Liverpool gets ready to host accessibility forum ahead of major international events
Liverpool is set to strengthen its position as an accessible and inclusive destination when it hosts the second Accessibility for All Forum on 29 June 2026.
Organised by the Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership, the event will take place at the M&S Bank Arena – Liverpool Experience Campus and will be hosted by Paralympian, broadcaster and accessibility advocate Ade Adepitan MBE.
Returning in a larger conference format for 2026, the forum will bring together visitor economy businesses, transport providers, event organisers and accessibility experts to explore how the region can become “event ready” ahead of a series of major international events.
These include the Inclusive Sport and Culture Festival in May 2027, the Tour de France Grand Départ in July 2027, the Wheelchair Basketball European Championships in September 2027 and UEFA Euro 2028 in June 2028.
The forum will move beyond the question of why accessibility matters and focus instead on practical delivery. Discussions will explore what visitors with accessibility requirements want from their trip, how venues can work together to create seamless journeys, and the solutions available to help organisations become best-practice leaders in accessibility.
Ade Adepitan MBE, who will host the event and facilitate the discussion panels, said: “Liverpool has a long history of welcoming people from all over the world, and it’s brilliant to see the region putting accessibility at the heart of its future.
“With some of the biggest sporting events on the horizon, this is a huge moment to show how inclusive, ambitious and forward-thinking the city can be.
“I’m proud to be part of this forum because when accessibility is done well, it transforms the experience for disabled people and creates a better, more enjoyable journey for every visitor.
“Liverpool has the passion and the drive to set a new benchmark, and I’m excited to help champion that.”
Two discussion panels are being curated to explore accessibility in detail.
The first, Level Playing Fields: Ensuring Accessibility Across Events, will take a strategic view of accessibility and inclusion, examining how national policy, funding priorities and growing expectations around inclusive design are shaping the future of sport, events and the visitor economy.
Panellists include David Clarke OBE, Chief Executive of ParalympicsGB; Clare Briegal MBE, Chair of the Sport Liverpool Board and Sports Representative for the Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership Board; and Paralympic athletes Amy Truesdale MBE and Ben Quilter.
The second panel, The Cornerstones of Success: Enhancing the Visitor Experience, will consider the full visitor journey, from pre-booking and transport through to accommodation, attractions and dining.
It will explore how events, sport, culture and major programmes across Liverpool City Region are shaping the local visitor economy, and what this means for businesses welcoming a growing number of visitors with lived experience of disability.
Panellists include Niamh Parrington from Eureka!, para-athlete and content creator Rio Booth, and Christopher Massam, Accessibility Lead at Everton Stadium.
Natalie Wyatt, Managing Director of the Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership, said: “Liverpool City Region has built a strong reputation for delivering world-class, inclusive events, and we’re proud to be pushing that ambition even further.
“This forum is about giving businesses the practical tools, insight and confidence to meet the needs of every visitor.
“With major sporting events on the horizon, now is the moment for our visitor economy to come together, learn from experts and lived experience, and ensure our region continues to set the standard for accessibility.”
Tickets for the Accessibility for All Forum can be secured via Eventbrite.
