Innovate ELT Conference
30th May 2026 | Barcelona, Spain
About InnovateELT
InnovateELT is an annual conference inaugurated in 2015. True to the name, our aim is to discuss the role of innovation in language education and celebrate some of the most exciting things happening around us. The event attracts ELT professionals from around the world, from fields including teaching, training, leadership, materials writing, publishing, EdTech and more!
What can I expect?
As an attendee of the InnovateELT conference, you can expect a dynamic event that will leave you bursting with ideas and ready for Monday! These are just some of the reasons why our attendees keep coming back, year on year:
👩🏻🎓 Attend innovative talks and workshops from ELT experts
🙋🏻♂️ Contribute towards important discussions which will shake up the ELT industry
🌐 Network with ELT professionals from around the world
🙌🏻 Participate in competitions to win some top prizes
🌴 Enjoy our sunny garden (an oasis in the city!)
Theme in 2026: Analogue Minds, Digital Times
How can teachers create measurable learning impact in a world saturated with technology? The conference focuses on the human side of progress, such as presence, connection and empathy, that turn lessons into learning.
In our usual combination of workshops, talks, panel discussions, demo-lessons and networking in the garden, we’ll look at how to ignore tech or use it purposefully while keeping people at the heart of the classroom.
Featured Talks & Speakers 2026
First and foremost, the InnovateELT conference would be nothing without it’s speakers. Our speakers will deliver a mix of dynamic plenaries, workshops and Q&As that will get you involved and leave you brimming with ideas.
The conference will have three pathways: teaching, teacher training and management/ teacherpreneurship. Delegates will be able to focus on one area or dip into a mixture of sessions. This will be a great opportunity to delve into many toolkits, whatever context you are working in!
Duncan Foord
Director of Teacher Training
Barnaby Griffiths
Language and communication coach
Teresa Bestwick
Teacher trainer and materials writer
Chris Fry
Retired EFL teacher
About Duncan
Duncan Foord
Director of Teacher Training
Qualifications: MEd in TESOL, Trinity Licentiate Diploma in TESOL (DipTESOL).
Duncan Foord is a Coach and Mentor for ELT. He is the Director of OxfordTEFL, Barcelona. He has 35 years’ experience in language teaching, teacher training and school leadership and management. He is the author of “From English Teacher to Learner Coach” (with Dan Barber, The Round 2014) The Developing Teacher (Delta Publishing, 2009) and The Language Teachers Survival Handbook with Lindsay Clandfield (Its Magazines, 2008). He is lead trainer on the OxfordTEFL Leadership in ELT course.
Event location
The InnovateELT Conference takes place at Oxford TEFL, an accredited teacher training school in a great central location in Barcelona – moments away from the Ramblas or Passieg de Gracia, a long avenue with two of most famous Gaudí landmarks, “Casa Batlló” and “La Pedrera”.
Oxford TEFL, Carrer Diputació, 279
08007 Barcelona. Spain
Get involved, get connected, get inspired!
Be a part of InnovateELT 2026!
Testimonials
The presenters and topics are well chosen
“InnovateELT is an event I look forward to every year. The presenters and topics are well chosen and offer something for all language teachers, from veterans to beginners. The friendly and relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to chat and meet other attendees during the breaks. See you next year!”
– Maria Tinel
InnovateELT attendee, 2024
A great opportunity to meet other teachers
“This has been a great opportunity to meet other teachers from around the world and to share ideas about the way the sector is moving in this time of great technological and social change. It was really well organised and has inspired me to think about what changes I can make to my own teaching to stay relevant. Thanks!”
– Ruth Mulloy
InnovateELT attendee, 2024
The conference has brought much more new things than I can take
“I can’t believe I’ve done it! I came to meet fellow trainee teachers and to say hello to the school that feels like home of my ELT journey. Being here at the conference has brought much more new things than I can take in on this sunny weekend in late May but that’s how it should be. Thanks to everyone who’s expanded my mind this weekend.”
–Rowan Walker
InnovateELT attendee, 2024