The September Fest returns from 22–24 September 2026, bringing together expert-led sessions on tax, financial reporting, Making Tax Digital, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and practice growth.
Accounting professionals face no shortage of change. New reporting requirements, tax developments, regulatory reform and rapid advances in artificial intelligence are all affecting how firms operate and advise their clients.
The September Fest 2026 will help accountants navigate that changing landscape through three days of focused online learning.
Running from Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 September, this event combines technical updates with practical guidance on technology, compliance, professional wellbeing and building a stronger accounting practice.
Tax and MTD take centre stage
The opening day on Tuesday 22 September concentrates on issues likely to feature prominently in the work of UK accountants and tax advisers.
The programme begins with a session on HMRC enquiries and trusts, followed by an examination of self-assessment tips and traps. Delegates will also be able to explore EIS, SEIS and other tax-favoured investments, including the potential pitfalls for companies and investors.
With Making Tax Digital continuing to reshape services for the self-employed and landlords, the session From First Submission to First Tax Return: Your MTD Roadmap will help practitioners look beyond initial quarterly submissions and prepare for the complete reporting cycle.
Day one also covers employee ownership trusts and the move towards mandatory payrolling of benefits, giving attendees an opportunity to prepare for changes that will affect both their firms and their clients.
Reporting, regulation and economic insight
Wednesday 23 September broadens the focus to corporate transactions, financial reporting and regulatory risk.
A session on deferred and earn-out consideration will examine an area that accountants may encounter when advising on company sales and acquisitions. This is followed by The Many Guises of Money Laundering, placing financial crime and professional responsibilities firmly on the agenda.
FRS 102 will also feature, with a dedicated implementation toolkit addressing the new lease-accounting requirements taking effect in 2026. Attendees will receive guidance designed to help them move from understanding the revised standard to applying it in practice.
The day’s core programme concludes with a look at global markets and whether current conditions are approaching historic bubble territory.
Two bonus sessions are also included for purchasers of the full bundle and CPD Club members. These cover building resilient systems capable of withstanding evolving cyberattacks and the continuing implementation of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
AI, digital assets and the future of practice
The final day, Thursday 24 September, turns towards technology, people and practice development.
Artificial intelligence features prominently. One session will follow the use of AI in an accounting practice from invoice processing through to working papers, while another asks an increasingly important question for firms handling confidential financial information: is it actually safe?
Delegates can also explore the developing world of cryptocurrency and digital assets, an area in which accountants may increasingly be asked to provide guidance despite its technical and fast-moving nature.
Technology is only one part of a sustainable practice, however. Surviving Tax Season Without Sacrificing Your Sanity will consider how professionals can manage demanding workloads without allowing performance and wellbeing to suffer.
An employment-focused session will examine the new landscape of dismissal protection and the significant changes expected in 2027. The event then concludes with practical guidance on building a profitable and scalable accounting practice.
Learning that can be applied in practice
The September Fest’s strength lies in the breadth of its programme. It allows practitioners to refresh essential tax and reporting knowledge while engaging with emerging risks and opportunities.
Topics such as AI security, cyber resilience and digital assets sit alongside self-assessment, HMRC enquiries and FRS 102. This reflects the reality of modern accountancy, where technical competence must increasingly be combined with sound technology decisions, regulatory awareness and effective practice management.
The full-event bundle costs £456 and includes all of the listed sessions, as well as the two bonus sessions. Access is free for CPD Club members.
The September Fest 2026 takes place online on 22, 23 and 24 September. View the full programme and enrol.
Frequently asked questions
What is The September Fest 2026?
The September Fest 2026 is a three-day online CPD event for accounting and finance professionals. Its programme covers tax, financial reporting, regulation, technology, cybersecurity and accountancy practice development.
When is The September Fest 2026?
The September Fest 2026 takes place from Tuesday 22 September to Thursday 24 September 2026.
Is The September Fest 2026 an online event?
Yes. The September Fest 2026 is delivered online, allowing attendees to participate without travelling to a physical venue.
Who is The September Fest 2026 for?
The event is designed for accountants, tax advisers, finance professionals and accountancy practice leaders who want practical updates on technical, regulatory and business issues affecting the profession.
What topics will The September Fest 2026 cover?
The programme covers subjects including HMRC enquiries, self-assessment, Making Tax Digital, tax-favoured investments, employee ownership trusts, payrolling benefits, financial reporting, money laundering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, employment law and practice growth.
What will be covered on 22 September?
The first day focuses primarily on tax. Sessions cover HMRC enquiries and trusts, self-assessment, EIS and SEIS investments, Making Tax Digital, employee ownership trusts and mandatory payrolling of benefits.
What will be covered on 23 September?
The second day covers deferred and earn-out consideration, money laundering, the revised FRS 102 lease-accounting requirements and global markets. It also includes bonus sessions on cybersecurity and the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
What will be covered on 24 September?
The final day explores artificial intelligence in accountancy, AI security, cryptocurrency and digital assets, professional wellbeing, changes to dismissal protection and building a profitable, scalable accounting practice.
Does the event cover Making Tax Digital?
Yes. The programme includes a session called From First Submission to First Tax Return: Your MTD Roadmap, which addresses the reporting journey beyond the initial quarterly submissions.
Does The September Fest include an FRS 102 update?
Yes. The event includes an FRS 102 implementation toolkit focused on the new lease-accounting requirements taking effect in 2026.
Will artificial intelligence be discussed?
Yes. The programme examines how AI can be used throughout an accounting practice, including invoice processing and working-paper preparation. It also considers whether AI tools are safe for firms handling confidential information.
Does the event cover cybersecurity?
Yes. A bonus session examines how accountancy practices can build resilient systems capable of withstanding evolving cyberattacks.
Are bonus sessions included?
Two bonus sessions are included for purchasers of the full-event bundle and CPD Club members. They cover cyber resilience and Companies House’s implementation of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
The contents of this article are meant as a guide only and are not a substitute for professional advice. The author/s accept no responsibility for any action taken, or refrained from, as a result of the material contained in this document. Specific advice should be obtained before acting or refraining from acting, in connection with the matters dealt with in this article. The information at the time of publishing was accurate and could be subject to final changes.
