Manchester will be the host city for the Making Active Places 2026 conference, run by Active Travel England, with Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, selected as the venue for the national event 22nd / 23rd September 2026.
The conference will bring together professionals working across public health, education, planning and development, transport and the environment to the city, with up to 800 delegates expected per day.
The two-day programme will combine a conference, exhibition and multiple workshop formats, but with Manchester’s event community looking to expand a fringe programme across the city, further reinforcing the city’s growing reputation for delivering collaborative, community-driven, city-wide events at scale.
The win adds further momentum to Manchester’s rise as one of the UK’s most in-demand event destinations, known for its collaborative approach, distinctive venues and strong civic support.
Active Travel England is an executive agency of the UK Government, supported by the Department for Transport, with a mission to increase the number of local journeys being walked, wheeled or cycled by 2030. Its annual conference is a key part of this strategy, creating a national gathering for policymakers, practitioners and changemakers shaping the future of active travel in England.
Manchester City Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) have worked alongside Active Travel England to bring the event to the city. National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman CBE, will also support the event, further reinforcing the region’s position as a national leader in sustainable transport and urban mobility.
Hosting duties will be led by Aviva Studios, the city’s iconic venue, quickly establishing itself as a home for headline cultural moments and large-scale business events. Its role as the central hub for the conference demonstrates its position as a connector for city-wide events, able to draw in partners and communities from across Manchester.
The programme will also place a strong emphasis on legacy and activation, with plans already underway to explore how the conference can leave a lasting impact beyond the two-day event, from community engagement to skills, education and behavioural change initiatives linked to active travel.
Greater Manchester Active Travel Commissioner Sarah Storey said, “I’m delighted Active Travel England has chosen Greater Manchester to debut this conference, and the opportunity to share the progress being made in the city region as well as other parts of England. One of the key things people want from their neighbourhoods are safe, easy and enjoyable ways to get around – whether to school or the shops or other amenities – and investing in walking and cycling facilities unlocks those benefits for everyone, of any age. I look forward to joining this event and hearing about all the work happening across the country.”
Ruth Halliday, Senior Event Manager at Factory International, the organisation that programmes and operates Aviva Studios, commented: “Securing Making Active Places 2026 is a brilliant demonstration of the confidence event organisers have in Manchester and in Aviva Studios. What’s especially exciting about this event is its ambition, its reach across the city, and the way it brings together policy, people and place. We’re proud to play a central role in an event that will ripple far beyond our walls and leave a real legacy for the city.”
“Victoria Braddock, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, added: “Making Active Places 2026 is the calibre of national event that showcases Manchester’s strengths as a destination built on strong partnerships and bold thinking, with venues such as Aviva Studios offering the flexibility required to host events of this scale. The conference also closely aligns with our ambitions to improve sustainability across the destination, enabling visitors to make sustainable, healthy, and accessible choices when travelling around the city-region.”
