The National Social Care Conference 2026 #NSCC26 and Connect: Under the Dome 2, the NSCC Evening Event

Times Like These: People, Pride and Purpose in Social Care

The National Social Care Conference (NSCC26) is the foremost showcase and networking opportunity for people working in social care in Wales. It brings together senior and aspiring leaders with decision-makers in local and national government, the private and third sectors, people with lived experience, social work and social care students, and academics from across the country.

In times like these, it’s never been more important to come together, to reflect on what matters, and to celebrate the people at the heart of social care.

ADSS Cymru’s National Social Care Conference returns to Cardiff on 21–22 October 2026, taking place at Sophia Gardens. This year’s theme, People, Pride and Purpose in Social Care, sets the tone for a conference that will create space to recognise the human commitment, compassion and leadership that define the sector.

Across two days, NSCC26 will bring together colleagues from across Wales and beyond to connect, share and think differently about the future of social care. The programme will explore how we tell our story with confidence and clarity, how we respond to a changing world, and how we continue to lead with purpose in complex times.

At its heart, this year’s conference is about celebrating the human, in the relationships, lived experiences and shared values that underpin everything we do.

Alongside the main conference, the much-loved evening event, Connect: Under the Dome, will return. Blending creativity, performance, relaxed food, drink and conversation with social care, it offers a different kind of space to connect, one that reflects the spirit of the conference in a more informal and immersive setting.

Early bird tickets are now available until 30 June. Use the code EARLYBIRD10 to receive 10% off single day and two-day tickets.

We also warmly encourage individuals and organisations to check your eligibility for our extremely good value Discounted tickets, which are almost half the price of standard tickets, at £220 for a full conference ticket and £115 for a one-day ticket. The Discounted tickets are open to a broad range, including Aspiring Leaders, Experts by Experience, Students and charities and third sector organisations.

Book via our website, linked in the comments, and if you have any questions, please email events@adss.cymru.

Whether you’re joining to learn, to share, or simply to reconnect, NSCC26 offers a space to step back, reflect and be part of shaping what comes next.