Early Childhood Matters 2026

In a rapidly changing world full of uncertainty, parents are pros at responding to constant change. They are the most resourceful people on the planet, finding new ways to cope and care.

But this transition to parenthood is chronically undersupported. Like any critical infrastructure, we need to invest in parents, especially as the pace of change moves faster than existing support.

That’s why Early Childhood Matters 2026, “Parenthood in a Changing World”, continues to focus on parental wellbeing. Bringing together perspectives from scientists, economists, artists, innovators, and leaders across government and civil society, the case for investing in parents is beautifully obvious.

Our series of conversations with contributing authors captures the big ideas and practical takeaways that help people in their transition to parenthood:

• Parenthood in a rapidly changing world – perspectives that instil optimism for the future, featuring Daanish Masood and Blessing Adesiyan
• How to spark the culture change needed to deepen support for new parents, featuring Lee Gettler, Morad Fareed and Ignacio Pereyra
• Why investing in parents makes perfect sense for early childhood development, featuring Edzani Mphaphuli and Rania Subaih

Tune in to the event recordings below!