Skip to main content
  • Scotland’s Towns Conference 2026 - A National Commitment to Towns: Delivering a shared ambition
1 of 3

Scotland’s Towns Conference 2026 - A National Commitment to Towns: Delivering a shared ambition

Wed 11 Nov 2026 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Adam Smith Theatre, KY1 1ET
Select tickets

Scotland’s Towns Conference 2026 - A National Commitment to Towns: Delivering a shared ambition

Wed 11 Nov 2026 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Adam Smith Theatre, KY1 1ET
Select tickets

A National Commitment to Towns: Delivering a shared ambition
Connecting policy, investment, local leadership and innovation to support thriving towns and resilient communities across Scotland.

Last held in Kirkcaldy in 2016, Scotland’s Towns Conference returns to the Adam Smith Theatre a decade on. This year’s conference brings together leaders, practitioners and communities to explore how policy, investment, local leadership and innovation can deliver our shared ambition for a new future for Scotland’s towns.

Join us on 11th November at the Adam Smith Theatre to discuss, learn, and connect at STC26: "A National Commitment to Towns: Delivering a shared ambition", featuring:

  • Panel discussions on the national commitment to towns, towns as ecosystems, economic engines, social anchors and drivers of sustainable, place based transformation

  • Workshops on the power of local leadership in growing the economy and enabling resilient communities by putting policy into practice, together

  • Fast paced, Pecha Kucha style presentations with stories from around Scotland on how place makers are creating mixed use, sustainable and connected places

  • International perspective on placemaking and delivering for the future

  • Exhibition showcasing solutions and opportunities for towns and city centres

  • Join the walking tour, led by Fife Council to explore Kirkcaldy’s regeneration journey, heritage assets and town centre transformation.

STC26 Partners 

event_description_image_191396_1784205980_572e7.png?_a=BAAHWXDQ

For more information about becoming a partner for Scotland’s Towns Conference - or to learn more about the exhibition, sponsorship and advertising opportunities available - please email rebecca@scotlandstowns.org.


Programme*

*subject to change

9am 

Registration, exhibition, coffee, walking tour

10.00am

Conference Welcome
Host, Rona Dougall, Broadcast journalist & television presenter

10.05am    

Ministerial Address
Tom Arthur MSP,  Minister for Business and Fair Work

10.15am 

Welcome to Fife

10.35am 

Panel Discussion
What are we doing to ensure Scotland’s towns are ecosystems - economic engines, social anchors, and drivers of sustainable, place based transformation?

11.35am 

Morning Parallel Session
Choose one session, these will be repeated at 1.25pm.

Session 1 | From Vision to Delivery: Stories from around Scotland
Through stories from around Scotland we will hear about how place makers are creating mixed-use, sustainable and connected towns.

Session 2 | The Power of Local: Growth, wealth and community
A practical workshop applying a placemaking lens to ensure prosperity, retention of wealth, opportunity and decision making within communities.

12.25pm 

Lunch, exhibition, connection, walking tour

1.25pm

Afternoon Parallel Session

Session 1 | From Vision to Delivery: Stories from around Scotland
Through stories from around Scotland we will hear about how place makers are creating mixed-use, sustainable and connected towns.

Session 2 | The Power of Local: Growth, wealth and community
A practical workshop applying a placemaking lens to ensure prosperity, retention of wealth, opportunity and decision making within communities.

2.20pm 

International Perspective - Keynote

2.50pm 

Audience Q&A

3.05pm 

Panel Discussion
What are the aspirations for progressing the national commitment to towns and delivering our shared ambition?

3.45pm

STC26 Reflections

Host, Rona Dougall

4pm

Drinks reception

*Programme subject to change.


Privacy

To support networking and help you get the most out of our event, we will provide those coming with a list of the names and organisational affiliation of those attending.

Furthermore, we typically take photographs of proceedings in order to highlight or showcase STP’s activities.

Please let us know if you do not wish to provide consent for the use of your personal data in this way. To see how we use and take care of your information, please see our privacy notice.



Location

Adam Smith Theatre, KY1 1ET