The European Skeptics Congress Returns to the UK for the First Time in Over a Decade

The European Skeptics Congress has been bringing skeptics together across Europe since 1989. The congress was first held in Germany, attracting around 150 participants to the town of Bad Tölz in Bavaria.

In the decades since, it has travelled from Brussels to Amsterdam, from Stockholm to Ghent, from Vienna to Wrocław - with the UK hosting first in 1993 and again in 2003 and 2015.

This year, the 21st European Skeptics Congress will be held in Liverpool, UK, from 16–18 October 2026. Organisation of the event will be handled by the Merseyside Skeptics Society, working with the team behind the award-winning QED, one of the most well-regarded skeptical events in the world.

The event will open with a day-long SkeptiCamp event on Friday 16th October, followed by two days of talks, panel discussions, and more on Saturday and Sunday. The full programme will be announced in the coming months, but you can expect a fantastic line-up of speakers from across the continent.

Liverpool has a reputation for being one of the UKʼs friendliest cities, with great music, beautiful architecture, and a strong sense of its own identity. Merseyside Skeptics have been hosting events in the city since 2009, so if youʼve never made the trip, this is the excuse you needed.

Tickets will be avaible from May 6th 2026, from 10am BST and are expected to sell quickly, so mark your calendar to avoid disappointment. Prices start at £120 for ESCO members, and £140 for non-members.