Baby Week Leeds Set for November 2026

Local Events and National Activities to Promote Early Childhood Development

Baby Week Leeds will take place from 14 to 20 November 2026, offering a series of events and activities aimed at supporting families, professionals, and community organisations involved in early years development. The initiative brings together a wide range of participants, including Family Hubs, local authorities, health services, businesses, and voluntary groups, to focus on the importance of the earliest years of life.

Theme and Main Event

The theme for Baby Week 2026 is “Chat, Play, Read with Me: Together We Build the Best Start.” This highlights the role of everyday interactions in helping babies and young children learn, communicate, and thrive.

The week will officially begin with the Baby Week Leeds Big Opening Weekend Showcase at Temple Newsam on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026. The event will feature family-friendly activities, play opportunities, entertainment, information stalls, and chances to connect with local services and organisations. Attendance is free, but booking is advised through the event’s Eventbrite page.

Opportunities for Organisations

Organisations of all sizes are encouraged to participate in Baby Week by hosting activities, sessions, or events. This includes local authorities, NHS teams, Family Hubs, libraries, businesses, and voluntary groups. Ways to get involved include:

• Hosting family-friendly activities, play sessions, baby groups, or sensory experiences
• Delivering storytimes, rhyme times, and reading activities
• Promoting speech, language, and communication through everyday interactions
• Supporting initiatives that strengthen parent-infant bonding and family wellbeing
• Sharing Baby Week messages through social media and community networks
• Showcasing existing services and support under the Baby Week banner

Organisations can submit their events and access campaign resources, branding materials, and guidance via the Baby Week Leeds website: https://babyweek.co.uk/leeds/. Editable promotional templates are also available to help groups advertise their activities.

National Online Events

Alongside local activities, Baby Week 2026 includes several free national online events for families and professionals:

• Introduction to Baby First Aid – A free online session on 17 November 2026 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, designed to help parents and carers respond to common baby first aid situations.
• Building the Best Start Together – The Baby Week National Conference 2026 – A flagship event on 18 November 2026 from 9.00am to 3.30pm, available both online and in person, focusing on sharing learning and good practice in early years.
• Discover BBC – CBeebies Parenting for Professionals Lunch & Learn – A free webinar on 17 November 2026 from 12.00pm to 1.00pm, exploring how BBC CBeebies Parenting resources can support conversations with families and early childhood development.

Looking Ahead

Baby Week 2026 is expected to feature over 1,000 events, workshops, webinars, and family sessions across 25 locations in the UK. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the importance of early years, promote positive interactions between adults and children, and support families in accessing local services.

For more information and to get involved, visit the official Baby Week Leeds page: https://babyweek.co.uk/leeds/.

Source: Doing Good Leeds