Alliance Party Conference 2026 #APNI26
Chris Lyttle, Client Director, Brown O’Connor Ireland
The Alliance Party will hold its 56th annual conference in Belfast this weekend, a year out from the next Northern Ireland Assembly and Local Government elections.
In the face of public frustration at Stormont and under concerted challenge from across the house, Alliance will seek to assert how the party of good relations can be the party of good government for Northern Ireland.
A significant increase in votes at the Assembly Election 2022 and Local Government Election 2023 secured Alliance an additional 23 MLA and Councillor seats, further challenging the political status quo in Northern Ireland. Recent polls, however, suggest that the party may have work to do to sustain this enhanced mandate in two elections on the same day in May 2027.
The conference is scheduled to set out a vision for community, economic and environmental regeneration with keynote speeches from from Party Leader and Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA, Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.
The Justice Minister is likely to reference the Victims and Witnesses Strategy as delivery of key Programme for Government commitments on Safer Communities and Violence Against Women and Girls. The Alliance Leader may also point to her introduction of a Sentencing Bill as delivery of enhanced sentencing for racially motivated crimes, an increased maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving, Charlotte’s Law, Helen’s Law and a new offence of assaulting a person delivering a public service.
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir MLA is expected to set out actions he is taking to advance environmental protection and sustainable farming in Northern Ireland as a contributor to a panel discussion on remedying the severe pollution of Lough Neagh.
Fringe events are also scheduled to consider policy interventions needed on poverty, education, housing and health.
The Alliance Party has gained increased support in recent years and at a time when people and businesses are seeking leadership from government to improve public services, mitigate rising costs and enhance opportunity, this conference presents the third biggest party in Northern Ireland with the occasion to set out what actions it is taking to deliver its vision of a more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable Northern Ireland for all.