IACAC Conference Manchester October 2026
"Face to Face and Side by Side"
Join us for a unique, rich gathering that will equip
and encourage you in your chaplaincy role!
We’ve secured outstanding speakers, planned visits to some of the UK’s most loved sites and set everything in a comfortable environment - perfect for sharing wisdom, deepening relationships, and together exploring the challenges and opportunities facing airport chaplaincy today.
In the historic and beautiful heart of England’s North West, we’ll be informed, encouraged and inspired, leaving refreshed, with new friendships and better equipped to serve.
Our Programme
The IACAC Annual Conference 2026 in Manchester offers a thoughtfully designed experience that balances learning, reflection, and connection.
The conference features a 3.5-day core programme with morning plenary sessions, led by established and inspiring keynote speakers who will set the tone for learning and dialogue. Some afternoon sessions will offer parallel tracks, allowing participants to tailor their experience:
- Side by Side – exploring diversity, interfaith engagement, and unity
- Serving Well – practical tools, insights, and contemporary topics in chaplaincy
Other highlights include our Conference Opening Dinner at the iconic Concorde Hangar, a Gala Dinner, daily morning reflections, and a dedicated Cultural Immersion Day that brings learning into lived experience.
Following our conference, we have an optional 1-4 day social and cultural programme, giving you the opportunity to deepen friendships and explore the North West together.
Draft program outline
A Personal Focus
The programme has been intentionally designed to avoid overload, with generous breaks and lunch periods, and a wide variety of session formats including presentations, panels, interviews, roundtables, and interactive Q&A.
Throughout the conference, the emphasis will be on personal stories and lived experience rather than purely academic discussion. Members of the IACAC team will also take pastoral responsibility for small groups of delegates, ensuring a welcoming, supportive experience.
Live Translation of Sessions
Delegates for whom English is not their native tongue can opt to receive line-by-line live translation. We are currently investigating an AI system which enables translation into over 240 languages, both text and audio
How to Register
Please register your interest as soon as possible by scrolling to the bottom of this page. This will help us plan logistically and be even bolder in shaping the conference.
Price of conference £850 GBP pp (£1,500 for two guests sharing a room) for four nights' hotel accommodation + conference programme. Information on how to pay will be sent on receipt of your Registration form.
Payment required from 6 April 2026 to confirm a place. Confirmation will be sent when payment is received.
This will increase from 1 July to £900 GBP pp (£1,600 GBP for 2 sharing).
Additional nights pre-conference or post-conference (for those not staying for the post-conference tour) must be booked directly with the Hotel (Doubletree by Hilton, Manchester Airport). Email [email protected] or phone +44 161 435 3000). MENTION WHEN BOOKING that you are attending the IACAC conference in order to receive the best possible rate.
Those staying for the post-conference tour will need to book this as a separate event. Please select a registration ticket below in addition to one for the conference.
Bursaries
If you need to ask about bursaries, visas, ideas, or preferences for the post-conference tour, please get in touch via [email protected]
Payment
Once you have registered using the link at the bottom of this page, please forward your payment to us using one of the methods below. Please try to avoid using PayPal as the commission costs are very high and accessing money is slow.
- Bank transfer - Preferred
Sort Code: 40-20-80
Account Number 90013013
Name on account: The Chaplaincy
BIC: HBUKGB4B
IBAN: GB68HBUK40208090013013
And use reference: “YOUR FULL NAME/26 IACAC”
- PayPal - Only if Bank Transfer is not possible
Use the PayPal account: [email protected].
And use reference: “YOUR FULL NAME/26 IACAC”
In either case, please also email us so we can confirm receipt: at [email protected]
Post Conference Tours
Stay on after the main conference for an optional four-day social and cultural tour exploring the most historic and beautiful places in the North of England. Stay for the whole thing or just pick a day or two - either way, we promise you a wonderful after-conference experience.
From Friday 16 October to Tuesday 20 October, join us and visit:
- Chester: Roman walls, Chester Cathedral, shopping in The Rows, riverside walks, and optional Cathedral Choral Evensong
- Liverpool: Beatles Heritage, The Waterfront, The Albert Dock, choice of museums, Liverpool Cathedrals, and a "Ferry 'cross the Mersey"
- Lyme Park and the Peak District: Jane Austen tour, dramatic landscapes, Bakewell, Chatsworth House, and Derbyshire villages
- York City: York Minster, the Shambles, and the National Railway Museum;
OR a Lake District visit to Windermere and Ambleside
Our tours are designed to be relaxed, flexible, and sociable, giving you time to deepen friendships after the conference while seeing some of the UK’s best-loved places ... or just chill!
Expected cost: This depends on your choice of days/tours. The maximum cost is £580 per person single occupancy, or £390 per person sharing. This includes accommodation, breakfast, planned travel, and entry to Lyme Park. The full breakdown on costs is as follows:
- One night Chester visit, overnight B&B Friday-Saturday
- Check-out and depart Saturday
- £129pp (single occupancy) £79.50pp (double occupancy)
- Two nights Chester and Liverpool visits, overnight B&B Friday-Sunday
- check-out and depart Sunday)
- £249pp (single occupancy) £152pp (double occupancy)
- Three nights Chester, Liverpool and Derbyshire, overnight B&B Friday-Monday
- check-out and depart Monday
- £442pp (single occupancy) £297.50pp (double occupancy)
- Four nights Chester, Liverpool, Derbyshire and York (or Windermere), overnight B&B Friday-Tuesday
- check-out and depart Tuesday
- £580pp (single occupancy) £390pp (double occupancy
Download the full Post-Conference Tour Itinerary PDF for detailed timings, optional costs, and visitor information.
Post Conference Tours - details
Questions?
You may have questions … What speakers have we booked in? What opportunities are there for socialising … or for worship? We’re offering short 30-minute Zoom Briefings for all airport chaplaincy teams worldwide. No pressure, just a chance to get all of your questions answered and see if this conference is right for you. Email us at [email protected] and we’ll arrange a time to suit you
Any problems with booking or registering accommodation or payment (for either the conference or the post-conference tour), please contact [email protected] with CONFERENCE in the subject heading.
Registering below is free but your place is not confirmed until payment has been received. Please do a registration for both the conference and the post conference tour if you are staying on for that.
