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 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 fuller 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
What Council has agreed so far
Throughout 2025, RCN Council approved many key changes covered in the video below. In December, five more changes were agreed:
- Voting: When a vote takes place, all members present for the debate – online or in person – will be able to vote.
- Funding limits: From 2027, members can receive funded attendance as a representative of a branch or forum up to 4 times in 8 years.
- Representation: There will be a set number of funded places for in-person attendance, distributed via boards (for branches) and the Forum Coordinating Committee (for forums) using a new formula. Details will follow.
- Length of Congress: From 2028, Congress will run over 4 days.
- Emergency items: The process for emergency items will change to reduce the need for last-minute submissions.
Next steps
Following a discovery phase, we’re now developing detailed options. Congress 2026 will remain largely unchanged while we consult members and plan for future improvements. Over the coming months, we’ll continue to share updates on what’s been agreed so far and invite you to contribute your views on key questions.
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.
The Review of Congress Member Group is made up of the following representatives:
- Chair – Jason Warriner, RCN Fellow
- Professional Nursing Committee representative – Ruth Bailey
- Trade Union Committee representative – Sharon Osborne
- International Committee representative – Position to be filled
- Fellows Co-ordinating Committee representative – Rachel Hollis, RCN Fellow
- Students Committee representative – Mary Bichard
- Agenda Committee representative – Dawn Marr
- Nursing Support Workers Committee representative – Sharon Mitchel
Want all the detail?
Watch our England Director Patricia break down the review in an in-depth presentation.
Page last updated - 19/01/2026
