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

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 from Calas da Rainha, Portugal

• 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 

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*

9am Registration, exhibition, coffee, walking tour

10.00am Conference Welcome Auditorium

Host, Rona Dougall, Broadcast journalist & television presenter

10.05am Ministerial Address Auditorium

Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Business and Fair Work

10.15am Welcome to Fife Auditorium

Councillor Ross, Leader, Fife Council

10.35am – 11.15am The Power of Localism: Transforming Fife Towns Auditorium*

*Please note, we will pause to respect a 2 minute silence at 11am.

Bringing together perspectives from the public and private sectors and the community, panellists will consider how different sectors can work together to unlock local potential, respond to the challenges facing towns, and create places that are economically vibrant, socially connected and environmentally sustainable.

The discussion will focus on what is working, what needs to change, and how collaboration can turn ambition into action.

Hosted by Rona Dougall, panellists are:

• Carol Connolly, Director of Place, Fife Council

• Lauren Brook, Chief Executive, Greener Kirkcaldy

• Colin Miller, Founder and Host, Kirkcaldy Property Network

11.35am – 12.25pm Morning Parallel Session Repeated at 1.25pm

Session 1 | From Vision to Delivery: Stories from around Scotland Auditorium

Through stories from around Scotland we will hear about how place makers are creating mixed use, sustainable and connected towns.

Originating from Japan and roughly meaning “chit chat”, this PechaKucha session is designed to be a fast paced, highly visual and engaging with time for audience Q&A following.

Hosted by Rona Dougal, presentations are as follows:

Setts. Drugs. Rock n' Roll
Bob Keiller, Co-Founder and David McKeith, Operations Director, Our Union Street

Regeneration is a Verb
David Paton, Chair, ProMo

Thinking Big, Building Small: New homes in a Scottish town centre
John Lancaster, Architect and Associate, Smith Scott Mullan

Session 2 | The Power of Local: Growth, wealth and community Beveridge Room

A practical workshop applying a placemaking lens to ensure prosperity, retention of wealth, opportunity and decision making within towns and communities.

Workshop hosts are:

Neil McInroy, Chair, Economic Development Association Scotland
Lauren Bennett, Community Wealth Manager, Fife Council

12.25pm Lunch, exhibition, connection, walking tour The Advantage

1.25pm Afternoon Parallel Session (repeated)

Session 1 | From Vision to Delivery: Stories from around Scotland Auditorium

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 Beveridge Room

A practical workshop applying a placemaking lens to ensure prosperity, retention of wealth, opportunity and decision making within towns and communities.

2.20pm – 3pm Beyond Ambition

This panel session provides representation across the key STP 2026 Manifesto areas and will discuss how we collectively move beyond ambition and what we need, to ensure a long term national commitment to Scotland's towns.

Hosted by Rona Dougall, panellists will include:

David Cowan, Head of Regeneration, Architecture and Place Unit, Scottish Government

Ishabel Bremner, Executive Chair, SLAED

Kirsty Macari, Chair, Architecture and Design Scotland

Neil McInroy, Chair, Economic Development Association Scotland

3pm – 3.30pm From Local Retail to Urban Vitality: The Caldas da Rainha Experience
How the European Capital of Small Retail 2026 is helping shape a more vibrant, innovative and connected city

Sara Lopes Franco, Project Manager – European Capital of Small Retail 2026 & Caldas da Rainha Commercial District | Municipality of Caldas da Rainha

Discover how Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, is harnessing its 2026 European Capital of Small Retail title to transform and celebrate local retail.

This inspiring session will explore how the city is bringing together policy, innovation, entrepreneurship, digitalisation and community engagement to strengthen its high streets and create a more vibrant, sustainable urban centre.

Hear how Caldas da Rainha is tackling city-centre vacancies, supporting new and established businesses, developing digital infrastructure and embedding circular economy practices, while building partnerships that connect retail with wider ambitions for sustainability and urban vitality.

3.30pm – 3.45pm Q&A

3.45pm STC26 Reflections

Host, Rona Dougall

4pm Drinks reception kindly sponsored by Miconex

*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.