Dear colleagues and friends,

On behalf of the United Kingdom National Committee, it is our great pleasure to welcome you to the IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2027, which will be held in London from 9 to 13 August 2027. The Congress marks a truly historic occasion as the global library and information community comes together to celebrate IFLA’s Centenary Year, one hundred years since the founding of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions in 1927. Under the theme Knowledge Powering Futures, WLIC 2027 offers an opportunity not only to reflect on a century of collective achievement by the global library and information community, but also to look ahead with ambition and confidence to the future of our profession. We hope the relationships, ideas and collaborations formed during the Congress will create a lasting legacy for libraries in the United Kingdom and around the world.

There could be no more fitting setting for this celebration. The United Kingdom was the birthplace of IFLA, where representatives of 15 library associations gathered in Edinburgh to establish an organisation that has grown into the leading global voice for libraries and information services. Our ambition extends beyond the five days of Congress. We want WLIC 2027 to create lasting connections, inspire new approaches to library and information services, strengthen professional collaboration and demonstrate the essential contribution libraries make to thriving, informed and inclusive societies. Through engagement across the UK’s four nations and with international colleagues, we hope to build a legacy that continues beyond 2027.

Libraries today stand at the heart of some of society’s most important challenges and opportunities. As trusted stewards of knowledge, champions of inclusion, and facilitators of learning and innovation, libraries continue to support communities in navigating rapid technological, social, and environmental change. The theme, Knowledge Powering Futures, recognises the role of libraries and information services in helping individuals and communities understand change, make informed choices, and build better futures.  The Congress will provide a unique opportunity for librarians and other information professionals from around the world to exchange ideas, share expertise, build partnerships, and explore how we can shape a sustainable and equitable future through knowledge and information.

We are also especially proud that WLIC 2027 coincides with the 150th anniversary of CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, whose longstanding commitment to professional excellence and international collaboration has helped strengthen libraries, and support librarians across the United Kingdom and beyond.