A significant milestone for the play sector in Yorkshire has just been announced: the inaugural Sheffield Play Conference will take place on Tuesday 19th May 2026 at the Adventures Hub (formerly known as Highfields Adventure Playground) in Sharrow.
The organisers describe it as “a vibrant celebration of all things play” bringing together volunteers, students, professionals, decision-makers and community members for a full day dedicated to strengthening play across the city and region.
The conference is a welcome and timely development, as Sheffield has been steadily building a movement for child-friendly neighbourhoods, and this event marks the first formal gathering of that growing community.
The Conference is broad in scope – designed to bring together people working across:
- Voluntary, community and faith organisations
- Wraparound and after-school provision
- HAF programmes
- Junior youth clubs
- Early years settings
- Mental and physical health services
- Schools exploring play-based approaches
- Local and regional decision-makers
- Students in child development, youth work, teaching and social care
- Anyone responsible for children’s play spaces, from parks to housing
The event has emerged from the work of the Sheffield Play Partnership, a collaboration focused on reversing the decline in community play provision and strengthening the city’s capacity to deliver high‑quality, inclusive play opportunities.
Their work includes:
- Mapping citywide play provision
- Identifying gaps and inequalities
- Developing new community-led play projects
- Supporting collaborative models that connect voluntary groups, families and local authorities
A Vision for a Regional Play Movement
The organisers are clear that this is not a one‑off event. They describe the conference as “the first step in an ambition to gather the region’s play community in one place”, with the hope that it will become an annual fixture and eventually a truly regional gathering.
Event Details
The Inaugural Sheffield Play Conference 2026
📅 Tuesday 19 May, 9:00am–5:00pm
📍 Adventures Hub, Crowther Place, Sheffield, S7 1BJ
💷 Tickets: £5–£15
🍽️ Lunch provided
Full programme and speaker announcements to follow.
Booking link: https://sheffieldplay.org.uk/events/the-inaugural-sheffield-play-conference-2026/
The Playwork Foundation 