London & Abu Dhabi: Leading Early Childhood Transformation
A unique dual-continent conference linking London and Abu Dhabi, uniting a global community of educators, researchers, neuroscientists, innovators, policymakers, and all who care for children aged 0–8.
One global purpose: improving early childhood for every child, everywhere.
Presentation Opportunities
Educators, researchers, neuroscientists, early childhood leaders, innovators, and practitioners worldwide are invited to submit proposals for the 2026 programme.
There are two presentation options, with opportunities to participate online or in person:
A. Speaker Presentation (Oral Presentation)
15–20 minutes, followed by moderated discussion and audience interaction.
Delivered as part of a moderator-led thematic session, offering presenters the opportunity to share insights, innovations, and research with a global audience across London, Abu Dhabi, and online participants.
B. Poster Presentation (Online & In-Person)
Showcased during dedicated poster-viewing sessions—both online and in person—at the conference venues in London and Abu Dhabi.
The 2026 Themes Include:
- Cross-Cutting Pillar: Voices of Children Pedagogy™
- The Global Educator Studio
- The Global Researcher Studio
- AI and Early Childhood Education of 2035
- Child-Led Play: Inquiry, Imagination & Agency
- Family, Community & Home–School Partnerships
- Autism, Inclusion & Diverse Learning Needs
- Global Research Spotlight
- Innovations Changing Early Childhood
- The Future of Early Childhood & Global Commitments
Journal of Early Childhood Research — Global Call for Papers
Special Edition on the Evolving Voices of Children Pedagogy™
Researchers, neuroscientists, and educators worldwide are invited to submit papers showcasing studies, case examples, or innovative practices that elevate children’s voices, agency, creativity, and participation, in alignment with the principles and objectives of the Voices of Children Pedagogy™. Learn more about the pedagogy HERE.
Researchers and neuroscientists are also encouraged to collaborate with educators in countries where selected preschools have been designated as Voices of Children Pedagogy™ Centres—already implementing the evolving stages of the pedagogy—contributing papers that document the implementation journey, early findings, and the pedagogy’s impact on children, educators, and families.
Submission Deadline: 4 September 2026
All papers will undergo peer review in accordance with the journal’s academic standards.
Full submission guidelines will be published in February 2026.
The Bright Start Interactive Learning Arena is a dynamic, hands-on space open throughout the conference. It invites participants to actively explore play-based learning, AI-enabled tools, and practical resources aligned with the 2026 conference themes through creative interaction and live demonstration.
The Arena is structured around clearly branded thematic stations, each aligned with key conference focus areas. Learn more
Meet Some of the 2025 Bright Start Presenters
Sarah Aiono
Sarah Aiono
Sarah Aiono
Play Pedagogy,
Chief Executive Officer, Longworth Education, New Zealand
Sue Atkins
Sarah Aiono
Sarah Aiono
Parenting Expert, Author, Broadcast & Host of Navigating the Digital Jungle podcast,
United Kingdom
Lora Bailey
Sarah Aiono
Lora Bailey
Vice president for academic affairs and Provost, University of The Virgin Islands, USA
Karen Chetwynd
Sarah Aiono
Lora Bailey
Chief Executive Officer, Montessori Global Education, United Kingdom
Edward Clapp
Edward Clapp
Edward Clapp
Principal Investigator,
Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Massachusetts, USA
Mutlu Cukurova
Edward Clapp
Edward Clapp
Professor of Learning and Artificial Intelligence, University College London, United Kingdom
Susan Edwards
Edward Clapp
Susan Edwards
Professor of Early Childhood Education & Director of Early Childhood Futures, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia
Michelle Fournell
Edward Clapp
Susan Edwards
Managing Director,
Auberge des Pensées / Inn of Thoughts,
France
Eirini Gkouskou
Eirini Gkouskou
Eirini Gkouskou
Associate Professor in Early Years and Primary Education, IOE, Department of Learning & Leadership, University College London (UCL), United Kingdom
Gemma Goldenberg
Eirini Gkouskou
Eirini Gkouskou
Research partnerships and knowledge exchange lead, ISEY (University of East London),
United Kingdom
Gordon Harold
Eirini Gkouskou
Gillian Lake
Professor of the Psychology of Education and Mental Health, University of Cambridge,
United Kingdom
Gillian Lake
Eirini Gkouskou
Gillian Lake
Chief Education Officer, Child Paths,
Dublin, Ireland
Slim Khemakhem
Dame Alison Peacock
Rosina Merry
Senior member of the Executive Dean’s Office, Education Division, Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT),
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Rosina Merry
Dame Alison Peacock
Rosina Merry
Director Teaching, Learning and Research, Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood, Wellington, New Zealand
Dame Alison Peacock
Dame Alison Peacock
Dame Alison Peacock
Chief Executive of the Chartered College of Teaching,
United Kingdom
Graeme Severinsen
Dame Alison Peacock
Dame Alison Peacock
Academic Leader Undergraduate and Graduate Programmes (ECE), Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood, Wellington, New Zealand
Elizabeth Slade
Kine Melfald Tveten
Elizabeth Slade
Executive Director, Public Montessori in Action International,
Massachusetts, United States
Julie Taylor
Kine Melfald Tveten
Elizabeth Slade
Associate Dean for Medical Education, Geisel School of Medicine,
New Hampshire, USA
Sue Tee
Kine Melfald Tveten
Kine Melfald Tveten
PYP curriculum developer, International Baccalaureate Organisation,
The Hague, Netherlands
Kine Melfald Tveten
Kine Melfald Tveten
Kine Melfald Tveten
Researcher and Physiotherapist, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences,
Bergen, Norway
Priti Verma
Brett Weisel
Priti Verma
Executive Dean, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah, UAE
Antje von Suchodoletz
Brett Weisel
Priti Verma
Associate Professor of Psychology, New York University,
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Brett Weisel
Brett Weisel
Brett Weisel
Global Policy and Advocacy Lead, Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN),
Washington DC, USA
Michelle Wisbey
Brett Weisel
Brett Weisel
Deputy director EdD programme, Anglia Ruskin University,
United Kingdom
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