Safe Sport Global Conference 2026
25–27 May | University of Cape Town, South Africa
Advancing athlete safety through collaboration, research and global leadership.
Event Snapshot
Why Attend Safe Sport 2026?
Learn from global experts
Hear from leading researchers, safeguarding leaders,
and athlete advocates.
Share knowledge and practice
Explore emerging research and practical safeguarding
solutions.
Build international connections
Connect with policymakers, NGOs, sports bodies and
athletes.
Be part of global change
Help advance safe sport policies and practice worldwide.
Global Voices. Shared Solutions.
Programme Highlights
The Safe Sport 2026 programme will feature a diverse range of sessions designed to encourage dialogue, knowledge exchange and practical learning.
Highlights will include:
keynote presentations from global leaders in safe sport
panel discussions exploring key safeguarding challenges and solutions
interactive workshops focused on practical safeguarding implementation
research symposium sessions highlighting emerging academic work
case studies from organisations developing innovative safeguarding initiatives
The programme will offer a balance of research, practice and lived experience perspectives to support learning across the sport sector.
Speakers
Safe Sport 2026 will feature speakers from across the international sport community, including researchers, practitioners, policymakers and athlete advocates.
Speakers will bring diverse perspectives and experiences, helping to shape discussions around the challenges and opportunities involved in protecting athletes and promoting safe sport environments.
The conference programme will include keynote speakers as well as contributors from across sport, academia and safeguarding practice.
Conference Dinner
The Safe Sport 2026 Conference Dinner on Tuesday 26th will bring delegates together for an evening of conversation, celebration and connection.
The dinner provides an opportunity to reflect on the themes of the conference while strengthening relationships within the global safe sport community.
Dinner tickets can be added during the registration process.
Celebrating Individuals, Groups and Organisations Advancing Safe Sport
The 2026 Safe Sport Awards celebrate individuals, organisations, researchers, and athletes who are advancing the global vision of everyone, everywhere safe in sport.
Presented as part of the Safe Sport 2026 Global Conference in Cape Town, the awards recognise leadership, research, innovation, and sustained commitment across the safeguarding in sport community.
They shine a spotlight on those working to strengthen safe sport systems, elevate athlete voices, and develop solutions that prevent harm and support wellbeing across sport environments.
The awards aim to inspire collaboration and recognise those driving meaningful change across sport worldwide.
Helping you plan a once in a lifetime trip to Cape Town
Safe Sport 2026 will be hosted at the University of Cape Town, one of Africa’s leading universities and a globally recognised centre of research and learning.
Located at the foot of Table Mountain, the campus provides an inspiring setting for international dialogue and collaboration.
Cape Town is a vibrant global city known for its cultural diversity, natural beauty and strong sporting heritage, making it an ideal location for the global safe sport community to gather.
The Safe Sport International Global Conference is made possible through the support of partners and organisations committed to advancing athlete safety.
We are grateful to the organisations that support the conference and contribute to strengthening safeguarding practices across sport.
If your organisation is interested in supporting the conference, sponsorship opportunities are available.
Past Conference Impact
Previous Safe Sport conferences have brought together professionals from across the world to share knowledge and develop solutions that improve safeguarding practice in sport. The conference series has helped to:
connect safeguarding professionals across continents
share research and evidence to support better safeguarding systems
strengthen policy and practice within sport organisations
amplify the voices of athletes and those working to protect them
Selected recordings from previous conferences will be available to view for those interested in exploring past discussions and insights.
Registration
Registration for Safe Sport 2026 is now open.
Your conference registration includes:
access to all conference sessions
participation in workshops and panel discussions
networking events and community sessions
conference materials
Delegates can also purchase tickets for the conference dinner during registration.
Pay It Forward Fund
Safe Sport International is committed to making the conference accessible to participants from around the world.
Through the Pay It Forward Fund, individuals and organisations can contribute towards supporting attendance for delegates from under-resourced regions.
These contributions help ensure that diverse voices and perspectives are represented in global safe sport conversations.
Join the Global Safe Sport Community
Safe Sport 2026 offers an opportunity to learn, connect and contribute to the ongoing work of creating safer sporting environments for athletes everywhere.
We invite you to join safeguarding professionals, researchers, athletes and sport leaders from across the world in Cape Town.