National Services Event Returns To Sunderland For Fourth Time

Sunderland’s Stadium of Light will host the National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Event for the fourth time it has been announced today. 

The National event which “celebrates the ethos of service in every aspect” will take place on Wednesday May 13, starting at 0900 and finishing at 1230. 

NAFESE 2026 will feature a STEM Village for visiting local schools and colleges, a Recruitment & Resettlement Zone and an Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club, which is already held once a month by Sunderland AFC. 

NAFESE Event Director, Mal Robinson said: “We are delighted to be staging the fourth National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Event in Sunderland once again. Sunderland AFC has been an instrumental event partner from the beginning and the first event in 2023 and subsequent events and so it makes sense to continue holding what is the only National event catering for both the armed forces and blue light communities under one roof.

NAFESE continues to draw both exhibitors and attendees from all over the UK and 2026’s event is no different, with something for everyone on the day.” 

This year’s event is adopting a theme for the first time, with that being Maritime & Marine, celebrating 480 years of the Royal Navy and Sunderland’s rich shipbuilding heritage. As a result, the event will include a “Maritime Meet” - an area designed to network and appreciate this sector. 

In another first for the event, the 2026 Services Awards will also take place with winners announced within the event. The Services Awards celebrate the best personnel or former personnel in service from armed to emergency to volunteer. 

The Awards usually take place in a black tie ceremony in their own separate entity, but for 2026, they will be part of the event as Robinson goes on to explain. 

“We wanted to shake things up a bit for 2026 and allow more people to hear the courageous stories of our shortlisted nominees and by incorporating the Awards into our main daytime event, this will allow us to do so.” 

The Awards have also been streamlined slightly for 2026 to allow smoother running on the day and have five categories in total, rather than the usual nine. 

The five categories are: 

• Most Outstanding Armed Forces 

• Most Outstanding Emergency Services 

• Most Outstanding Volunteer 

• Mental Health Champion (drawn from all sectors) 

• Most Outstanding Overall 

For more information on the criteria and how to enter someone or a group for the Awards, please contact hospitality@nafese2023.com 

NAFESE 2026 is sponsored by ACUA Ocean with Associate Sponsorship from Stagecoach. 

Steve Walker, Managing Director for Stagecoach North East, said:

“Stagecoach is delighted to be supporting the National Armed Forces and Emergency Services Event once again, marking our fourth year of involvement.

This event provides an important opportunity to recognise the dedication and service of those who give so much to our communities, and we’re particularly proud to sponsor the Volunteer of the Year category for the Services Awards. 

Supporting the Armed Forces community is something we care deeply about, and we’re pleased to play our part in helping celebrate their contribution.”

NAFESE 2026 builds on Sunderland AFC’s monthly Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Clubs and the club’s Rob Scott added: "Sunderland AFC is delighted to stage NAFESE 2026 for the fourth time since its inception in 2023. The club is committed every month to hosting the Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club, which has been a great success for a number of years now and as a result, last year Sunderland gained the prestigious Gold Award status for the MOD's Employer Recognition Scheme. 

It is a mark of the work we do with the forces community in terms of recruitment and social values." 

Exhibitors for the event include: University of Sunderland, Northumbria Police, Believe Housing, Richard Reed Solicitors and the North East Ambulance Service. 

Advanced Blade Repair Services are sponsors of the Recruitment and Resettlement Zone and Paul Doughty from the firm added: “We are delighted and privileged to be able to support the forces at this event. It’s something that we are very proud to be part of.” 

Veterans in Crisis are the official charity partner of the event. Founder, Ger Fowler commented on the news by saying: “VICS is thrilled to be part of the event, an event we have supported and collaborated on from the start. We look forward to an exciting day in May.” 

For further information on the NAFESE event and how to sign up for free - please see the link here.