IWG Global Summit 2026 Programme Announced: Connecting Every Level of Women's Sport
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The full agenda is live - curated to give delegates direct access to the decision-makers, innovators and evidence shaping the future of women's sport
We're excited to announce that the programme for the IWG Global Summit 2026 is now live.
Taking place 9–11 July 2026 in Birmingham, UK, the Summit will bring together more than 1,200 leaders, practitioners, researchers and changemakers from across the world to explore what it takes to move Beyond the Breakthrough for women and girls in sport and physical activity.
The agenda has been curated to do what conferences rarely do - connect every level of decision-making in women's sport under one roof, giving delegates direct access to the people controlling investment, shaping policy, driving innovation and proving what's possible on the ground.
Who's in the Room
From people making decisions at the highest level to the innovators and practitioners proving what's possible on the ground:
Global governance and sport leadership featuring IOC President Kirsty Coventry OLY and World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe OLY exploring where global sport is heading.
Investment and commercial growth with international investor Michele Kang discussing the transformation of women's football, and Amanda Staveley (PCP Capital Partners) on where capital is flowing and untapped opportunities.
Elite athlete leadership as Olympic legends Dame Katherine Grainger OLY and Dame Denise Lewis OLY, alongside Dr Araba Chintoh, Sue Day MBE, and Sophie Christiansen CBE PLY, examine why the journey from podium to boardroom remains uneven for women - and how to fix it.
Organisational transformation with CEOs from British Gymnastics, Women in Sport, and The Football Association sharing insights on leading through complexity and change.
Evidence-based strategy from researchers at Loughborough University, Victoria University, and the University of Minnesota providing the data shaping policy and practice.
Grassroots innovation with community leaders from rural India to the Pacific Islands demonstrating what's possible at local level.
Media, visibility and technology featuring leaders from Sky Sports, Getty Images, Ipsos, and sports tech founders building the next generation of solutions.
Beyond the Breakthrough: Five Themes, One Question
The Summit is structured around five interconnected focus areas - Leadership, Investment, Innovation, Visibility, and Participation.
Beyond the Breakthrough connects them all: it's not about celebrating progress, but about making it last - exploring how ideas, policies and approaches are embedded, adapted and sustained across different contexts to create change that cannot be turned back.
All five themes explore the central question: What makes change unstoppable?
Delegates will experience:
Main Stage sessions with the people shaping where investment flows, policy shifts and decisions get made
25+ hours of Shift\Sessions - practical, interactive workshops designed to move from insight to application
Continental Sessions connecting global strategies to regional realities across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania
Extended networking built into every day as core programming - because the partnerships that unlock funding, the conversations that solve your biggest challenges, and the relationships that accelerate your work happen when this network is in the room together
Insight Stage presentations spotlighting emerging ideas and case studies
Direct Access to the Network Shaping Women's Sport
This isn't just a speaker list. It's direct access to the network shaping the future of women's sport globally.
The programme creates genuine connection between:
Governance ↔️ Investment
Elite performance ↔️ Grassroots innovation
Research ↔️ Real-world practice
Policy ↔️ Commercial growth
A Once-in-Four-Years Gathering
The IWG Global Summit takes place every four years. With our next Summit not scheduled until 2030, in Brazil this is a critical moment for anyone shaping policy, leading delivery, driving investment, or building programmes in women's sport and physical activity.
It's where delegates gain the insight that sharpens strategy, the evidence that strengthens their case, and the relationships that turn progress into momentum.
Registration Now Open
Full session access, personalised scheduling, and the complete delegate experience will be available through the Summit event app for registered ticket holders in June.
Whether you're shaping policy, leading delivery, driving investment or building programmes - we look forward to welcoming you to Birmingham.
Comments