evaluation conference!

Buy ticket