National Activity Conference

Welcome to the NAPA Annual Activity Conference 2026 – The Year of Culture.

Join us this January for the UK’s leading national event dedicated to activity, engagement, and wellbeing in care, hosted by NAPA (National Activity Providers Association).

Introducing NaDCAS: Supporting Excellence in Dementia Care

The National Dementia Care Accreditation Scheme (NaDCAS) empowers care providers to deliver exceptional dementia care. Developed in collaboration with experts, universities, and people with lived experience, our evidence-based framework establishes best-practice standards and supports continuous improvement across nine key focus areas.

We’re proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the NAPA Conference 2026, taking place on Friday 23rd January 2026 at The Liner Hotel, Liverpool. This partnership between NaDCAS and NAPA reflects a shared commitment to professional development, innovation, and meaningful activity within the care and wellbeing sector. We’re thrilled to be part of it.

This year’s conference will explore the theme of Culture in Activity Provision what it means, why it matters, and how it can transform the lives of people living and working in care settings. Whether you work in a care home, supported living, extra care, hospital or community services, this event offers a unique opportunity to expand your knowledge, network with peers, and be part of a movement that’s reshaping care through creativity and connection.

A Global Perspective – In a truly international line-up, we are proud to welcome leading voices from Japan, where culture and tradition play a central role in care. Delegates will hear from experts in cultural engagement, community connection, and creative practice. Offering new perspectives and inspiration to take back to your setting.

Workshops and keynote sessions will showcase evidence-based approaches from across the world, exploring how cultural identity, heritage, and shared meaning can improve wellbeing and enrich daily life.

What is Culture in Activity and Engagement?

Culture goes far beyond food, music, or celebration. It’s about who we are, where we come from, what we value, and how we connect. It’s about language, memory, identity, and inclusion. In care settings, understanding and embracing culture can support:

• Personalised, person-centred care
• Dignity and connection in dementia care
• Belonging and diversity for individuals and staff
• Stronger relationships between teams and communities

This conference will unpack these ideas and give you the tools to embed cultural awareness into everyday activity and engagement.

What Delegates Will Gain

• Practical tools for delivering culturally meaningful activity
• Access to the latest research on cultural engagement in care
• Strategies to meet CQC expectations around personalised, responsive care
• A deeper understanding of how culture impacts wellbeing
• Opportunities to connect with peers and share best practice across the UK
• Insight from inspiring case studies, workshops, and live demonstrations

Who Should Attend

• Activity coordinators, engagement leads, and wellbeing professionals
• Care managers, providers, and senior leadership
• Learning and development teams
• Anyone working in adult health, housing and social care who wants to lead through culture, creativity, and connection

Why This Matters Now

2026 is NAPA’s Year of Culture, a national call to action for activity and care teams to reflect, celebrate, and evolve their approach to meaningful engagement. This conference marks the official launch of that campaign, and we want you to be part of it.