What is the ACF conference 2026?
The conference is ACF’s flagship event, where trusts and foundations will come together in person to explore how to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
We’re excited to offer staff of all levels, together with trustees, an invaluable opportunity to connect with peers, gain fresh insights, and discover trends and practices that will shape the future of our sector.
See the main conference page for further details.
When and where is the ACF conference 2026?
Wednesday 25 November 2026,
County Hall, London.
Who is the event for?
The conference will be of interest to a broad audience, including senior leaders (CEOs, chairs, trustees, directors), grant-making staff and finance and investment staff.
Why is it an in-person event?
Both members and ACF see the event as a place for connection – to each other, to new ideas and to the wider sector.
An in-person conference offers a unique opportunity for connection that many of our members don’t get elsewhere, and there has been a strong desire from across our membership for our event to bring people physically together.
Can you tell me more about the theme for the ACF conference 2026?
The theme of this year’s conference is
Connecting the dots: the power of collaboration, connection and collective impact in an ever-changing world.
Read more about the theme.
How can members get involved on the day?
Members have been and are being offered a range of opportunities to take part in the ACF conference, including:
- Suggesting ideas for breakout sessions for delegates
- Delivering breakout workshops at the event.
Look out for further opportunities to get involved – here on the ACF website, on LinkedIn and in email communications.
How can I keep up to date with conference announcements?
All conference updates will be shared on the ACF website. You can also keep up to date with the latest information via dedicated emails, our
Funders’ News newsletters, as well as on our
LinkedIn page.
Is the event sustainable?
ACF is committed to delivering an environmentally friendly event. You can learn more about the
venue’s sustainability and social impact policy here and
further information can be viewed here. At ACF, we are also thinking about our use of resources and materials. Further details to follow.
How will my booking data be used?
By purchasing a ticket for the conference, you are consenting for your data to be processed by ACF and your name, organisation and email being shared with the venue for the purposes of delivering this event. View full details of
ACF's privacy policy.
What does my ticket include?
As part of your ticket, you will have access to the plenary sessions, the choices in the morning and afternoon as well as the welcome breakfast, a delicious lunch and networking drinks in the evening.
See the full programme here.
All participants will also gain access to the event outputs after the event.
What are the choices in the morning and afternoon?
- Breakout sessions: roundtables, interactive workshops and peer connection sessions
- Extended networking opportunities and exhibits
Please click here for further information on all of the choices. Please ensure that you select one morning choice and one afternoon choice at the point of booking.
Can non-members attend?
Yes. Non-member individual tickets are available at a standard rate of £395 per person (£295 for members). Please note that tickets for the ACF conference are for trusts and foundations only. If you are not sure if you are eligible to attend, please refer to ACF's membership criteria. If you are interested in attending but don't meet the criteria, please email [email protected].
I have booked my ticket and received my confirmation email but can’t find a copy of the invoice.
If you booked your own ticket, you can view your invoice through your individual account on the ACF website through either the
My Participation or
My Transactions areas.
If you booked the ticket on behalf of someone else, the individual the ticket was booked for will be able to access the invoice (as above) or your organisation’s ACF rep or key finance contact will be able to access it through the Transactions area of the organisations account on the ACF website.
When do bookings close?
Ticket sales close on Wednesday 18 November, or when capacity is reached. Please note that we cannot accept bookings on the day of the event.
I want to attend in a colleague’s place/swap a ticket to a different name.
This is possible but please let us know as soon as possible, and no later than Wednesday 18 November.
I can no longer attend the event – can I get a refund?
As per
ACF’s events booking and refund policy, full refunds will be given for cancellations received a week or more before the event. For cancellations received within a week of the event – or if the delegate does not attend on the day – no refunds will be made, and you will remain liable for the cost of the event booking regardless of whether payment has been made or not.
Once I’ve booked my ticket, can I change my mind about which morning and afternoon choices to attend?
Yes. Please follow the following steps:
1. Log in to your account
2. Click on your name and then ‘My Account’
3. Go to the ‘My Participation’ tab
4. Scroll down and under ‘Upcoming events’, select ‘ACF conference 2026’ (this will take you to the event page)
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page until you see the section ‘Programme’. This is where you can select your morning and afternoon choices
You’ll need to select one choice in the morning and once choice in the afternoon. You can do this by expanding the menus and clicking ‘Add’ to the choices you would like to attend.*
Once your choice is selected, a yellow box will show in front of the session name.
6. To conclude, just click on ‘Submit registration’
*Please note that some of the choices will be restricted by capacity.
My first preference for the morning and/or afternoon choices is showing as full – can I join a waiting list?
The morning and afternoon choices operate on a first come first serve basis, please select another choice at point of booking to complete the booking process. To be added to a waiting list for your first preference choice, please email
[email protected] and we will let you know as soon as possible if we are able to swap your choices.
Do you have other questions not covered here? Please email [email protected].