Liverpool to Host Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2026

Key Points

• Registration is now open for the 2027 Diabetes UK Professional Conference, taking place from 20 to 22 April 2027.
• The conference will be held at The Exhibition Centre at Liverpool Experience Campus, King’s Dock, Port of Liverpool.
• The Early Bird registration fees became available on 12 October 2026 and are valid until 4 February 2027 (Thursday).
• An early-bird ticket for three days will cost Diabetes UK professional members £399, reduced members £284 and non-members £519, including VAT.
• Full-time students that are members of Diabetes UK Professional can join the full conference for three days for only £30 providing proof of study.
• Standard rates will be charged from 5 February 2027 to 13 April 2027 and Late Rates will be charged from 14 April 2027 to 22 April 2027.
• All presenting authors should register and buy a three-day ticket by 4 February 2027 (Thursday) or their accepted abstract will be withdrawn.
• This conference will be held physically for healthcare professionals and researchers in collaboration with Diabetes UK and Wonderly – a business unit of Haymarket Media Group.
• Lunch, snacks, free Wi-Fi, and conference app are included in the registration package. Travel and accommodation are excluded.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 22, 2026 — Registration has opened for the Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2027, the charity’s annual event for healthcare professionals and researchers working in diabetes care, treatment and research. The three-day conference will be held in person at The Exhibition Centre at Liverpool Experience Campus from Tuesday, 20 April to Thursday, 22 April 2027.

As reported by Diabetes Times, registration for the Liverpool conference has now opened, giving clinicians, researchers, students and other diabetes professionals the opportunity to secure places ahead of the event. The publication listed the development under its education and regional news coverage, including Cheshire and Merseyside and the North West.

According to the official Diabetes UK Professional Conference website, the event is described as the UK’s leading diabetes event and will bring together healthcare professionals and researchers from across the UK and beyond under the theme “Uniting to transform diabetes research and care.”

When does registration open for Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2027?

Registration opened on 12 October 2026, when early-bird ticket rates became available. The early-bird window will close on Thursday, 4 February 2027, after which standard rates will apply from 5 February until 13 April 2027. Late rates will then be available from 14 April until the final day of the conference on 22 April 2027.

The conference organisers state that tickets can be purchased online by credit card. Invoice payments are available online for bookings above £400 made before Tuesday, 9 March 2027, although payment by invoice for lower-value bookings is available only in exceptional circumstances.

Onsite registration remains possible for in-person tickets, but the organisers strongly recommend completing registration online before arrival to avoid delays. Onsite payments must be made by Mastercard or Visa; cash and cheque payments are not accepted.

Where will the Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2027 be held?

The conference will take place at The Exhibition Centre at Liverpool Experience Campus, King’s Dock, Port of Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 4FP. The venue is located at Liverpool’s waterfront and is accessible by road, rail, air and sea routes, according to the conference’s venue and travel information.

The official website says the Exhibition Centre is fully accessible by wheelchair across public areas, including the main auditorium, exhibition hall and conference rooms. Delegates with access requirements, disabilities or other particular needs are asked to contact the organising team during registration or by email.

The venue will also provide a multi-faith prayer room, a staffed cloakroom, complimentary Wi-Fi, hearing support systems in selected rooms and first-aid support. The organisers say lunch and scheduled refreshment breaks are included in the registration fee and will be served from designated points in the Exhibition Hall.

How much do tickets cost for the Diabetes UK conference?

Ticket prices vary according to membership status, attendance length and the date of booking. All listed prices are inclusive of VAT.

Ticket type	Early bird: 12 Oct 2026–4 Feb 2027	Standard: 5 Feb–13 Apr 2027	Late: 14–22 Apr 2027
Diabetes UK professional member, three days	£399	£459	£479
Diabetes UK reduced member, three days	£284	£319	£334
Non-member, three days	£519	£594	£619
Professional member full-time student, three days	£30	£30	£30
Non-member full-time student, three days	£174	£174	£174
Commercial rate, three days	£779	£779	£779

Source: official Diabetes UK Professional Conference ticket page.

One-day early-bird tickets cost £189 for professional members, £139 for reduced members, £249 for non-members and £419 at the commercial rate. Two-day early-bird tickets are priced at £359 for professional members, £259 for reduced members, £464 for non-members and £699 at the commercial rate.

The reduced member rate is available to Diabetes UK members who are trainees, retired, based in low- or middle-income countries, or earning less than £31,157 a year. Non-UK members qualify if they earn less than the equivalent of $50,000 USD. Proof of role is required at registration.

Who can attend the Diabetes UK Professional Conference?

The conference and exhibition are intended for healthcare professionals. The organisers state that a single delegate pass does not include access for an accompanying partner and that anyone who is not a qualified healthcare professional will not be permitted to attend.

The event is aimed at a multidisciplinary audience working across diabetes care and research. The official “What’s On” page says the 2027 programme is designed for professionals across the field, although detailed session information has not been included in the registration announcement.

Wonderly, a division of Haymarket Media Group, operates the Diabetes UK Professional Conference in partnership with Diabetes UK. The organisers say the event is made possible by sponsorship from industry organisations, including pharmaceutical companies, while Diabetes UK independently curates the programme and states that sponsors have no influence over scientific content.

What are the deadlines for presenting authors?

Presenting authors must register for the conference by Thursday, 4 February 2027. According to the official abstract submissions page, presenting authors must purchase a three-day ticket to present a poster.

The organisers state that if a presenting author has not registered and paid the registration fee by the deadline, the abstract will be withdrawn. It will not appear on the conference website or app, will not be published in the Diabetes & Medicine Journal (DMJ), and will not be presented at the conference.

All presenting authors must register at the appropriate rate for their professional status and attend on the first day of the event, 20 April 2027.

What cancellation and refund rules apply?

Cancellations must be submitted in writing to the conference customer-service email address. The official terms state that a full refund, minus a £50 plus VAT administration fee, is available for cancellations received before 27 January 2027.

A 50% refund is available for cancellations received between 27 January and 9 March 2027. Cancellations made less than six weeks before the conference are non-refundable.

Substitute delegates are welcome at no extra charge, but the organisers require notification of substitutions, including full contact details and any dietary or accessibility requirements.

What support is available for overseas delegates?

Overseas delegates who require a letter of invitation to support a visa application can request one by email. The organisers say requests must include the delegate’s full name, passport number, passport expiry date, date of birth and nationality, as well as the consulate or embassy to which the letter should be addressed.

Invitation letters can only be provided to people who have registered and paid for the conference. The organisers state that letters cannot be issued to partners or other people who do not plan to attend the event.

Pakistan is included on the conference’s published list of low- and middle-income countries, which may be relevant for delegates seeking the reduced member rate, subject to Diabetes UK membership and proof of eligibility.

What will delegates receive at the conference?

Registered delegates will receive event information and an e-ticket two weeks before the conference. The e-ticket must be printed or available on a smartphone so that its barcode can be scanned and a conference badge printed on arrival.

The organisers say a conference app will be available before the event. It will allow attendees to view the programme and interactive floorplan, connect with other attendees, take part in discussion forums, share experiences through a social feed and view profiles of speakers, sponsors and exhibitors.

Certificates of attendance will be issued after the conference and sent to delegates’ registered email addresses. The organisers say they will apply for accreditation with the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom.

What compliance rules affect pharmaceutical promotion?

The organisers have set out compliance arrangements under the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Code of Practice. Promotion of prescription-only medicines at the event is limited to UK healthcare professionals and other relevant decision-makers involved in the sourcing, prescribing, recommendation or management of such medicines.

Delegates who do not fall into those categories will not be able to attend pharmaceutical-sponsored symposia or presentations and should not engage with exhibitors located in the Prescription Hub within the Exhibition Hall.

Photography and filming of pharmaceutical stands, branding or prescription-only product information is strictly prohibited. The organisers say this is intended to ensure regulatory compliance.

Background of the development

The Diabetes UK Professional Conference is Diabetes UK’s annual professional event for people working in diabetes care and research. The 2027 edition will be hosted at Liverpool Experience Campus from 20 to 22 April 2027 and is being operated by Wonderly, a division of Haymarket Media Group, in partnership with Diabetes UK.

The conference organisers say venue and date choices are constrained because relatively few UK venues are large enough and configured to meet the event’s requirements. Once a location is selected, available dates are limited and chosen according to operational feasibility and the needs of the event.

The registration announcement follows the earlier opening of abstract submissions. The official abstract page had already set a 4 February 2027 registration deadline for presenting authors, linking conference attendance to the publication and presentation of accepted research.

Prediction: How the development affects diabetes professionals

For NHS clinicians, diabetes specialists, researchers and students, the opening of registration creates a clear planning deadline. Those seeking the lowest cost will need to book before 4 February 2027, while presenting authors face the same date to preserve their accepted abstracts.

For early-career professionals and students, the £30 three-day rate for full-time Diabetes UK professional members may make attendance more accessible, provided they can supply valid proof of study. Non-member students face a higher £174 three-day rate, which could influence decisions about joining Diabetes UK before registering.

For departments and NHS trusts, the tiered pricing and invoice arrangements may affect budgeting and approval timelines. Bookings above £400 can be paid by invoice if made before 9 March 2027, but payment must clear before a registration badge is issued.

For Liverpool’s events and hospitality sector, the three-day conference is likely to bring healthcare professionals to the city in April 2027. The organisers have partnered with MICE Concierge for accommodation bookings, although travel and hotel costs are not included in delegate fees.