SPA National Conference and Awards 2026 - #SPANC26

The SPA National Conference and Awards is back and better than ever!

#SPANC26 is coming to Norwich from 27th – 29th March 2026 with a top lineup of speakers, workshops, networking meet ups and the UK’s largest student publication awards.

We’re beyond excited to be bringing SPANC to Norfolk’s beautiful and historic city (which has not one, but two cathedrals) thanks to our host publication Concrete, the University of East Anglia’s student newspaper.

Keep up to date with speaker announcements and the launch of our national awards by following us on Instagram or signing up to receive the SPA’s newsletter. 

If you have any questions not covered below, email events@spajournalism.com

Where will #SPANC26 be held?

The conference and awards ceremony will take place on the University of East Anglia (UEA) campus (Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ).

What’s included in my ticket?

• A welcome social on Friday (with dinner!) giving you the chance to meet students from across the UK and Ireland

• Access to the full conference programme with more than 20 panel discussions and keynote speaker events from top journalists from national and regional publications, covering sports, politics, investigations, culture and more

• Access to one-to-one drop-in sessions with senior industry professionals, as well as workshops to get bespoke feedback on your work (including copy clinic, CV workshop, your very own free byline photo and much more)

• A goody bag full of freebies

• A reserved seat at the SPA Awards, including a three-course sit-down dinner, as we celebrate the best of student journalism

• Lunch on Saturday and Sunday

• An opportunity to attend our AGM in person and shape SPA policy

• Run in-person for election to be part of the SPA’s executive committee and put on an even better event in 2027

What about if I book accommodation?

If you buy an accommodated ticket, we have more options available than ever - including this year on campus, just two minutes away from our conference venue. 

Staying in on-campus accommodation is the easiest way to get the most out of #SPANC26.

Rooms at the Broadview Hotel are just a short walk from conference sessions, workshops and socials, meaning no late-night travel and more time to network with other attendees. On-campus rooms include a mix of shared twin, double and a limited number of single rooms, offering greater comfort and flexibility. Availability of room types is limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you book a twin room you’ll be staying at either the Broadview Hotel on the University of East Anglia (UEA) campus, the Premier Inn Norwich City Centre (Duke Street) or the Premier Inn (Nelson City Centre). You’ll be sharing a twin room with one other person. Tickets for the city centre are cheaper to accommodate for the travel time. 

Each twin ticket provides one delegate with one bed in a shared twin room. Two people must each purchase a twin ticket in order to share the room.

For twin rooms you can indicate who you would like to share with or you will be allocated a roommate by the SPA. Where possible, we will take into account publication and other preferences provided at checkout. If you have accessibility requirements or specific room-sharing needs, please let us know when booking.

If you book a shared double room these tickets can only be booked in pairs, and you will be sharing one double bed, so are likely most suited for couples or close friends. Private double rooms and single rooms are also available. 

If you book a conference and awards only ticket, it is up to you where you stay, and the SPA will not be responsible for sourcing your accommodation.

We also have conference-only tickets available for those who just want to take in all the knowledge.

What food will I get?

A light lunch and refreshments will be available on both conference days, with a formal three-course meal served at the awards ceremony. 

You will be asked to provide any dietary requirements during the ticket checkout process. We are able to cater for a wide range of dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher and common allergies.

How do I get to Norwich?

If you’re getting the train, Norwich Railway Station runs direct services to and from London Liverpool Street, Cambridge, Peterborough, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham. 

The SPA is aware that there may be service disruptions on some rail routes during the #SPANC26 weekend. We recommend checking your journey in advance to help ensure smooth travel to Norwich.

🚆 Exclusive #SPANC26 travel discount with Greater Anglia

We’ve negotiated an exclusive #SPANC26 discounted fare with Greater Anglia for delegates travelling to Norwich from selected stations - including London Liverpool Street. This gives delegates a third off the standard ticket price!

This special rate is only available to #SPANC26 attendees travelling to Norwich on Friday and back on Sunday, and must be booked directly via the the link in your confirmation email.

The discount applies on eligible services from participating stations across the Greater Anglia network. We strongly recommend booking early to secure the best availability.

Travelling from further afield?

If you’re coming from outside the Greater Anglia network, make sure you check if it's cheaper to book two separate tickets - one from your local station to a qualifying Greater Anglia station (such as London Liverpool Street), and then a second discounted ticket to Norwich using the #SPANC26 link above.

Important Sunday travel note:

On Sunday 29 March, there are planned engineering works which means the Norwich to London line will involve a short section of replacement bus service. This does not significantly increase the overall journey time, and the connection is coordinated as part of the service. If you’re travelling to/via London, the overall journey remains straightforward and well within normal weekend travel times.

If you are looking to take a coach, National Express runs direct services to Norwich bus station or directly to the University of East Anglia (UEA) campus from London, Stansted, Heathrow and destinations in East Anglia. Flixbus also runs services from London, departing from Stratford.

If you’re driving, you can get to Norwich by following the A11 from London/South East, or the A14 and A11 from the East Midlands/North. Free on-site parking is available at the Broadview Hotel. Delegates staying in the Premier Inn Norwich City Centre can park in the St Andrews Multi-Storey Car Park at a starting rate of £2 per hour. Parking is not included with our accommodated tickets.

If you’re travelling from further afield, Ryanair and easyJet operate flights to Stansted Airport from Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh and Newquay. Once you’ve arrived at Stansted, you can take a direct train or coach to Norwich.

When should I arrive?

Registration for the conference will take place from 3pm on 27th March. Please make sure you arrive in time to get yourselves checked in and ready for our Friday night social! If you're arriving on Saturday, just turn up to the welcome desk in the morning.

Is the site accessible?

All venues and spaces on the UEA campus are fully accessible. If you have any concerns, get in touch.

Can I get financial help to come to SPANC?

The SPA’s Financial Assistance Scheme aims to help individuals who are currently underrepresented in journalism attend SPANC. This includes, but it is not limited to, those from lower socio-economic or ethnic minority backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTQI+, or have a disability. 

Funding will cover all basic costs associated with attending #SPANC26, including: 

• Travel to and from the event within the UK or Ireland

• Accommodation for up to two nights

• Tickets to the full conference and awards evening

• Meals during the conference weekend

The scheme may also see some applicants awarded partial funding.

You can apply by completing our online application form. 

Awards night

The SPA’s National Awards is a celebration of all the excellent work that takes place across our member publications throughout the year! Our awards cover a wide variety of article categories and publications, and previous winners have gone on to secure amazing jobs across the industry and beyond. 

This year’s winners will be announced at our awards ceremony on the Saturday of #SPANC26. More details on how to enter the awards can be found here. 

The awards ceremony is a formal evening event. Attendees are encouraged to dress smartly, but there is no strict dress code.

Code of Conduct

All attendees at #SPANC26 are expected to behave in a professional and respectful manner throughout the conference weekend, including at social events and the awards ceremony. The SPA’s code of conduct applies at all times, and any concerns can be raised in confidence with a member of the SPA team.

Photography and filming

Photography and filming will take place during #SPANC26 for promotional and archival purposes. If you would prefer not to be photographed or filmed, please inform a member of the SPA team at registration.

Do you offer refunds?

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer refunds on SPANC tickets.

SPANC is a large event, and the cost of each ticket is committed well in advance to keep prices as low as possible. Once tickets are sold, the SPA immediately incurs non-recoverable costs including venue hire, accommodation bookings, catering, speaker travel, production, and awards evening expenses.

Because of this, we’re unable to refund tickets if circumstances change or you are no longer able to attend.

Tickets may be transferred to another attendee, subject to our ticket terms and any accommodation constraints. Get in touch if you want to do this and we can let you know if anyone is on the waiting list.

Been to an SPA regional conference? You're invited to go first.

If you attended an SPA regional conference this year, you’ll get exclusive benefits when you book tickets for #SPANC26 - as a thank-you for supporting SPA events throughout the year.

Regional attendees get access to exclusive extras at #SPANC26, designed to reward the people who support student journalism all year round, not just at the national conference. 

What you’ll get as a regional conference alum

🎟️ Priority booking for workshops

You’ll get early access to SPANC26 workshop sign-ups before general release, with a proportion of spots reserved for regional alum - giving you first pick of the most popular sessions.

Last year, workshops included:

• Investigative reporting masterclasses;

• Breaking news and live blogging sessions;

• Podcasting;

• Careers clinics with senior editors and newsroom leaders.

These sessions regularly fill up fast, priority access will be on a first-come-first-serve basis.

🎁 An upgraded #SPANC26 goodie bag

Regional conference attendees will receive an enhanced SPA goodie bag at #SPANC26, with extra freebies reserved exclusively for alumni of our regional events. Think: better kit, better swag, and a proper thank-you for backing SPA beyond the headline weekend.

🎉 An exclusive alumni raffle

You’ll also be entered into a regional alumni-only raffle, to win 1-to-1 mentoring or careers sessions with journalists from The Times and JournoResources.

These prizes are only open to those who attended an SPA regional conference - and are designed to give you something genuinely useful, not just another tote bag.

Why we’re doing this

The SPA’s regional conferences are where ideas are tested, skills are built, and communities are formed. If you’ve already given your time, energy and curiosity at a regional event, we want #SPANC26 to give something extra back.

If that’s you, keep an eye on your inbox — priority booking details will be sent directly to eligible attendees.

We’ll see you in Norwich!