The BNC Show has officially announced the full seminar schedule for its flagship spring event, taking place on Tuesday, 14th April 2026 at Central Hall Westminster.

The 2026 programme focuses as always on Seminars with Substance, taking delegates on a curated journey through the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing today's event professionals. 

From the opening keynote on personal resilience to deep dives into the ethical deployment of AI, the day is designed to arm delegates with actionable toolkits.

Morning: Performance, Evolution, and Global Trends

The day kicks off at 09:15 with Kat Thorne, who will tackle the high-pressure nature of event leadership. 

Her session, The Human Performance Advantage, promises to show how small, intentional habit changes can unlock 15% greater performance, helping leaders stay consistent during peak delivery periods.

Following this, a cross-industry panel will explore The New Rules of Engagement, discussing how global corporate and agency teams are adapting to leaner budgets and the demand for more inclusive, human-centric event formats.

At 11:00, the focus shifts to the 'big picture.' 

Chaired by former BBC World presenter Nik Gowing (brought to you by Performing Artistes), a heavyweight panel will discuss Thinking the Unthinkable. This session challenges attendees to look beyond the events industry toward the global economic and sustainable forces reshaping the way we live and work.

Midday: The AI Revolution in Practice

As the clock hits noon, the conversation turns technical yet practical. LaunchLemonade’s Cien and Joe will lead a hands-on session on how to build, train, and safely collaborate with an AI Agent Workforce. This isn’t just about ChatGPT; it’s a deep dive into creating 'swarms' of specialists to handle business tasks with security and governance at the core.

Afternoon: Leadership, Creativity, and Strategy

Post-lunch, the Women in Leadership series returns with a vital discussion: Making Time Count. This panel features honest, lived experiences from women navigating demanding roles, offering "at-the-coalface" strategies for managing competing priorities and delivering excellence without burnout.

At 14:00, the energy ramps up with an inspirational keynote from TV presenter and magician Ben Hanlin (brought to you by Performing Artistes). In How to Create the Impossible, Hanlin will deconstruct the creative process, teaching delegates how to turn bold, ambitious ideas into reality using a repeatable approach to innovation.

The final sessions of the day go "Behind the Brief," with a panel of experts unpacking the operational excellence needed to balance stakeholder expectations with meaningful attendee experiences. The programme concludes with a forward-thinking session on Embedding AI without losing the human touch, providing practical KPIs and metrics to prove the value of tech investments to internal boards.

“This programme reflects the reality of being an event professional in 2026,” said BNC Director Nathan Paulden. 

“It’s about balancing the 'tech' with the 'human,' the 'strategy' with the 'delivery,' and the 'habit' with the 'performance.' We want our delegates to leave not just inspired, but equipped.

"This is an incredible line-up of speakers and we are grateful to them all for bringing such insight, engergy and substance to our Show. Thanks especially to JJ Jackson of Performing Artistes and Cvent."

Registration is free for qualified corporate and agency event professionals.

• Date: Tuesday, 14th April 2026

• Location: Central Hall Westminster, London

• Full Schedule & Registration: https://eur.cvent.me/2PM30G 

09:15 – 09:45 | Opening Keynote

The Human Performance Advantage for Event Leaders

Why Small Habits Drive Big Performance

Event leaders operate in high-pressure environments where focus, energy and decision-making directly impact delivery. When habits are working against you, performance suffers - at work and at home.

In this session, Kat Thorne shows how one small, intentional habit change can unlock 15% greater performance by improving focus, resilience and consistency under pressure. Rather than relying on willpower or adrenaline, you’ll learn how habits create the conditions for sustained high performance even during peak event delivery.

You’ll explore:

• How habits directly influence performance

• Why improving performance at work starts with habits outside of work

• How one small habit change can create measurable gains without adding more to your workload

You’ll leave with a practical framework and one habit you can implement immediately improving how you perform at work and how you show up at home.

10:00 - 10:45 | Panel

Evolving Events: Formats, Experience & the New Rules of Engagement

The events landscape is evolving rapidly - driven by changing audience expectations, new formats, and increasing pressure to demonstrate value.

In this session, industry professionals from global, corporate, and agency backgrounds share how they are adapting their approach to event design and delivery. From innovative formats that drive deeper engagement, to integrating AI, managing complex stakeholder needs, and delivering high-quality experiences on leaner budgets, the panel will explore what’s working right now - and what’s not.

The conversation will also highlight the importance of maintaining the human element in events, alongside building more inclusive and considered experiences for diverse audiences.

Attendees will leave with fresh ideas, practical takeaways, and a clearer understanding of how to evolve their own event strategies.

11:00 - 11:45 | Panel

Brought to you by Performing Artistes. Visit Stand 253

Thinking the Unthinkable: Navigating What’s Next for Events, Business and Beyond

In a world shaped by rapid technological change, economic uncertainty and growing pressure to act sustainably, how do event professionals - and the wider business community - prepare for what comes next?

Chaired by Nik Gowing, former BBC World presenter and author of Thinking the Unthinkable, this forward-looking panel brings together leading voices across AI, sustainability and the global economy to explore the forces redefining how we live, work and connect.

From the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence to the realities of sustainable transformation and shifting economic landscapes, this conversation will challenge assumptions, spark new thinking and open up fresh perspectives on the future.

Expect an honest, wide-ranging discussion that doesn’t claim to have all the answers - but instead equips you with the mindset and insight needed to navigate uncertainty with confidence.

12:00 - 12:45 | LaunchLemonade Presents

How to Build, Train and Safely Collaborate with Your AI Agent Workforce

In this session, Cien and Joe will walk you through how to build and train your own AI agents, from a Chief of Staff to a full swarm of specialists, while keeping security and governance at the centre. Delegates will walk away understanding how to create AI agents they can trust, connect them into a working team, and confidently deploy them across real business tasks.

13:00 – 13:45  | Women in Leadership Panel

Making Time Count: Practical Strategies for Demanding Event Roles

As part of the ongoing Women in Leadership series, this session explores how event professionals can make better use of their time in roles where expectations are high and resources are often limited. 

In an industry defined by delivery, deadlines and constant change, time is one of the most stretched and valuable resources. Balancing competing priorities at work, alongside responsibilities outside of it, can often feel relentless. 

Bringing together women from across the events industry, this panel will share honest, lived experiences of how they navigate these pressures. From making decisions under time constraints to delivering with limited resources, the focus is firmly on what works in practice. 

Rather than theory or long-term ideals, this session centres on the day-to-day - the small shifts, smarter processes and practical approaches that save time, reduce pressure and support more effective delivery. 

Attendees will leave with clear, actionable ideas they can apply immediately to improve how they manage their time, their workload and their overall approach to delivery.

14:00 - 14:30  | Inspirational Keynote

Brought to you by Performing Artistes. Visit Stand 253

How to Create the Impossible: Turning Bold Ideas into Reality

What if “impossible” was just the starting point?

In this high-energy keynote, TV magician and presenter Ben Hanlin shares how to unlock creativity, think bigger and turn ambitious ideas into reality. Drawing on his experience creating “impossible” moments for TV, live shows and global brands, Ben reveals a simple, repeatable approach to innovation that anyone can use.

From setting bold goals and building a creative mindset to embracing failure and strengthening collaboration, this session is packed with practical tools and fresh perspectives to help you and your team push boundaries and bring ideas to life.

Expect an engaging, inspiring talk that will leave you thinking differently and ready to take action.

14:45 - 15:15 | Panel

Behind the Brief: Rethinking Event Success from Strategy to Experience

What does successful event delivery really look like in today’s landscape?

This panel brings together experienced event professionals from across corporate, global, and high-volume environments to unpack the realities behind planning and delivering impactful events. Moving beyond theory, the discussion will explore how event success is shaped by a combination of strategy, creativity, operational excellence, and human insight.

From managing complex stakeholder expectations and global event formats, to balancing budgets, using data effectively, and building meaningful supplier relationships, the session will provide practical, experience-led perspectives. It will also explore how small but intentional changes, such as more inclusive planning and evolving audience expectations, can significantly enhance the attendee experience.

Delegates will gain honest insights into the challenges event professionals face day-to-day, alongside actionable ideas to improve outcomes, adapt formats, and create more thoughtful, engaging events.

15:30-15:50 | Presenter

Don’t Lose the Room: Using AI Without Losing the Human Connection

You’re already using AI – but is it making your events more efficient and impactful? Built on practice, not theory, this session shows you how you can embed AI across the full event lifecycle in a way that saves time, proves value, and strengthens trust with your attendees and internal stakeholders.

You’ll learn:

• Where AI adds value across the event lifecycle and where the human touch is non-negotiable

• How personalisation can enhance the attendee experience and build attendee trust

• How AI can strengthen your event reporting and build credibility in your events programme

• Practical KPIs and metrics to prove the impact of your AI use