2026 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Plus Conference
UNISON’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender plus self-organised group committee has agreed to hold a national - organised group conference starting at 1.30pm Friday 13 November to 1.20pm Sunday 15 November 2026 at ICC Belfast. This conference is organised under UNISON’s rules on self-organisation. All delegates and visitors to LGBT + Conference must self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender plus UNISON members.
We have now opened the Online Conference System (OCS) to allow branches to register delegates and submit motions in line with the rule-book requirements.
The conference takes place over two days. All delegates and visitors may attend all sessions of conference but voting on motions is restricted to delegates only. Delegates should attend all sessions of conference.
The conference bulletin will have further information on motion submission from the SOC and submission deadlines. The bulletin can be found and downloaded by scrolling down to the end of this page.
Please note the deadline to submit motions on OCS is 12.00 noon on Friday 24 July 2026.
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Registration and Enquiries
If you want to attend the conference, please contact your branch who can register you as a delegate or visitor on the Online Conference System (OCS). Once you are registered you will receive an email confirmation from OCS. Deadline for delegate registration is 12.00pm on Thursday 20 August 2026.
Search for your branch details here.
If you have any queries about the conference, please email [email protected]
Travel Arrangements
Please consider the impact on the environment when making your decision on how to travel to Conference. Branches are asked to book all travel arrangements for Conference through Stewart Corporate Travel via email at [email protected] or call 0800 091 4272. Travel can also be booked online using the Steward Travel Online Portal at https://www.gtp-marketplace.com/
Please advise Stewart Corporate Travel if your delegates have railcards.
Branches are reminded that:
- Travel costs for Delegates and Sharer 1’s only will be funded from National Office.
- Travel costs for Visitors and Sharer 2’s must be paid for by the branch. This is in line with Rule DI6 on shared delegates. Please note that a booking fee is applicable – further details from Stewart Corporate Travel.
Conference Travel should be booked by the cheapest possible means.
Driving is discouraged for conference unless delegates are travelling together or as a reasonable adjustment. Total reclaimable will be the cost of standard tickets or cost of car travel – whichever is the lesser.
The 250 mile / upgraded or 1st Class travel rule is not applicable for conference travel.
All travel requests (including upgraded or 1st Class Travel) as a reasonable adjustment must be reviewed and authorised by the head of conferences.
Branches are responsible for funding their delegates’ and visitors’ attendance at conference. Subsistence should cover the cost of accommodation, meals, childcare, dependent care, and facilitation.
Reasonable adjustment requests for travel should be made by 12pm, Thursday 22 October 2026.
Accommodation
Booking accommodation – please book any accommodation required with a reputable provider with a generous cancellation policy.
Please ensure that members have written confirmation of any booked and paid for accommodation.
Timetable
| Time | Date | |
| Deadline for submission of motions | 12:00pm | Friday, 24 July 2026 |
| Publication of Preliminary Agenda | Friday, 14 August 2026 | |
| Deadline for submission of delegates | 12:00pm | Thursday, 20 August 2026 |
| Deadline for submitting Crèche places | 12:00pm | Thursday, 03 September 2026 |
| Deadline for submitting reasonable adjustment requests for access | 4.00pm | Thursday, 03 September 2026 |
| Deadline for submission of amendments | 12:00pm | Friday, 18 September 2026 |
| Deadline for proposals for motions/ amendments to rule for 2027 national delegate and service group conferences | 12:00pm | Friday, 18 September 2026 |
| Deadline for submission for LGBT+ recruitment and organising awards | 12:00pm | Friday, 18 September 2026 |
| Deadline for nominations | 12:00pm | Friday, 18 September 2026 |
| Deadline to opt-in to hard copy conference documents | 12:00pm | Friday, 18 September 2026 |
| Publication of Final Agenda | Friday, 16 October 2026 | |
| Deadline for reasonable adjustment requests for travel | 12:00pm | Thursday, 22 October 2026 |
| Deadline for emergency motions/ priorities | 12:00pm | Friday, 06 November 2026 |
Conference documents
As part of UNISON’s Year of Green Activity 2026, printed information packs will no longer be provided automatically. Delegates who would like a hard copy can request one in advance through the Online Conference System (OCS).
All conference documents will be available digitally via the UNISON conference app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. The app is designed to keep you informed, connected and in control throughout the conference, giving you easy access to everything you need in one place.
The deadline to opt-in to hard copies of conference documents on the OCS is Friday 18 September 2026.
Personal pronouns
It is now possible to add your personal pronouns to the Online Conference System so that they can appear on your credentials.
For information on how to do this, please click here to download/read the “Personal pronouns in OCS – User guide”.
If you require help, please email the conference team, [email protected] or telephone, 0207 121 5123.