Hundreds of nurses, educators and healthcare leaders will gather in Dublin later this month for a major free festival examining how the profession must evolve to meet growing demand, workforce pressures and new models of care.
Nurses from across the island of Ireland are invited to attend the All‑Ireland Advancing Nursing Care Festival 2026, taking place on 25 March at the Crowne Plaza Dublin – Blanchardstown.
The one-day festival will bring together clinicians, academics, policy leaders and frontline professionals for a programme of talks and discussions focused on the future of nursing practice, leadership and workforce development.
The event is designed as a free forum for learning, networking and debate, offering delegates the opportunity to explore emerging clinical roles, education pathways and new approaches to delivering integrated care.
Leading voices in nursing
The programme features an exceptional lineup of speakers from across Ireland and internationally.
Among those scheduled to speak are Caroline Gourley, President of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Maria McIlgorm, Chief Nursing Officer for the Department of Health Northern Ireland, and Howard Catton, Chief Executive of the International Council of Nurses.
They will be joined by senior academic and professional leaders including Mark White, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Jonathan Drennan from University College Dublin, and workforce expert Jim Buchan, Senior Fellow at the Health Foundation.
Advanced practice and professional development will also be explored by speakers including Aidan Foley, former chair of the Irish Association of Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioners, and Fiona Colbert, Advanced Nurse Practitioner at Beaumont Hospital.
Addressing the changing demands of healthcare
The festival will focus on how Ireland’s health and care system must adapt to major demographic and service pressures.
With ageing populations, rising levels of complex and long-term conditions, and the growing importance of prevention, the role of nursing will be central to shaping the future of healthcare.
Key themes will include:
- Achieving safer staffing levels
- Integrating acute, primary and community care
- Expanding advanced nursing roles
- Strengthening clinical leadership
- Developing new models of team-based care
- Supporting ongoing education and career development
Sessions will also explore how digital innovation and evolving service models are changing the environments in which nurses work, from hospitals and community hubs to primary care and specialist roles.
A day for learning and networking
Alongside the main programme, the festival will feature exhibitors, information on courses and career opportunities, and space for networking with colleagues from across the profession.
The event is designed to bring together nurses who may not normally cross paths, creating opportunities to share experiences, research and practical innovations from across the health system.
Nurses, students, educators and healthcare professionals are encouraged to register early for an invigorating day of policy, clinical and research discussions.
Attendance at the festival is free – register here.