About
The Spain Festival of Education will feature more than 50 sessions led by educators and thought leaders from across Spain, Europe, and beyond. Around half of the Festival’s content is selected through our open application process, with the remainder curated by the Festival team and our core partners.
This approach allows us to uncover fresh voices and innovative ideas, helping to ensure a diverse and inclusive Festival, both in the content presented and in the community of participants who shape it.
Applying
We welcome applications from individuals and organisations eager to share their knowledge, insights, and innovative ideas at the Spain Festival of Education 2026. To be considered as a speaker, please ensure your application is completed in full and submitted through our online portal.
As we expect a high volume of applications, we recommend focusing on one or two high-quality submissions rather than multiple proposals. For guidance on shaping your session topics and titles, please consult our Speaker Applications Guidance.
Only applications received by the published deadline will be considered. Our team will review all submissions in January, with successful applicants notified in February. Please note that not all applicants will be selected. The content team’s decision is final.
While we greatly value the contributions of those who have spoken at other Festivals of Education, previous participation does not guarantee preference in the selection process. Each application will be evaluated on its merit, originality, and relevance to the themes of the Spain Festival of Education. Due to the high volume of submissions, individual feedback cannot always be provided.
Categories
To ensure a wide breadth of content that reflects the diverse landscape of education, we are seeking applications across a range of categories. These categories help us curate a well-rounded programme that engages and inspires attendees with fresh perspectives and practical insights.
We welcome applications in the following categories:
- AI & EdTech
- Assessment
- Attendance/Families
- Behaviour/Culture
- Belonging
- Careers
- Coaching
- Cognitive Science
- Creative Subjects
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Flourishing
- Oracy
- Policy & Research
- Professional Development
- Recruitment & Retention
- Safeguarding
- STEM
- SEND
- Student Voice
- Sustainability
What you'll need
When submitting your speaker application, please ensure you have the following information ready:
Session Title & Description: Provide a title for your session, along with a brief description.
Speaker Information: Include a bio and photo for each speaker involved in the session (up to a maximum of five speakers). If you are applying on behalf of others, ensure you have their permission to use and share their details.
Session Timing Preferences: Let us know if you have any preferences for when your session could take place.
Category: Select the appropriate category for your session.
Editing Your Application: You can edit your application up until the submission deadline.
Accessibility: If you need any support completing this application or need to submit in an alternative format, please contact us at foe@educationscape.com
Important Notes: Partially completed applications will not be considered, so please ensure all required information is provided. Please also note that commercial applications will be rejected. If you wish to promote a product please email: scott.forbes@educationscape.com
Judging questions
To help you prepare the strongest possible application, we want to be transparent about how submissions will be reviewed. Our panel will assess each proposal against the following criteria, which reflect the values and aims of the Festival of Education. Please ensure your application clearly addresses each of these areas:
Next steps
If your proposed session is accepted, we will contact you to confirm and update the information we have for your session. At this stage, you’ll also receive a registration link to book your complimentary tickets to the Festival. All successful speakers will receive free access to the Festival for themselves and a guest.
In February, we will confirm your session. By March, your session will be announced on the Festival website, and you will be able to start promoting it to your network.
At the Festival, all speakers will have access to our exclusive speakers’ lounge, where refreshments will be available throughout the day, including lunch.
While we are unable to offer a speaker fee, we do strive to keep the Festival affordable for all. We are pleased to offer a €75 per person travel contribution if required, and we appreciate your understanding in this matter.
