The University of Birmingham is to host one of the standout events of Life Sciences Week (LSW) 2026, as the Life Sciences Gala Dinner and Awards moves to its historic Great Hall this September.

Bringing Sector Stakeholders Together

The black-tie evening will take place on 24 September, bringing together entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers, investors and senior leaders from across the sector for a night of recognition and celebration, and is billed by organisers as the highlight of the week.

The landmark venue carries great historical significance. Built in 1900, the Grade II-listed, red-brick Great Hall was originally conceived as a “cathedral to learning” and has hosted generations of graduation ceremonies. Organisers say the setting reflects the university’s own standing in the sector: Birmingham ranks 29th in the world for Life Sciences and Medicine, runs almost 2,000 active biosciences research projects, and counts 10 Nobel Prize winners across Chemistry, Physics, and Physiology or Medicine among its alumni and staff. It is also a founding member of the Russell Group.

Awards to be issued

The evening will also include an awards ceremony, with five categories up for recognition: Breakthrough Innovation in Life Sciences, Rising Star in Life Sciences, Excellence in Collaboration and Partnerships, Outstanding Contribution to Life Sciences, and Advancement in Patient Care and Health Outcomes.

Tickets are available from £190 for a single place, with tables of ten available at £1,700.

The Gala Dinner forms part of a five-day national programme running from Monday 21 to Friday 25 September, which also includes the Launch Day Conference at Millennium Point, a Future of Women’s Health Summit, and an innovation and pitch forum at the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus.

For the full week’s programme and to book tickets, visit lifesciencesweek.co.uk.