Conference
CHALLENGING COLLECTIONS
6-8 July 2026 | Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds
This year the ARLIS UK & Ireland annual conference will be held in Leeds, hosted at the Carriageworks Theatre.
Under the theme of Challenging Collections, we will explore some of the ways we are challenged by the collections we work with, and how we, in turn, can challenge them.
The Call for Contributions is now closed. Thank you to everyone who has submitted! The programme is now available and we look forward to seeing you at the conference in July.
Contact the Conference Working Party with any questions at conference@arlis.net.
Local information
We’re delighted to be bring #ARLIS2026 to the city of Leeds, the heart of West Yorkshire!
Leeds is home to a vibrant creative community, with renowned galleries and exhibitions, a dynamic independent food scene and plenty to see and do whilst in the city. See below for local information, or head to VisitLeeds to further plan your visit.
Leeds is one of the most accessible cities in the UK, whether your visiting from the elsewhere in the UK or abroad.
Train
Leeds is well served by national rail operators and getting to Leeds by train is quick and easy. LNER run direct trains into Leeds from London with most journey times taking just over two hours, whilst Edinburgh is only three hours. LNER are also offering a 25% discount for conference delegates travelling by train.
The conference venue is just a ten-minute walk from Leeds train station.
Air
Direct flights to Leeds Bradford Airport come in from over 70 worldwide locations, with connections to just about everywhere else via London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol or Dublin.
A regular bus service, the Flyer, runs between the airport and Leeds City Centre, taking approximately 30 minutes.
For more information and other ways into the city, see: Travelling to Leeds – Visit Leeds
A drinks reception will take place at the conference venue, the Carriageworks Theatre, on Monday evening, and a conference buffet at the Tiled Hall Gallery on Tuesday. These must be added to your booking when purchasing tickets.
Refreshments will be available throughout the conference, but delegate lunches will not be provided. There are a number of cafes, shops and restaurants in the immediate area, including Stage Espresso, Brod Sandwich Bar, and Northern Market.
Special offers and discounts especially for conference delegates are also available at a number of local bars and restaurants:
- The Wardrobe – 10% off food and drink to all attendees when you show your conference ticket
- The New Conservatory – 25% off and all-day Happy Hour for conference delegates
- The Smithfield – free drink or bottle of wine for the table (with a meal)
To help you make the most of the city, we have built a number of optional visits and tours into the conference programme, taking you behind the scenes of some of Leeds’ best libraries museums and galleries, including The Leeds Library, the M&S Archive, the Royal Armouries Library.
These visits are optional and may be subject to capacity. Sign-up sheets will be available at the registration desk on each day of the conference.
Our local Leeds librarians also have plenty more suggestions for how to spend your time in Leeds. Check out our Google map or the below list of suggestions!