The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is delighted to announce that tickets are now available for the brand-new GMA Conference 2026 and the GMA Industry Awards.
Both events will be hosted at the iconic Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham on Thursday 12 March.
Designed for grounds professionals, the GMA Conference 2026 offers curated opportunities for advanced learning – not just technically, but in the soft skills that are increasingly essential in modern grounds management. Attendees can shape their own agenda on the day and explore solutions to workplace-specific challenges.
The conference provides a focused environment to tackle complex industry issues whilst earning recognised CPD points.
Headline speakers include:
- Karl McDermott (Marylebone Cricket Club) – Re-Engineering the Surface: Lessons from the Full-Scale Pitch Renovation at Lord’s
- Mark Clemmit – Influence with Impact: Skills Every Modern Grounds Manager Needs & Tackling Today’s Toughest Challenges: A Grounds Manager Roundtable
- Dr Ruth Mann (STRI) – Optimising Soil Health for Stronger, Safer Surfaces
- Daniel Ratling (Whitgift School), Chris Hunter (GMA), Will Brierley (AELTC), Mark Ferguson (AELTC) and John Lawrence (Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club) – Investing in Your Future Workforce: Funding, Pathways and Practical Success Stories
Delegates will also have the chance to join an exclusive Edgbaston Tour, getting a rare behind-the-scenes look at how a world-class venue manages surfaces and operations.
Following the conference, attendees are invited to stay for the GMA Industry Awards, the GMA’s annual celebration of outstanding grounds people and organisations. The awards highlight the people and achievements driving standards across grounds management, and finalists have recently been confirmed.
Tickets for both events are now on sale.
Sarah Cunningham, Director of Commercial, Membership and Events, said: “We’re incredibly excited to launch the GMA Conference 2026 alongside the Industry Awards. It’s a unique opportunity for grounds professionals to come together and tackle the real challenges facing our sector thanks to an inspiring line-up of speakers and interactive sessions. And of course, the Awards give us the perfect chance to celebrate the outstanding people and achievements shaping the future of grounds management.”
Find out more here: gmaindustryawards.uk.
Source GMA
