UKCR 2026

UK Creativity Researchers’ Conference, 2026:
Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh Scotland.

Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June 2026

That’s right, we’re heading back to bonnie Scotland for our first two day conference.

To sign up to our mailing list for details on our network and conferences, click here.

Details we can share so far (much more to come)…

Theme

UK Creativity Researchers is a collaborative community open to anyone with an interest in the psychology of creativity and creativity research. We are a network that facilitates the organisation of annual creativity conferences, to bring together researchers, practitioners, industry, academics, students, and any other interested parties in the psychology and science of creativity and application of this research.

This year’s theme is Creativity Research in Action. Anyone with an interest in creativity is welcome, from academia, practice, industry, and beyond.

Key Speakers

We are pleased to announce our first speaker is Dr Mark Batey, leading thinker & practitioner in creativity & innovation. We’re honoured that Mark has agreed to host a Creativity in Action Masterclass following a multi-level approach (individual, team, organisation, leadership) with an applied focus across both academia and industry. More details to follow!

Location

The UKCR 2026 annual conference will be held at:

Edinburgh Napier University,
Craiglockhart Campus,
Edinburgh, EH14 1DJ.

Our Craiglockhart campus is well-served by public transport to and from the centre of the city: more information here.

We will have an option to include accommodation for two nights (23rd and 24th June) in your registration fee, more details below.

Registration and call for speakers

This year, we will be open to a variety of types of presentation and engagement. Would you like to host a symposium? Please do! Got a workshop or demonstration in mind? Great! Traditional posters and speakers will also be more than welcome.

Registration

To register for a ticket to our conference, and/or to purchase a ticket that includes an accommodation option, please click here to visit the Conference Registration page hosted at Edinburgh Napier University.

Call for presenters: Abstract submission now open!
To submit an abstract to present at our conference, please click here to complete our abstract submission form (this will take you to Microsoft Forms). We are welcoming conference presentation submissions for a range of different presentation formats (e.g. oral presentation, poster presentation, symposium and workshops).

Abstract submissions are subject to review and we will notify you via your contact email to let you know if you have been accepted. The deadline for abstract submissions is by 5pm on Monday 9th March.

Please keep an eye on this site for updates, or sign up to our mailing list.

Accommodation option

As we are expanding to a two-day event, we have secured some accommodation for those who would like it. The Edinburgh Napier apartments are centrally located in either our Bainfield (Fountainbridge – EH11 1AR) or Orwell Terrace (Haymarket – EH11 2DY) residences, with bars, restaurants and a supermarket on the doorstep. They are just a 15-minute walk to the city centre or a 10-minute walk from Haymarket train station, which links with the tram service to Edinburgh Airport. A bus or taxi would be recommended to reach the conference campus, or it is a 45 minute walk if the weather is on side!

All apartments feature individual lockable rooms with small double (4ft) beds & private en-suite bathrooms, plus a fully equipped communal kitchen/lounge area with flat screen television. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout and we provide all bed linen, bath & hand towels.

When registration opens, there will be two options. One to register for conference only, and one to register for conference and accommodation together. The price will be displayed on the site. We have 24 rooms available, so book quickly!

Sundowner

We will host drinks and nibbles at the end of our first conference day. All delegates are welcome to join!

We are pleased to announce that as part of our conference entertainment during the Sundowner we will feature Kirsten Milliken.

Kirsten Milliken is a bold and enchanting storyteller who tells tales that inspire, entertain, and challenge. Specialising in stories from Scotland, she often focuses on themes of environmental and social justice; creatively exploring what our folklore and traditional tales tell us about the world we live in and how we should treat others. She also weaves knowledge from her background in Environmental Management into her stories, helping listeners learn about and engage with nature in creative and imaginative ways.

Kirsten works in all sorts of settings from schools, museums and libraries to community events, private functions and festivals. She has delivered school projects, performances, workshops and story walks throughout Scotland and overseas, sharing traditional Scottish stories, folklore and culture with communities far and wide.

Never afraid of dark and difficult themes, Kirsten aims to stir passion and provoke action. Find out more about Kirsten’s work here: www.kirstenmilliken.co.uk

Sticking to Our mission

Our aim is always to keep our events as affordable, accessible, inclusive, and welcoming as possible. Please see the website welcome page for details of our guiding principles.

Organisers

The organisation of the UKCR 2026 conference is led by Dr Lindsey Carruthers of Edinburgh Napier University, Dr Gillian Hill of the University of Buckingham, and Dr Shelly M. Kemp of King’s College London.