Division of Occupational Psychology Annual Conference 2026

Science and Practice: Real Talk on What Works

The DOP Annual Conference is back, this year we make our way to Cardiff for a gathering of academics and practitioners dedicated to advancing research, practice, and policy. 

The conference will consist of 3-days of presentations, keynote speakers and opportunities for networking.

This year, the conference will be held at:

• Mercure Cardiff Holland House hotel & spa
  24-26 Newport Road 
  Cardiff
  CF24 0DD

Alongside the conference, an evening social event will be taking place. 

Spaces for our event are limited, so ensure you register your interest promptly. We're excited to welcome you to this exciting gathering of like-minded professionals!

Themes and workstreams of the conference

The conference theme is "Science and Practice: Real Talk on What Works"

The DOP Conference Organisers welcomes submissions from both academics and practitioners.

When making your submission, you will also need to consider the type of session you intend to offer.

We're accepting submissions across:

1. Standard research (Oral)
2. Posters
3. Symposium
4. Panel debate
5. Workshop/discussion
6. Other (activity or fringe event not covered by types 1 to 5)

You are invited to share your experiences and knowledge and to submit session proposals for one of the six conference workstreams:

1. Innovation in Action
   This stream explores innovations that move the dial - whether it's novel interventions, bold new applications of existing theory, or practice-informed research. We're looking for submissions that demonstrate how innovation in occupational psychology has made a meaningful difference in workplaces, policies, or outcomes.
2. Co-Labs: Where Researchers and Practitioners Meet
   This stream showcases meaningful collaborations between academics and practitioners that led to impact. We want to hear about the real experiences of working together, including lessons learned, obstacles faced, and the outcomes achieved.
3. Career Crossovers
   This stream focuses on the transitions and tensions between academic and applied careers in occupational psychology. We welcome contributions from people who've crossed between these worlds or who operate in both, sharing what they've learned and how it's shaped their work.
4. What Counts as Evidence?
   This stream invites critical reflection on how we measure success in the real world. What forms of evidence do clients, users, and psychologists actually find meaningful? How do we evaluate impact in complex, messy, dynamic environments?
5. Open Practice
   In this stream, we welcome open and honest sharing of what you've built, trialled, adapted - or what didn't work. We're looking for sessions that equip others with practical tools or spark collective learning, not just polished case studies.
6. The Business Problem
   This stream starts with a real-world challenge. Whether it's burnout, transformation, inclusion, or automation - we want to hear how occupational psychology has tackled (or could tackle) the issues that matter most to organisations and individuals.Want to speak to one of the team?

Please read the submission tab for more information on presentation methods, submissions guidelines and how to submit.