The King’s Fund Annual conference 2026: good health for all
- Date
- 17 Nov 2026 - 18 Nov 2026
- Location
- The King's Fund, London, W1G 0AN
- Price
- Starting at £100 (+VAT)
- Social
- KFAnnual
The future of health and care will not be shaped by ambition alone, but by the choices we make now.
Our Annual conference provides an opportunity to come together to consider what it would mean to have good health for all by 2040 and what is needed to make this possible. We will explore what’s holding us back, what needs to change, and how we do this with people at its heart.
:format(webp))
Across the country and beyond, some of the most significant changes shaping health and care are already underway.
Advances in technology, particularly artificial intelligence, shifting public expectations, changing workforce dynamics and growing financial pressures are beginning to reshape how care is delivered and experienced.
But these changes are playing out against a system that is struggling to keep pace.
“I attended this conference without really knowing what to expect and I have walked away feeling the possibility of some hope. Working in this sector is so challenging and overwhelming that a glimmer was needed. Thank you for running such an amazing conference. ”
With health inequalities widening, healthy life expectancy falling, and a forecasted doubling of health care spending, there is a growing consensus that the current model cannot continue as it is. This sits alongside a changing political and policy context, shaped by the recent local elections and the recently announced NHS Modernisation Bill, which are likely to influence the direction of health and care in the months and years ahead.
Something has to change.
Bringing together leaders from across health and social care, government and beyond, and drawing on our Good health for all: reimagining the welfare state project, we will examine how the relationship between people, communities and the state is changing, and what this means for the future of health and care.
Together we will explore what’s needed to create a system that can meet the nation’s current and future health needs, acknowledging that good health means different things to different people depending on their circumstances. And we’ll ask, how do we make these big decisions under sustained financial and political challenges?
The format
Through a mix of plenaries and themed sessions – be challenged, learn and do – the conference will offer opportunities to debate, share insight and test ideas. Sessions will combine panel discussions, case studies and interactive workshops, designed to help participants think differently about the future: testing assumptions, and considering what needs to change to move from ambition to practical action, as well as their own role in making change happen.
This conference goes beyond responding to today’s pressures. Together, we’ll look ahead to how we can shape a health and care system that delivers better health for everyone — now and in the decades to come.
Day one: the future is now
It’s 2040 and we have good health for all. What does that mean, and what could it look like? On the opening day of our annual conference, we’ll start the conversation about what the future could look like, and what it means for health and care.
Together we’ll consider:
what the future of health and care is already starting to look like, including the impact of technology, artificial intelligence and new models of care
how other countries are moving faster or taking different approaches, and what this could mean for the UK
the political and practical choices that will shape the future of health and care, including funding, reform and the role of the state
what it would take to reshape the welfare state to support better health outcomes over the next 50 years
what it will take to move at pace, build momentum and turn long‑term ambition into real change.
Day two: we have the vision, but how do we get there?
Having explored where we want to be by 2040, we turn our focus to how we get there. The day will explore how our current ambitions - set out in national policy and spending plans - are enabling and standing in the way of us achieving our vision for good health for all by 2040. We will consider what needs to change at the national and local levels to make sure our policies, practices and actions are aligned with the vision.
Sessions will explore issues including:
how to navigate the politics of health — what makes change stick and how to work with different political parties
how to move the dial on social care, and what it will take to shift from long-standing ambition to practical reform
what it would take to improve health for children and young people now, and what this means for the future system
what the future of patient voice and experience looks like
what works operationally in health, and what we can learn from outside the sector about improving performance at scale
what would need to change for neighbourhoods and communities to play a more central role in improving health.
Ticket prices
Super early bird
Until 30 June you can get an additional 25% off your early bird ticket. Don't miss out, secure your ticket today.
Invoices
Please note, there is a £20+VAT surcharge to cover the cost of processing invoices. This is in addition to the ticket price and will be added to your invoice. There is one invoice fee per order, not per ticket. There is no charge for paying by debit or credit card.
Free tickets
We offer a limited number of free tickets for people with lived experience to ensure a balance of voices in the room. To apply for a free place, please complete our free ticket request form and a member of the Events team will aim to respond within two working days. We will only consider requests made using this form.
-
Community and early career rate
-
Charities and public sector
-
Business rates
Get in touch about sponsorship and exhibition
If you would like a conversation about your business goals, and how being involved with future events can help you, you find out more here or email the Partnerships team.
Frequently asked questions
Got a question about our events? Go to our frequently asked questions.
Programme: full programme to be released 1 July
It’s 2040 and we have good health for all. What does that mean, and what could it look like?
Having explored where we want to be by 2040, we turn our focus to how we get there. The day will explore how our current ambitions are enabling or standing in the way of us achieving our vision.
Contact us
-
Booking or programme enquiries
-
Sponsorship and exhibition enquiries