Reform UK’s 2026 National Conference
- Ryan Edwards
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Reform UK’s 2026 National Conference takes place from 3–5 September at the NEC in Birmingham, combining a new dedicated Business Day with the main two-day gathering of members, candidates and supporters.
The event comes at a pivotal moment. In July 2026 Andy Burnham became Prime Minister after Keir Starmer resigned as Labour leader, creating a “Burnham bounce” that pushed Reform UK into second place in the polls after a long spell at the top. The party, led by Nigel Farage, has grown rapidly: it now claims more than 270,000 members, eight MPs, over 2,400 councillors and control of 14 councils following the May 2026 local elections. Conference organisers describe it as the place where leadership, grassroots activists and those “building Britain’s future” set the direction for the year ahead.
Business Day: Courting Corporate Britain
Thursday 3 September is the party’s first dedicated Business Day. Senior Reform figures will take part in panels, roundtables and fireside chats covering infrastructure, financial services, investment and energy. A business dinner is scheduled for the evening.
Major companies including Google, TikTok, Heathrow, JCB, Vodafone, EE, First Bus and Dubai Ports are among those sponsoring or attending. The party has also introduced premium packages (up to £3,000) that include champagne breakfasts with Farage and access to senior leaders. Crypto firms, prominent last year, have been scaled back after controversy over a large donation to Farage. The move signals an attempt to present Reform as a serious alternative government capable of engaging mainstream business rather than remaining a protest movement.
Main Conference: Speeches, Policy and International Guests
The main conference runs Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September. Expected speakers include Farage, deputy leader Richard Tice, Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick (a recent Conservative defector), party chairman Lee Anderson, and other senior figures such as Suella Braverman. French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella is scheduled to address the conference and hold a joint press conference with Farage, highlighting growing links between European parties focused on immigration control.
Recent policy announcements are likely to feature prominently. These include a welfare overhaul the party says would save around £50 billion a year by restricting most benefits to British citizens, a “contract with small business” that raises the VAT threshold, removes income tax on overtime and introduces a £30 “delay repay” if HMRC keeps callers waiting more than 30 minutes, and housing plans that would prioritise working British-born people under 35 for social housing. Immigration remains a core theme, with “Operation Restoring Justice” outlining a five-year programme of detention and deportation after leaving the European Convention on Human Rights. Sources inside the party say the focus will be on the first 100 days of a potential Reform government and readiness for an election that Farage has suggested could come as early as 2027.
Atmosphere and Stakes
Previous Reform conferences have mixed high production values — pyrotechnics featured in 2025 — with a strongly grassroots feel. This year’s event aims for a more professional image while retaining the energy of a growing movement. Tickets for members start at £55 plus VAT; commercial and platinum options add lounge access and priority seating. Sales close at midnight on 1 September.
The conference is widely seen as Reform’s attempt to consolidate its position as the main opposition to Burnham’s Labour government and to demonstrate it can attract both voters and business support. Whether the gathering produces detailed, costed policy or remains more rally than government-in-waiting will be closely watched by rivals and the media. For now, Birmingham is preparing to host one of the most closely observed political events of 2026.
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