The 36 best public sector events of 2026/27

Whether you work in government or in public sector sales, events are a brilliant opportunity to learn from and network with some of the leading voices and innovators in your field.

This regularly updated article breaks down 36 of the best upcoming public sector events of 2026 and 2027. Discover what they're all about, who'll be there, and when they're on.

(Last update: 12th May, 2026)

Skip ahead to find events in your sector:

• Local Government events
• Other Government events
  
  
• Public sector technology events
• Public sector health & social care events
• Public sector construction and FM events
• Public sector defence events
• Public sector climate & energy events
• Public sector education events

• Conclusion

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💭 How to pick the right public sector event

Public sector events can be useful for meeting buyers, understanding policy priorities and building relationships with potential partners. But not every event will be worth your time or budget.

Before booking a ticket, sponsoring a stand or sending your sales team, check whether the event matches your public sector growth strategy. Ask:

• Which buyers are likely to attend?
• Does the event align with your target sector?
• Are your competitors, partners or framework providers likely to be there?
• Does the agenda reflect live public sector priorities?
• Can you link the event to specific accounts, frameworks or upcoming opportunities?
• Would running your own small event be a better use of funds?

The best events are not just busy rooms. They are places where your target customers, partners and market signals overlap.

Tussell helps suppliers see where public sector demand is moving - including upcoming contract expiries, buyer behaviour, competitor activity and the frameworks your target accounts are actually using - so you can prioritise the events, accounts and opportunities most likely to drive growth.

Book a chat with the Tussell team to see how public sector market intelligence can help you prioritise the right accounts, uncover new opportunities and sharpen your sales and marketing strategy.

🌳  Local Government Events

Some events are sector-specific. Others bring together experts from across industries to tackle the pressing issues in Local Government. That's what these events are all about:

1 👉 Local Government Partnership Network (LGPN) South

LGPN South is the sister event to LGPN North. The event brings together private sector industry leaders with high-level Local Government stakeholders from across the South of England.

Senior leaders in Local Gov't can register for free.

🗓️ Date: 24th - 25th November 2026

📍 Location: Heathrow

2 👉 LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition

The LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition is a must-attend event for senior representatives working in local and central government. Each year, the LGA Innovation Zone features some of the most innovative work being done by councils and Local Government suppliers.

🗓️ Date: 7th - 9th July 2026

📍 Location: Bournemouth

🏛️  Other Government Events

The following public sector events bring together public sector buyers and suppliers from different industries to collaborate on innovative solutions across all areas of Government.

3 👉 Central Government Partnership Network (CGPN)

CGPN brings together top stakeholders from Central Government and private industry to collaborate and connect over solutions across infrastructure, finance, technology, cyber security, trust, and transparency.

Senior leaders in Central Government can register for free.

🗓️ Date: 13th - 14th October 2026

📍 Location: Heathrow

4 👉 Public Finance Live 2026

CIPFA’s Public Finance Live brings together public sector finance leaders, practitioners and commentators to discuss public finance, service management, reform and the key pressures facing public services.

🗓️ Date: 15th - 16th July 2026

📍 Location: London

5 👉 The Emergency Services Show

The Emergency Services Show brings together police, fire, ambulance, search and rescue, voluntary sector and public safety professionals to explore operational resilience, emergency response, collaboration and innovation across the blue light sector.

🗓️ Date: 16th - 17th September 2026

📍 Location: Birmingham

6 👉 Scotland’s National Meet the Buyer 2026

Hosted by the Supplier Development Programme and partnered by the Scottish Government, Meet the Buyer helps suppliers connect with public sector buyers and understand upcoming procurement opportunities in Scotland.

🗓️ Date: 2nd June 2026

📍 Location: Glasgow

7 👉 The Social Value Conference

Social Value Portal's annual Social Value Conference is a must for public sector buyers and suppliers interested in how they can improve social value outcomes. Network with and learn from industry leaders, charities and senior government stakeholders.

🗓️ Date: 2026 dates TBA

📍 Location: TBC - 💻 Hybrid event

Read Tussell's social value explainer to learn how social value works

💻  Public Sector Technology Events

The following public sector events bring together top suppliers from across the IT and technology sectors with senior government stakeholders to tackle cyber security, AI, the digital divide, and public sector transformation.

8 👉 Building the Smarter State

TechUK's Building the Smarter State is the go-to conference for public sector technology leaders. The annual event has been running for over 10 years and offers an opportunity for the tech industry and public sector to network and build relationships.

🗓️ Date: 13th May 2026

📍 Location: London

9 👉 Smart Places & Smart Communities 2026

UKAuthority’s Smart Places & Smart Communities event explores how local government, combined authorities and public bodies can use data, AI, digital infrastructure and connected technologies to build smarter, more inclusive places.

🗓️ Date: 24th - 26th June 2026

📍 Location: Online

10 👉 Think Data for Government

Think Data for Government brings public bodies and suppliers together to explore how data and AI can improve citizen outcomes, while addressing risks around bias, privacy, security, infrastructure and skills.

🗓️ Date: 30th June 2026

📍 Location: London

11 👉 PublicTechnology Live

PublicTechnology Live gathers industry leaders and public sector pioneers to examine the opportunities and risks in the era of rapid technological change. Hear from the best in digital and data, plus meet the people who can help make change happen.

🗓️ Date: 2026 dates TBA

📍 Location: London

12 👉 DigiGov Expo

With attendees from the Cabinet Office, DSIT and the GDS, DigiGov is one of the leading public sector tech events. DigiGov offers learning, networking, and actionable strategies to the best and brightest in public sector technology.

🗓️ Date: 23rd - 24th September 2026

📍 Location: London

Download Tussell's free 2025 analysis of the 150 top public sector tech firms

13 👉 Tech200 Meet and Greet

Tussell and TechUK's second annual Tech200 Meet and Greet will celebrate the 200 fastest-growing technology companies in the UK public sector. With representatives from SMEs and the Strategic Suppliers alike, the event offers the opportunity to learn, network and develop partnerships to do more business with the public sector.

🗓️ Date: 11th June 2026

📍 Location: London

14 👉 GovTech Show and Exhibition

IGPP and Socitm's 2025 Govtech Show offers an opportunity for public sector professionals, policymakers, and the brightest minds in industry converge to explore the technological possibilities shaping the future of the UK public sector.

🗓️ Date: 13th May 2026

📍 Location: London

Dive into the key trends driving public sector AI procurement

15 👉 Government Transformation Summit

Now in its 7th year, the Government Transformation Summit brings together leaders in digital, data, and delivery from across government to share insight, accelerate transformation, and reimagine the role of the modern state.

🗓️ Date: 25th June 2026

📍 Location: London

16 👉 LGC Digital Futures

LGC Digital Futures is a brand new public sector event aimed at putting digital technology at the heart of Local Government services. The event will focus on leadership, implementation and collaboration across the private and public sectors.

🗓️ Date: 23rd June 2026

📍 Location: London

17 👉 The Emergency Tech Show

The Emergency Services Show is Europe’s leading annual event for the blue light community, delivering two action-packed days of innovation, learning, and networking. This two-day exhibit lets you present your products to key decision-makers from across the sector.

🗓️ Date: 16th - 17th September 2026

📍 Location: Birmingham

18 👉 Cyber Security Conference (Total Politics)

Total Politics' Cyber Security conference is a one-day conference bringing together public and private sector IT security professionals. The 2025 Conference focused on collaboration across skills, AI, disinformation and nation-state attacks. 

🗓️ Date: 17th November 2026

📍 Location: London

19 👉 The EdtechX Summit - London EdTech Week

The EdTechX Summit convenes 250+ senior leaders across education, training and work. Set within London EdTech Week, it blends insights, networking and innovation-showcase opportunities.

🗓️ Date: 16th June 2026

📍 Location: London

20 👉 Government Technology & AI Summit 2026 - PDG

Professional Development Group's Technology and AI summit brings together senior leaders shaping the UK’s AI and data strategies. Meet key stakeholders and attend focused seminars on ethical AI, digitisation, and more.

🗓️ Date: 1st July 2026

📍 Location: London

Read Tussell's 8th Flagship Strategic Suppliers Report

21 👉 The Public Sector Cyber Security Conference - PDG

Professional Development Group's 2027 Cyber Security Conference has already been announced. Keep an eye out for the full itinerary at some point in 2026.

🗓️ Date: 4th February 2027

📍 Location: London

🏥  Public Sector Health & Social Care Events

Rising health and social care demands will prove to be one of the greatest challenges facing the public sector in the 21st Century. These events bring together senior government and NHS stakeholders with industry leaders to bring new solutions to public health:

22 👉 HETT (South)

HETT South aims to transform patient outcomes through innovation, transformation and collaboration. The technology-focused public healthcare event hosts 250+ expert speakers and runs for 2 days in the latter half of the year.

🗓️ Date: 29th - 30th September 2026

📍 Location: London

23 👉 NHS ConfedExpo 2026

NHS ConfedExpo brings together thousands of health and care leaders, professionals and partners to share insight, explore innovation and discuss how to improve services for patients and the public.

🗓️ Date: 10th - 11th June 2026

📍 Location: Manchester

24 👉 HSR UK Annual Conference 2026

Health Services Research UK’s annual conference connects researchers, policymakers, NHS bodies, social care organisations, consultancies and industry to explore research evidence shaping health and care services.

🗓️ Date: 30th June - 1st July 2026

📍 Location: Manchester

25 👉 Best Practice Show 2026

Aimed at the UK’s general practice and primary-care sector, this two-day event features hands-on workshops and an exhibition of the latest clinical and operational solutions. It attracts thousands of GPs, practice managers, clinical directors and primary-care suppliers.

🗓️ Date: 7th - 8th October 2026

📍 Location: Birmingham

26 👉 Future of Healthcare

The New Statesman's Future of Healthcare conference brings together policymakers, industry, researchers and healthcare leaders to explore actionable solutions for the NHS, with themes including workforce resilience, digital innovation, prevention, chronic disease, life sciences and social care.

🗓️ Date: 27th October 2026

📍 Location: London

27 👉 NHS Workforce Crisis: Recruitment, Retention, and Wellbeing of NHS Staff

National Health Executive’s online conference focuses on the NHS workforce challenge, including recruitment, retention, staff wellbeing and how health leaders can respond to pressure across the system.

🗓️ Date: 16th July 2026

📍 Location: 💻 Online

Download Tussell's free DHSC & NHS England Procurement Profile

🏗️  Public Sector Construction & FM Events

With continued pressure on public estates, infrastructure, housing and transport, these events bring together suppliers and public sector leaders working across construction, planning, estates and facilities management.

28 👉 UK Construction Week

UK Construction Week runs twice every year - once in London and once in Birmingham. With leading construction products, all of the major construction professional bodies, international pavilions, industry and government leaders, the event is a must-attend for those in the industry.

🗓️ Date: 12th - 14th May 2026, 29th September - 1st October 2026

📍 Location: London, Birmingham

Download Tussell's free Public Sector FM, Security & Waste Market Report

29 👉 The Planning Summit

The Planning Summit brings together industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from Central Government, local planning authorities, developers, consultants and law firms. The day is packed with discussion panels, workshops and practical advice for suppliers and buyers alike.

🗓️ Date: 4th June 2026

📍 Location: London

🛡️  Public Sector Defence & Security Events

Keir Starmer has pledged to spend 2.5% of national income on defence. These public sector events exist to facilitate public and private sector collaboration in the industry:

30 👉 DSEI 2027

As the flagship defence event for the UK, DSEI promotes the UK’s defence ethos, agenda and leadership while encouraging opportunity and cooperation with our global allies. ​Whilst DSEI is not explicitly public sector-focused, key stakeholders from the UK are likely to be in attendance.

🗓️ Date: 7th - 10th September 2027 (no 2026 dates)

📍 Location: London

31 👉 Defence in Space

The Defence in Space Conference (DISC) is a free multinational event for government, industry and academics. With over 20 talks covering national programmes, cyber and space security, the event is perfect for those looking to learn and network.

🗓️ Date: 27th - 28th October 2026

📍 Location: London

Dive into the key trends driving public sector defence procurement

32 👉 Security & Policing 2026

Security & Policing 2026 is the UK government’s official global security event, bringing together senior law enforcement and resilience decision-makers with 400+ suppliers to explore cutting-edge defence, policing and national security innovation.

🗓️ Date: 10th - 12th March 2026

📍 Location: Farnborough

🌱 Public Sector Climate & Energy Events

Energy resilience, decarbonisation and climate adaptation remain major priorities for the public sector. These events bring together policymakers, suppliers and industry experts working on the future of energy, sustainability and net zero.

33 👉 Climate & Energy Summit 2026

🗓️ Date: 10th - 11th March 2026

📍 Location: London - 💻 Hybrid event

🏫 Public Sector Education Events

34 👉 BettUK 2027 (Hyve)

This leading EdTech exhibition brings together 35,000+ educators, policymakers and suppliers from over 130 countries. With 600+ exhibitors and 400+ speakers, it’s a key global platform for education innovation.

🗓️ Date: 20th - 22nd January 2027

📍 Location: London

35 👉 Schools & Academies Show 2026 (GovNet)

SAAShow is a major UK education event that brings together senior school and academy leaders, Multi-Academy Trusts and suppliers. Featuring 200+ exhibitors, CPD-certified content and networking, it’s a one-stop forum for strategic education improvement.

🗓️ Date: 18th - 19th November 2026

📍 Location: Birmingham

36 👉 National Schools & Academies Summit 2026 - PDG

🗓️ Date: 4th November 2026

📍 Location: Birmingham

🌅  Conclusion

For suppliers, events can be useful - but only when they are part of a wider public sector sales strategy. The best opportunities come from knowing which buyers are active, which frameworks matter, when contracts are expiring, and where budgets are moving.

Tussell helps suppliers track those signals across the UK public sector, so sales, marketing and bidding teams can build pipeline and prioritise the right markets, accounts and opportunities.

Book a chat with the Tussell team to see how we can support your public sector growth strategy.