All Animal Welfare Events
Various dates in summer 2026 – Various Locations (UK)
AHDB and ADOPT Roadshows
AHDB and ADOPT are holding a series of practical, on-farm roadshows this month and next, focused on a variety of topics and hosted at different working farms across England. They’re designed to bridge the gap between research and real-world farming decisions.
23rd to 25th September 2026 – Zaragoza (Spain)
4th redCiba Conference – The Science of Animal Welfare Facing the Challenges of a Changing World
There is a pre-conference workshop. Note that this is a Spanish speaking conference. Deadline for abstract submissions is 25th May. Early bird registration deadline is 15th July 2026.
24th September 2026 – Online (09:00-16:30 BST)
International Dog and Cat Welfare Conference
The International Dog and Cat Welfare Conference brings together people from around the world who care for dogs and cats in rescue. It’s designed for anyone working or volunteering in an animal shelter or rehoming organisation who wants to build their skills, learn from others and strengthen their practice.
29th September to 3rd October 2026 – Novi Sad (Serbia)
16th EWDA Conference – The Wild Future: Challenges of Integrating Health, Welfare and Biodiversity
This year’s theme, “The Wild Future: Challenges of Integrating Health, Welfare and Biodiversity”, reminds us that the well-being of wildlife is inseparable from the well-being of our shared planet. As researchers, we all know how fascinating and complex this field can be — yet, beyond the data and analysis, there is also a shared passion that connects us: the drive to understand, protect, and respect the natural world and its many living systems.
Over the few conference days, we will exchange knowledge, ideas, and experiences, but also — hopefully — form new collaborations and friendships that will continue to grow after the conference ends. The health of wildlife is a challenge that unites us all, crossing borders, species, and disciplines. Together, we can work on the bridge between wildlife, environment, domestic animals, and humans.
29th September – 14:00-15:00 GMT (Online)
Animal Behaviour Seminar
Common ravens possess large brains, rich social lives, and an impressive set of cognitive skills that continue to surprise researchers. Dr. Thomas Bugnyar explores how studying these charismatic birds helps answer one of biology’s biggest questions: why does intelligence evolve?
1st October 2026 – Online 18:00-19:00 GMT (UK)
Artificial Intelligence and Animal Welfare: Opportunities and Challenges of Emerging Technologies
ChatGPT was launched in late 2022, and the last four years have seen a revolution in how society finds and understands information. AI can affect animal welfare on a range of scales, from supporting precision livestock farming with custom algorithms, to fabricating scientific references about animal welfare, to delivering personalised care advice for a beloved companion animal.
This session draws on the Animal Welfare Centre interdisciplinary research expertise to provide animal welfare practitioners with practical guidance and cutting edge research on how AI is changing the way we interact with animals in our care.
1st to 2nd October 2026 – Ljubljana (Slovenia)
European Veterinary Congress of Behavioural and Welfare Medicine (EVCBMAW)
This two-day international event brings together experts, researchers, clinicians, students, and policymakers interested in animal behaviour, veterinary behavioural medicine, animal welfare, ethics and law.
4th to 9th October 2026 – online
Online Behaviour Change Conference Week
This week-long event features a mix of live and recorded sessions, including talks, case studies, and discussions with practitioners, researchers, and changemakers from around the world. You can join from anywhere, dip in and out of sessions, and revisit recordings at your own pace.
HBCL Behaviour Change Conference Week 2026
6th to 9th October 2026 – Online 09:30-12:30 BST (UK)
Responsible Aquatic Animal Research
Join expert tutors Dr Chloe Stevens & Dr Nikki Osborne to learn how to enhance the rigour & reproducibility of research involving the use of aquatic animal species. They also share their experience, hints, tips & tools to enable you to fully implement the 3Rs principles of replacement, reduction & refinement.
This course involves: four 3-hour live & interactive online sessions, plus four session quizzes to assess the achievement of learning outcomes. Upon completion of the course and quizzes participants will receive a certificate of attendance for 10-hours CPD.
20th-21st October 2026 – Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK)
Humane Slaughter Association Conference 2026
The topic is Animal Welfare Beyond the Farm Gate: Latest developments in humane slaughter and transport of animals.
21st to 23rd October 2026 – Odense Zoo (Denmark)
Workshop: Animal Care & Wellbeing: Moving to Data-Driven & Data-Informed Practices
A 2.5-day hands-on workshop for everyone working in or alongside animal care – caregivers, curators, managers, researchers, welfare officers, veterinarians, students. Anyone committed to giving animals in human care the best possible life, and building the evidence base to back it up.
23rd October 2026 – Newcastle University (UK)
Workshop: Validating Welfare Indicators in Invertebrates
The Insect Welfare Research Society (IWRS) has announced a call for abstracts for their upcoming workshop, “Validating Welfare Indicators in Invertebrates,” to be held at Newcastle University on October 23. Co-hosted by Newcastle, the IWRS, and the Arthropoda Foundation, this one-day, in-person workshop addresses a critical gap: unlike vertebrate welfare science, invertebrate work has largely borrowed indicators with little systematic validation. Abstracts are due August 15, with lodging and meals covered for accepted participants.
10th to 12th November 2026 – Hanoi (Vietnam)
International Conference on Animal Health Surveillance
For the first time, ICAHS is hosted in Southeast Asia, reflecting Vietnam and regional leadership and commitment to the One Health approach. The country’s experience in tackling animal and zoonotic diseases, while building multisectoral collaboration, makes Hanoi a unique setting for this global gathering. Building on the success of previous ICAHS conferences, this edition will focus on advancing surveillance systems and especially community-based surveillance towards a One Health approach—recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health and the critical role played by the communities in preventing and managing health threats.
12th November 2026 – Online
Animal Behaviour Live
This years 1 day online conference is themed ‘Studying Animal Behaviour in a Changing World’. Plenaries and abstracts are welcome that study (1) how animals are changing their behaviour due to anthropogenic changes, (2) how Animal Behaviour studies are changing their design to reduce their impact on the animals themselves, and (3) what new technologies and techniques (such as AI) are available to help Animal Behaviour research.
12th to 13th November 2026 – Karolinska Institutet (Sweden)
Responsible Aquatic Animal Research: Critical, Challenging & Creative Thinking Course
Whether you have years of experience working with zebrafish or are at the start of your career, our Responsible Aquatic Animal Research course will exceed your expectations.
Join us to:
• Discover the evidence base underpinning our current knowledge of aquatic animal welfare and how you can apply this in your work.
• Identify what you know and what you don’t know so that you can build upon your strengths and strive to overcome your weakness.
• Develop the confidence and competence to action global best practice standards when planning, designing, conducting, analyzing and communicating your work.
• Learn to critically review the evidence, challenge the status quo and think creatively to identify and overcome study flaws and limitations
Register here
16-17th November 2026 – London (UK) and online
ZSL Bicentenary Symposium
The event will convene scientists, practitioners, policymakers and communicators to discuss, debate and develop guidance on how to navigate responsible species rescue. Anyone is welcome to attend in person or online, but the discussions will be of particular interest to those working in conservation science, decision science and species rescue.
23rd November 2026 – Online (UK)
Next steps for food system data and transparency in the UK
This conference will focus on next steps for the use of data and improving transparency across the UK food system. The agenda will consider priorities for connecting and making better use of agricultural, environmental and supply chain information, including data standards and interoperability, measurement and verification, traceability and reporting, consumer information, and the governance of shared data infrastructure.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss current policy development focused on moving towards more connected food data systems, infrastructure and governance. It takes place in the context of plans for England in the Farming Roadmap 2050, alongside relevant approaches and implications across the devolved nations and for UK-wide supply chains. Attendees will consider how new and existing arrangements can best work together in practice, including where greater consistency may be needed, and the implications of changing reporting and disclosure requirements.
30th November 2026 – Online (UK)
Next steps for animal and plant health in the UK
This conference will examine next steps for animal and plant health in the UK. The agenda will consider priorities for disease and pest prevention, biosecurity and outbreak preparedness, alongside the capacity, regulation and innovation needed to support resilient farming and horticulture, food production and trade.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to consider implications of current reform for those responsible for regulation and delivery, as well as for farmers, growers, veterinary professionals and businesses affected by them. Discussion takes place in the context of policy developments across the UK and in the individual nations. This includes the Animal Welfare Strategy for England and proposed changes to livestock health and welfare requirements; the UK’s new international plant health priorities for surveillance, diagnostics and biosecurity; the Farming Roadmap 2050 and the Government’s response to the Farming Profitability Review with their focus on productivity, profitability and resilience; and proposals for reform of veterinary regulation and service provision.
8-10th December 2026 – Edinburgh (UK)
“Social Learning and Culture”
19-22nd January 2027 – Milan (Italy)
Conference: European Partnership on Animal Health & Welfare
The Conference will be a key forum for researchers both internal and external to EUP AH&W, across the diverse animal health and welfare arena to discuss issues, share experiences, and present innovative solutions.
31st May-3rd June 2027 – Glasgow (UK)
European Symposium on Poultry Welfare
