World Plumbing Conference to return to England for first time since 1990 as registration opens for 2026 event

Registration for the 14th World Plumbing Conference — an international convening organised by the World Plumbing Council in association with the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) — is now live, with the three‑day event scheduled to run alongside InstallerSHOW at the NEC Birmingham from 23–25 June 2026. According to the organisers, the conference will bring more than 500 international delegates together under the banner “Worldwide Problems – Global Solutions”, offering a mix of keynote sessions, panel discussions, and informal networking opportunities across the InstallerSHOW footprint.

For trade associations and membership bodies, the event represents a rare home‑market opportunity: it will be the first time the conference has been held in England since 1990. Organisers say the pairing with InstallerSHOW — one of the UK’s largest industry exhibitions — is expected to expand reach and make this the largest World Plumbing Conference to date, increasing potential exposure for UK best practice, policy discussion, and supplier engagement. Historical material from previous WPC gatherings underscores the conference’s role as a forum for sharing practice and policy across international plumbing communities.

The conference programme is being framed around the WPC’s thematic priorities. The stated theme — “Worldwide Problems – Global Solutions” — is supported by four programme pillars: Skills; Supply & Conservation; Sustainability; and Safety in the Home. The World Plumbing Council has opened a formal call for presentations, inviting proposals for individual talks and panel sessions that address those pillars; the call materials set out submission guidance and deadlines and promise further detail about keynote speakers and fees in due course.

Organisers are pitching the conference not only as a technical forum but as a vehicle for association engagement and member development. The WPC and CIPHE say the format is intended to accommodate delegation teams, technical leads, and association executives who want to benchmark training, regulatory approaches, and supply‑chain resilience across jurisdictions. The event’s alignment with InstallerSHOW also creates options for exhibitors and delegations to combine exhibition space with conference attendance.

Practical arrangements and ticketing reflect that audience focus. Early‑bird full three‑day delegate passes are priced at £350 + VAT until 31 December 2025, with CIPHE member concessionary rates advertised from £150 + VAT and discounted group bookings available for delegations of ten or more. The official registration portal confirms the conference will take place in Hall 4 of the NEC and lists the conference opening times across the three days. Associations weighing a delegation should note both the member concessions and group discounts designed to reduce per‑head cost.

Kevin Wellman, chief executive of the CIPHE, said in the institute’s press release that the conference “will bring together some of the brightest minds and leading global experts in the sector” and described the occasion as “an opportunity to showcase the UK and its best practices on an international stage.” The CIPHE framed the event as a chance for reciprocal learning with international counterparts and a platform for the UK plumbing and heating sector to influence global conversations on skills, sustainability, and safety.

For trade bodies planning delegations, the immediate practical steps are clear: consider early‑bird registration to secure lower rates, assess the group booking route for member teams, and review the call for presentations if seeking a profile on the programme. The World Plumbing Council, CIPHE, and the official registration portal are the primary sources of logistical detail and submission guidance, and will publish further speaker announcements and scheduling information as the event approaches.