Routes to Clean Air 2026
The Institute of Air Quality Management presents Routes to Clean Air (RTCA) 2026, its annual conference on topics relevant to air quality practitioners and associated professionals. RTCA will take place over two days, 21st and 22nd October, at thestudio, Birmingham.
This year will focus on topics related to air quality measurement, monitoring, and modelling. This follows the IAQM’s decision to absorb topics that were previously covered under the separate Dispersion Modelling User Group (DMUG) and Measuring Air Quality (MAQ) conferences into the RTCA umbrella.
The day will go beyond theory, offering cutting-edge insight on emissions measurement, real-world data, and the practical delivery of clean air solutions across cities and regions. With expert speakers from government organisations, consultancy, and academia, the conference will offer cross-sector perspectives, with a strong focus on what works in practice now and what’s going to be needed in the future. It is a unique opportunity to stay ahead of policy, learn from leading projects, and connect with peers tackling the same challenges.
Delegates will also be able to interact with leading companies in the air quality sector. This is your chance to see some of the latest cutting-edge technologies, innovative solutions, and best practices aimed at tackling the challenges associated with air pollution.
Agenda
The draft agenda is now available (button to download is below), offering conference sessions on:
- Measurement Techniques
- Indoor Air
- National and Local Modelling
- Farming and Nature
- Ambient Monitoring & Regulatory Evidence
- Human Health
- Developments in Modelling
- Looking Ahead
There will also be parallel breakout sessions, panel discussions, interactive sessions and many networking opportunities e.g. drinks reception, 3 course dinner, IAQM awards, and the opportunity to engage with sponsors and exhibitors.
Who will be presenting across the two days?
We have speakers confirmed from:
- Government organisations such as Defra, Environment Agency, Natural England
- Local authorities – Hertfordshire County Council
- Research organisations – Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (CERC)
- Academia – University of Birmingham, University College London, University of York, Imperial College London
- The Met Office
- Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB)
- And many more…
Who should attend?
Air quality consultants | Expert practitioners | Local authority officers | Regulators | Government officers | Academics and researchers | Air quality graduates and PhD/MSc students | Standards agencies and accreditation bodies | NGO and professional body staff | Air quality equipment manufacturers | Trade associations | Industrial operators
Awards Nominations
IAQM awards are now open for nominations!
Nomination forms will remain open until 5pm on 26th August, after which time submissions will be judged ahead of the award ceremony at the conference dinner on Tuesday 21st October. For more information, please take a look at this news article.
Ticket Prices
Full event (2 day + dinner)
Early Bird Price
Non-IAQM Member
Early Bird Price
IAQM Member
1 day
Early Bird Price
Non-IAQM Member
Early Bird Price
IAQM Member
Discounted Tickets and Dinner Tickets
Discounted ticket* - One Day
Discounted ticket* - Two Days
Dinner ticket
Discounted Rate Tickets*
Discounted rate tickets are available to those working for a local authority or local government, NGO/charity, academia/research, students/graduates (graduated after 1st January 2025 and not currently in full-time employment), those who are retired, or are out of work.
Please Note:
- Tickets bought at the early bird rate must be paid for ahead of the rate expiry otherwise the standard rate will be applied.
- There is no early bird rate for discounted rate tickets.
- All 2-day tickets (excluding discounted rate tickets) include a ticket to the dinner that is taking place on the 21st October.
- For 1-day tickets and discounted rate tickets, dinner tickets must be added separately, if you wish to attend.
Making a Business Case to Attend
If you would like some help with making an internal business case to your manager/director in order to attend, why not make use of our Business Case to Attend Routes to Clean Air 2026 document? Simply fill in the blanks and adjust to your own circumstances.
Countdown to event:
Would you like to exhibit at, or sponsor, Routes to Clean Air?
RTCA attracts consultants, air quality practitioners, leading manufacturers, local authority officers and regulators, academics, and researchers providing an excellent opportunity for organisations to interact with their target audience of experts and buyers. This conference is a platform for expert practitioners to share knowledge, therefore there are a limited number of spaces for sponsors and exhibitors.
Benefits of exhibiting:
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- Exhibition stand
- Branded banners displayed in exhibition space
- Logo with hyperlink on this webpage (and the IES’s)
- A thank you from the conference Chair
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Download our Exhibitor and Sponsorship Information Pack on the right hand side >>
Exhibitors
Venue & Accessibility
Venue full address: thestudio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP
A map and directions to the venue are available here.
We will be utilising several spaces at the venue – Explore room, Discover room, and the Atrium are all fully accessible, however, the Smile and Think rooms, which may be used for some optional 1:1 sessions, are accessible only by a short set of stairs. Full information can be found on thestudio website.
If you anticipate needing any type of assistance to fully participate in the conference, please email Sian Kear, Events & Training Lead at: events@the-ies.org to discuss further.
Accommodation
This year we are working in partnership with Event Express Ltd to make booking your overnight accommodation as simple as possible. You can see all nearby accommodation and book here: https://resx.eventexpressuk.
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