Piers Linney and Elizabeth Day

We are proud to unveil two exceptional headline speakers for our 2026 programme, bringing powerful insight from the worlds of technology, business, media and personal development to the dental profession.

Friday Headline Speaker: Piers Linney MBE

Kicking off the Friday programme, entrepreneur, investor and former Dragons’ Den star Piers Linney MBE makes the case for urgent, decisive action on AI. In this no-nonsense session, Linney will draw on his experience advising firms across sectors and explore why a cautious, ‘wait and see’ approach isn’t just risky, it’s fatal.

With AI moving faster, scaling wider, and rewriting the rules of business in real time, Linney will share insights on how AI is already transforming dental practices, clinical decision-making and business strategy from the inside out.

Expect a hard-hitting, forward-looking take on:

• Why AI is different from every wave of tech that came before it
• How it's already reshaping patient care, practice management and commercial strategy
• What leaders must do now to stay relevant and competitive

This session will challenge your assumptions and help you take action before it’s too late.

Saturday Headline Speaker: Elizabeth Day

On Saturday, award-winning journalist, bestselling author of How to Fail and host of the chart-topping How to Fail podcast, Elizabeth Day, will take part in an inspiring and thought-provoking fireside chat exploring the powerful connection between success and failure.

As leadership and entrepreneurship continue to thrive across the dental profession, this headline session will focus on resilience, growth and the strength gained through failure. Day will explore ambition, vulnerability, leadership and the power of learning from failure, themes that resonate strongly with today’s business owners navigating change, expansion and professional growth. This inspiring session will connect with those building, leading and growing modern dental practices and is not to be missed.

Stewart Turner, Event Director said: ‘Together, these two headline sessions reflect our commitment to delivering a programme that goes beyond clinical excellence – addressing the technological, emotional and strategic realities of contemporary dentistry. We are confident these personalities will not only offer fantastic insight, but will inspire the whole dentistry community’

From the future impact of AI to the human side of ambition and resilience, BDCDS 2026 has something for everyone.