Reviewing RCN Congress for a more inclusive, accessible and sustainable future
Get informed and involved in an exciting new era for the nursing event of the year
We’re reviewing our flagship member event, and we need to hear from you.
Every year, Congress brings together members from across the UK to learn, debate, celebrate and advocate for our profession.
It’s a member-led event, enshrined in our Royal Charter, designed to influence the policy and future direction of our College. Since our first meeting in 1967, it has remained the biggest event of our calendar.
Why are we reviewing Congress?
Despite evolving over time, Congress has never had a full review. Our membership has grown, with more than 550,000 members today. Technologies have changed, and we have growing environmental responsibilities.
It’s time to reimagine Congress for a more inclusive, accessible and sustainable future.
What we’ve learned
Surveys show that some members don’t attend due to cost, location and time off work. Almost half of members surveyed have never considered attending.
Our auditors recommend reviewing the structure and duration to remove barriers – especially for those with disabilities or caring responsibilities – so we can welcome more members at Congress.
The review process
Two project groups – one member led, one staff led – are working to:
- ensure Congress reflects the views of all members
- explore practical improvements
- embrace technology for hybrid participation
- make Congress more inclusive and environmentally sustainable
Our guiding principles
Congress will:
- be hybrid, with full online participation
- feature a timed agenda and broader ways to engage
- offer fair funding for attendance
- ensure votes reflect the wider membership
- support learning, media visibility, and financial sustainability
- be simple, inclusive, and aligned with our Royal Charter
Next steps
Following a discovery phase, we’re now developing detailed options. Congress 2026 will remain unchanged while we consult members and plan for future improvements.
RCN Council aims to agree the new format for Congress in 2026 and phase implementation over Congress 2027 and 2028.
So, what do you think?
Share your thoughts on any of what you’ve read above, or any aspect of Congress, in the box below. You might want to think about:
- How we can ensure Congress is relevant to our whole membership.
- How we could make Congress more environmentally sustainable.
- How we could better embrace technology.
- How we could make Congress as inclusive as possible.
We want to hear from all our members. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been to Congress once, 20 times or never.
We’ll use your comments to help shape the Congress of the future.
Want all the detail?
Watch our England Director Patricia break down the review in an in-depth presentation.
Page last updated - 10/10/2025
