Annual Conference is a great opportunity to come together and meet fellow members, hear the latest updates and announcements, celebrate success, watch or join the debate and voting on of Motions, get answers to your questions and more.
Activities including Standard Bearer Competitions and an act of Remembrance take place over a weekend from Friday to Sunday, with the main business of conference starting on Saturday. For members who cannot attend in person, Annual Conference’s hybrid format enables you to watch the main business of Conference online.
All RBL branches, regardless of compliance, may propose Motions to Conference on RBL’s policies, rules or Royal Charter and send a delegate to Conference to vote and speak on their behalf.
Our next Annual Conference will be held 8-10 May 2026
at The Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2GR
Registration will open 15 January 2026
Annual Conference 2026
Join us for Annual Conference 2026 in Brighton, East Sussex. Whether you’re thinking about attending for the first time or are a regular attendee, this is a great opportunity to experience the comradeship of RBL membership.
What’s on?
The provisional agenda will be published in March 2026. Familiar agenda highlights will be returning, including:
- Main Conference: addresses from keynote speakers, presentation of reports and accounts for the past year and the debate and voting on of Motions.
- Membership Forum: members ask senior staff questions relating to RBL’s work and the branch and membership experience.
- Exhibition: staff from RBL teams and associated organisations exhibit to attendees.*
- National Standard Bearer Competitions: a prestigious occasion, regional winners participate in front of qualified judges.*
- Membership Awards: members and formations receive recognition for their achievements in fields such as fundraising and recruitment.
- Act of Remembrance: a cornerstone of the agenda in which members come together to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces Community.*
*not available to online attendees.
Key dates
- Registration opens: 15 January 2026
- In-person attendee registration closes: 23 March 2026
- Online attendee registration closes: 6 April 2026
Annual Conference 2025
Annual Conference 2025 took place at the Harrogate Convention Centre in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
Check out the photos from the conference, read the summer 2025 edition of Legion magazine to read about some of the highlights, watch the highlights reel video below, or see the full recordings of the main Conference and Overseas Forum on YouTube.
Annual Conference 2026 FAQs
Information will be updated as available.
General
Where will Annual Conference 2026 take place?
The Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2GR
When will Annual Conference 2026 take place?
Friday 8th to Sunday 10th May 2026.
Please note this is one week earlier than Annual Conference 2025.
Registration
How do I know how many delegates my Branch can send to conference?
Branches with up to 300 members may send one delegate.
Branches with over 300 members can send two delegates.
Branches with over 1,000 members can send three delegates.
After that, one additional delegate is permitted for every 500 members.
When does Registration open and close?
- Registration opens on Thursday 15th January.
- In person attendance closes midday on Monday 23rd March.
- Virtual attendance closes midday on Monday 6th April.
Who can attend Annual Conference?
Anyone may attend Annual Conference as a Visitor (this includes carers), but they cannot propose or second motions or vote.
Branch delegates may propose or second for motions and vote on motions.
County Delegates may speak for or against motions but may not vote.
Can delegates attend and vote online?
How do I register for Annual Conference?
The link for registration will be shared in our usual communications channels including Central News, the eNewsletter and via this webpage during the registration period.
After registration opens, if you need support with the process, please contact your Membership Engagement Officer (MEO) (branch secretaries and voting delegates only) or [email protected] (for all other members and visitors).
Can someone register on my behalf?
Yes.
If you need support with the registration process, please contact your Membership Engagement Officer (MEO) (for branch secretaries and voting delegates) or [email protected] (for all other members and visitors).
Once registration opens, if I register to attend in person but can’t attend, what do I do?
Whilst registration is still open, re-enter the portal from your confirmation email and click ‘Cancel Attendance’.
You are then able to re-register up until the published deadline to attend online.
If I register as a virtual attendee, how do I join on the day?
Joining instructions will be emailed to you by our streaming partner, LUMI, closer to the date of the event.
Can a branch change its voting delegate if the one registered cannot attend?
Yes.
To change the voting delegate, the Branch Secretary must delete the existing registration and create a new one. These changes must be made by the published deadlines for in-person or virtual attendance registration, depending upon the method of attendance.
If you would like to make any changes after registration closes, please contact [email protected] stating your requested changes.
Accommodation & Travel
What accommodation is near the venue?
Can I park at the venue?
Although there are no parking spaces at the venue. There are car parking options nearby but please be aware that parking in Brighton is at a premium. Information on Brighton’s car parks can be found on the Visit Brighton website.
For customers who are Blue Badge holders there are lay-bys at the front and back of the venue where you can drop off or pick up. Please note these areas have a 3-hour parking limit. More information about Blue Badge parking in Brighton is available on the council’s website.
Is there a recommended taxi service?
Yes. Please find the details on Brighton & Hove Radio Cabs.
I am arriving by coach. What details do I need?
To be confirmed.
Agenda & Itinerary
When will the agenda be available?
A provisional agenda will be released eight weeks before Conference and the final agenda will be shared with registered attendees four weeks before Conference.
When are the National Standard Bearers Competitions?
Details will be provided in the provisional agenda.
Who will be exhibiting at Annual Conference?
Representatives of various RBL directorates as well as external organisations.
Details will be released with the final agenda.
Will there be an act of Remembrance?
Yes. Details will be provided in the final agenda which will be sent to all registered attendees four weeks before Conference.
What time will the registration desks be open at the venue?
Details to be confirmed.
I need to arrange a meeting point with other attendees, can you assist?
The Membership Events team will unfortunately not be able to make personal arrangements on behalf of conference attendees.
Will there be evening entertainment at Annual Conference and, if so, when and where will it take place?
Details to be confirmed.
Finance
Can my branch request financial support for sending a voting delegate?
The Jim Prince fund was established to assist in sending a delegate from a small branch to Annual Conference who otherwise could not afford it. To be eligible, the branch must:
- Have fewer than 100 members.
- Have general funds amounting to less than £1,500.
Branches must formally apply for the Jim Prince Fund by completing the form via this link. Applications must be submitted along with the delegate registration for the branch.
Who do I need to contact regarding my expenses for Annual Conference?
National Awards
How can I nominate someone for an award?
Details on how to submit nominations for awards are published each year in the October Circular.
Please see your Branch or County Secretary for details or contact [email protected]
If am an award winner, will I be sent a photo of myself with my award? And when?
Those collecting awards at Annual Conference will be sent a photograph of themselves collecting the award within approximately 2 months of the event.
Compliance
All branches may submit motions to Annual Conference, regardless of compliance status.
How do I prove I’m compliant?
Compliance sits with the branch, not with the attendee/individual. Please contact your Membership Engagement Officer (MEO) should you require more information.
How do I ensure my branch is compliant and eligible for an award?
Compliant branches are those that have submitted their annual accounts on or before 30 September 2025 and their MS1 form by 31 December 2025 to their Membership Engagement Officer (MEO).
Accessibility
Does the venue offer accessibility provision?
Yes.
For all details of the venue’s accessibility provision, please visit: Accessibility at the Brighton Centre.
Please let us know your requirements when registering.
Catering
Which catering options will be available at Annual Conference?
The Brighton Centre boasts several catering outlets serving hot and cold food.
The venue is also a short walk from a selection of restaurants and cafes.
I have very specific dietary needs; will I be catered for?
When registering, please state your dietary requirements and the events team will share this with the venue. Please note that we cannot guarantee that individual dietary requirements will be catered for other than the requirement for common allergens to be listed on food products on sale.
Membership Forum
How do I submit questions to the Membership Forum?
Details will be shared with registered attendees prior to Conference.
As a virtual delegate will I be able to ask questions during the Membership Forum?
Yes, you will be able to ask questions via the chat function which will be available on the day.
Please note that these FAQs will be updated as information becomes available.
We will also share updates in our usual communications channels.
Standing Orders of Conference
View the Standing Orders of Conference. These have been prepared by the Conference Committee, in accordance with and supplementary to The Royal Charter and approved by the Board of Trustees.
