We Empower Teachers and Schools to Cultivate Thriving Educational Environments.
The World Schools Summit is organised by T4 Education, a global international education platform, in partnership with Aldar Education and the Emirates Foundation. It’s an exclusive international gathering of influential voices in education, bringing together school leaders, policymakers, edtech pioneers, and non-profit changemakers from around the world. This is the second edition of the conference — the first was held in 2024. The theme of this year’s event is “Leadership for a Better World.”
It will take place on 15 and 16 November 2026 on the campus of Yasmina British Academy in Abu Dhabi. The event is expected to run from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on both days – please note: timings may be subject to slight changes once the programme is finalised.
The World Schools Summit is open to leaders from schools (all types of schools from all parts of the world) and academia; Ministries of Education and other government bodies; private sector (commercial operators - business leaders and entrepreneurs working in education); civil society organisations (NGOs, non-profits, philanthropic foundations, etc). The event is also open to journalists and media representatives. We also welcome students and young leaders, who will be selected by the organisation, and are invitation-only.
It’s a one-of-a-kind event that takes place at the premises of an international school, Yasmina British Academy, Aldar Education’s flagship school in Abu Dhabi. The Summit brings together some of the most forward-thinking educators and influential figures in global education to inspire meaningful, lasting change.
You’ll engage in high-impact conversations and learn from peers around the world.
You will gain:
- Insights: You’ll leave with a sharper vision of what’s next for education.
- Connections: Make meaningful connections with school leaders, entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, and policymakers.
- Collaboration: Spark new partnerships and cross-sector collaborations that continue to drive impact long after the event ends.
Yes, we will host two side events that are invitation-only.
The So-Good Summit will take place on November 14th and is exclusive for leaders of non-profit organisations who have already registered for the World Schools Summit. We issue an invitation to this exclusive event upon registration.
The Global Leaders Summit, affiliated with the Education Leaders Forum, will take place on November 15th and is open only to members of the Forum.
The 2025 World Schools Summit will explore the urgent question: ‘What kind of leadership does the world need now?’ In the face of inequality, conflict, climate disruption, and the rapid rise of AI, the Summit will focus on how education can lead with vision, purpose, and courage. Building on the momentum of 2024, when education leaders from 84 countries gathered in Dubai to explore the concept of hidden curriculum, this year’s event will once again bring together changemakers from education, government, business, tech, and civil society to co-create the future of learning.
The agenda is currently being worked on and will be published on our website closer to the event. In the meantime, we encourage you to visit our website to explore the lineup of confirmed speakers: https://t4.education/world-schools-summit/ and other updates.
Yes – the World Schools Summit is designed to foster numerous networking opportunities. We believe that connecting these varied voices is one of our greatest strengths and a key driver in transforming education for the better.
Yes, the World Schools Summit offers a valuable opportunity for exhibitors and sponsors to connect with global education leaders and make the most of the event’s international reach.
If you’re interested in showcasing your organisation or supporting the Summit, please contact Laura from our team at laura@t4.education.
Yes. Regular fees are at: £199.99 for educators, £499.99 for non-profit organisations, and £999.99 for commercial operators. Early-bird 50% discounts are available until July 31st.
To register, simply visit our website and click on “Apply to attend”: https://t4.education/world-schools-summit/. From there, select the appropriate attendee category and complete the registration form.
We offer three types of tickets. When registering, please select the category that best reflects your role. If you get the wrong ticket, we will reject it.
- Educators: For staff at public and private schools and higher education, including principals, teachers, lecturers, and support or operations teams.
Note: Education business owners should register as Commercial Operators.
- Not-for-profit: For NGOs, non-profits, philanthropic foundations, think tanks, policy institutes, and advocacy groups focused on education.
Note: For-profit organisations and social enterprises should register as Commercial Operators
- Commercial: For owners, C-suite leaders, and executives of for-profit companies, including private school groups, universities, EdTechs, and suppliers.
Note: This includes organisations of any size.
Yes – we offer early bird discounts at 50% until July 31st. After that date, the fees will be at the regular price.
Yes, we encourage registrations from all over the world.
If you are a journalist or a press/media representative, please get in touch with Salman Shaheen, responsible for Communications at the T4 team at salman@t4.education.
Unfortunately, the sessions will not be recorded or available for later viewing. We encourage all participants to attend live to benefit fully from the discussions and networking opportunities.
Unfortunately, the World Schools Summit is an in-person event only, and there is no virtual attendance option this year. We encourage all participants to join us onsite to fully engage with the experience.
As of August, we will be sharing recommended hotels for our guests near the venue.
Whilst each participant is responsible for applying for their visa, we are happy to provide a formal letter of invitation to support your application.
If you require this letter, please request it by contacting us at wss@t4.education.
While we do not provide transportation to the venue, there are multiple convenient options available in Abu Dhabi. Visitors can use such as:
- Taxis – Widely available and reliable across the city.
- Uber – Operates in Abu Dhabi and is easy to book via the app.
- Careem – A popular local ride-hailing app offering a range of vehicle options.
We recommend checking local apps or your hotel concierge for the most suitable option on the day.
If you're interested in volunteering or supporting the organisation of the World Schools Summit, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us at wss@t4.education to express your interest and learn more about available opportunities.
Yes. Once registered, attendees will be able to download our event app, where they can connect with other participants, view speaker profiles, plan their schedules, and make the most of the Summit experience.
Details on how to download and access the app will be shared after completing the registration process.
Yes. The final stage of T4 Education’s Global EdTech Prize will take place at the World Schools Summit. All attendees will be able to judge the winners.
Schools that have been recognised through T4 Education’s World’s Best School Prizes will attend, so you will be able to meet the leaders behind these innovative and inspiring schools.
The World Schools Summit is a gathering of global education leaders, and the recommended dress code is business casual. We encourage attendees to dress comfortably yet professionally, whilst respecting the cultural norms of the UAE.
Meal options will be available for attendees during the event; however, please note that these will need to be paid for individually.
There will be a variety of choices to accommodate different tastes, cultures, and dietary restrictions.
The Summit is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and harassment-free environment for all participants. Attendees are expected to adhere to these principles at all times.
The event organisation reserves the right to remove any individual who violates the code of conduct, without refund.
Additionally, all local laws, regulations, and customs must be respected throughout the event, including those relating to appropriate attire.
We aim to create a safe, welcoming, and productive environment for everyone involved.
For any questions or assistance, please contact the organising team at wss@t4.education. We’re here to help and will respond as soon as possible.
If an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control -such as natural, political, or other force majeure events- prevents the World Schools Summit from taking place as planned, we will reschedule the event and automatically transfer all registrations to the new date. We will inform all registered participants as soon as possible with updated details. Please note that we are unable to cover any costs related to travel, accommodation, or other expenses resulting from the change.
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