The 14th World Plumbing Conference (WPC26) will be jointly hosted by awards partner, the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), and the World Plumbing Council.

Careful planning has meant that the conference will take place during InstallerSHOW at the NEC, Birmingham, from 23–25 June 2026.

For the first time, this globally recognised conference will be hosted in the UK, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, manufacturers, educators and professionals from across the plumbing and water sector under the theme “Worldwide problems – Global solutions”.

Across three days, the WPC26 will tackle the most critical challenges facing the sector and explore the solutions needed to create safe, sustainable and inclusive water and plumbing systems worldwide.

Visitors can attend all three days of the conference, or just the day that holds the most relevance to their role and interests.

Tuesday 23^rd June – Governance, trust and workforce development
Focused on leadership, regulation and people, day one explores how strong governance, public trust and workforce development are essential to the future of plumbing. Sessions will examine skills, standards, professional recognition and how to build confidence in water and plumbing systems.

Wednesday 24^th June – Technology and system performance
The second day focuses on the technologies, practices and frameworks that underpin safe, efficient and future-ready water and plumbing systems. Delegates will hear about innovation, system design, digital solutions and the tools needed to improve performance and resilience.

Thursday 25^th June – Inclusion and access
The final day explores how water and sanitation systems can be designed to serve everyone, addressing equity, accessibility and global challenges around safe water and sanitation. This day highlights the social impact of plumbing and the role the profession plays in protecting communities and public health.

Delegates can choose how they attend:

• Individual day rates

• Full three-day conference pass including the conference social programme, gala dinner and afternoon tea

This flexible approach allows attendees to tailor their experience to their interests, availability and budget.

Why attend WPC26?

• Hear from global experts and industry leaders
• Gain insight into international best practice
• Explore new technologies and ideas
• Network with professionals from across the world
• Be part of shaping the future of plumbing

Co-located with InstallerSHOW, WPC26 offers a unique opportunity to combine world-class conference content with access to the UK’s leading trade exhibition.

Join CIPHE and the World Plumbing Council at the NEC Birmingham for this landmark international event.

Find out more and register: www.wpc2026.com

Entries for the first ever Plumber Awards are now in their final stages, with organisers announcing a short deadline extension to give plumbers until 14 February 2026 to submit their entries.

The completely free-to-enter awards celebrate the best plumbers in the UK and not only give tradespeople the chance to be recognised for their amazing work, but also to win fantastic prizes from sponsors including CT1, Kingsbridge, Polypipe Building Products, Powered Now, the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering and Refresh.

There are 11 regional awards up for grabs, with the winner from each region going through to the final stage of the competition to be in with the chance of being crowned the national winner.

Plumbers are being encouraged to enter to showcase their work and make the most of the business, media, and brand awareness opportunities that come with winning an award such as this.

The winners will be determined through a combination of judges’ scores, a public vote, and then a technical challenge to decide the national winner. The judging panel is made up of industry experts, professional bodies, and fellow plumbers including key people from the CIPHE and Watersafe, as well as award-winning plumbers.

Regional winners will be announced in March 2026, with the national winner crowned live on stage at InstallerSHOW 2026, held at the NEC Birmingham in June.

Think you have what it takes to be named the best plumber in your region or even the UK? Entries close on Friday 14 February 2026.

Enter now at: www.plumberawards.co.uk

The awards are for plumbers working on domestic projects only, and to be eligible, they must be 18 years old or over and hold an NVQ 2 or 3 in England, Wales and NI or an SNVQ3 only in Scotland as a minimum.