Esports in Education Summit returns at Bett UK 2026

The British Esports Federation is once again teaming up with the Bett UK EdTech event for 2026.

After the success of the Esports @ Bett Theatre from 2022 to 2025, esports is now taking a new shape at Bett UK 2026.

Join a curated stream of content across Bett theatres to learn about esports in broader contexts, such as in Higher Education and SEND.

Bett UK 2026 will run from January 21st to 23rd 2026 at ExCeL London, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL (or E16 1FR for car park navigation).

Make sure you grab two tickets below – one to the summit and one to Bett UK 2026 here:

Get your ticket to the Esports in Education Summit 2026 here – tickets are free for educators

Grab your ticket to Bett UK 2026 here – tickets are free for educators

An exciting new Esports @ Bett content stream for 2026 will bring more opportunities, resources and networking opportunities to esports educators and their learners.

Bett Portfolio Director, Duncan Verry, commented: “We’re excited to be partnering once again with the British Esports Federation to deliver a programme of innovative and engaging sessions as a part of the Esports @ Bett content stream. It’s fantastic to see esports play an expanded role within the Bett UK 2026 content agenda, addressing key themes across SEND, Higher Education, and innovation. We look forward to giving attendees the opportunity to explore esports in greater depth and discover its growing potential as a powerful tool for learning in the classroom.”

On Wednesday January 21st British Esports team members will discuss how esports can transform classrooms, boost digital skills and prepare students for future careers. This talk will take place at 1pm in the Tech User Labs area, where sessions attracted over 15,000 registrations in 2025.

At 2.10pm, educators, curriculum developers and institutional leaders seeking innovative classroom strategies can hear from British Esports Head of Education Kalam Neale and Dearne Valley College staff and students about how esports fosters leadership in an edtech showcase, from entry to elite level.

Then, at 4pm, a panel discussion moderated by newly appointed NSE managing director Tom Dore (who also retains a voluntary role with British Esports) will explore the UK esports education landscape and why Higher Education institutions must embrace esports. This will be useful in particular to Senior Leadership, Teaching & Learning and Digital Strategy & IT Management in Higher Education Institutions​.

On Friday January 23rd 2026, British Esports Head of Operations Alice Whorley will moderate a panel on Creating Inclusive, Accessible Pathways for All Learners. This will take place from 11am to 11.30am in the SEND Theatre.

At 2.15 to 2.45pm, the Teaching & Learning Theatre will host a panel led by British Esports Head of Education Kalam Neale exploring how esports ensures inclusive engagement and shapes future digital strategies.

There are many more talks to attend too. See the full Esports @ Bett agenda for 2026 here.

Make sure you grab two tickets below – one to the summit and one to Bett UK 2026 here:

Get your ticket to the Esports in Education Summit 2026 here – tickets are free for educators

Grab your ticket to Bett UK 2026 here – tickets are free for educators

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Esports in Education Summit 2026

British Esports will also be bringing back its Esports in Education Summit for teachers, educators and senior leadership teams to get up to speed with the latest esports and tech trends and opportunities.

This dedicated event will take place at Bett UK 2026 on Thursday January 22nd 2026 at South Gallery Suite 22.

There will be panels and roundtables on esports, education, pathways and qualifications, safeguarding, best practice and more, plus refreshments and a chance for networking including a drinks reception.

British Esports will also be on hand to discuss educational trips to its National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland, developing your staff members’ esports knowledge, growing your esports facilities, and more.

Esports in Education Summit 2026 schedule

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

VIP Business Breakfast

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Arrival + Refreshments

10:15 AM – 10:25 AM

Welcome Talk

Andy Payne – British Esports Chair

10:25 AM – 10:30 AM

Keynote

Rikki Paylor – Oldham College

10:30 AM – 11:05 AM

Panel 1 – Inclusive Participation and Meaningful Competition in Esports

Darren Pilkington – Fnatic, Ryan Collins – SUFC, Chris Jeffrey – Sunderland College, Meredith Brady – British Esports

Hosted by Alice Whorley, explore how esports can be inclusive, engaging, and competitive. This panel brings together educators and experts to discuss strategies for welcoming diverse participants, fostering skill growth, and designing competitions that are meaningful for all players. Discover how to create esports programs that are equitable, exciting, and impactful.

11:05 AM – 11:40 AM

Panel 2 – Standards, Pathways, and Qualifications in Esports Education

Laura Hall – Pearson, Lucy Supperstone – Leadership Skills Foundation, Rikki Paylor – Oldham College

Hosted by Kalam Neale, this panel dives into how education pathways, and qualifications are shaping the future of esports and setting standards for the future. Educators and industry leaders will explore ways to align programs with career opportunities, ensure consistent learning outcomes, and prepare students for success in the growing esports and creative ecosystem.

11:40 AM – 11:55 AM

Refreshment Break

11:55 AM – 12:30 PM

Panel 3 – Beyond the Player: How Esports Builds Career-Ready Skills

Jon Winkle – EPIC.LAN, Steven English – Williams F1, Ahmed Karim – Nokia, Emily Hayday – Loughborough University

Hosted by Dave Martin, this panel will uncover the vast landscape of careers that esports opens up far beyond competing as a player. Speakers from Loughborough University, Williams Esports, Nokia, and Epic.Lan will explore how the esports education develops real‑world skills and pathways into roles such as management, coaching, production, marketing, engineering, and event operations. The discussion will also spotlight how esports education uniquely prepares learners for progression into a wide range of industries—including sport, motorsport, logistics, data, software, AI, and network technologies—showcasing the diverse and often overlooked opportunities that emerge from the intersection of high‑performance sport, cutting‑edge technology, and live esports event environments.

12:30 PM – 1:05 PM

Panel 4 – Professional Development and Frameworks in the Esports Ecosystem

Luke Jecks – Slocoach, Layne Robinson

Hosted by Tom Dore, this panel examines how professional development and structured frameworks are shaping the esports industry to ensure best practice and continued development for all individuals.

1:05 PM – 1:15 PM

Closing Remarks and Special Announcements

Kalam Neale

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM

Roundtables Welcome

2:15 PM – 3:00 PM

Session 1: IT, Curriculum, EDI, and FE to HE

4 Topics will be discussed. Attendees choose one topic for this session: “Esports IT infrastructure 101” , “How to improve EDI in your esports club”, “Building your esports curriculum”, and “How to prepare students from FE to HE”. Education Summit Attendees are able to register for a roundtable on the day.

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM

Break

3:15 PM – 4:00 PM

Session 2: Work Experience, Wellbeing, Parent Guidance, and Esports Facilities

4 Topics will be discussed. Attendees choose one topic for this session: “Importance of Work & industry experience”, “Health and Nutrition for Performance”, “Guiding parents & carers through esports”, and “Developing your esports facility”. Education Summit Attendees are able to register for a roundtable on the day.

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM

Closing Address

See the full Bett UK 2026 esports agenda here and get tickets below.

Make sure you grab two tickets below – one to the summit and one to Bett UK 2026 here:

Get your ticket to the Esports in Education Summit 2026 here – tickets are free for educators

Grab your ticket to Bett UK 2026 here – tickets are free for educators