The Women in Sport Summit held during the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2026 brought together influential figures from various sectors to explore the future of women’s sport. The event, hosted by The R&A celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Championship while addressing the opportunities and challenges ahead.
The summit emphasized the importance of collaborationinnovation and long-term investment in shaping the future of women’s golf. Through keynote presentations and panel discussions, attendees delved into creating more inclusive environments, developing stronger pathways, and ensuring future growth benefits more women and girls.
The Evolution of Women’s Golf
The summit opened with Fairways & Fortitude a presentation by Hannah Fleming Learning & Access Curator of The World of Golf Museum. This segment celebrated the pioneering women whose determination and achievements have shaped the game of golf.
Cat Haynes Chief People Officer at The R&A, welcomed delegates by emphasizing the organization’s purpose of Opening Golf to the World. She encouraged attendees to embrace the opportunity to learn from one another, challenge thinking, and work together to make golf more inclusive and accessible.
Sarah Stirk a renowned golf broadcaster and host of the summit, reflected on the evolution of the AIG Women’s Open since its inception in 1976. She highlighted the growth of the Championship and the wider women’s game over the past five decades.
Challenges and Opportunities in Women’s Sport
Professor Leanne Norman Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director of the Women in Sport Institute at Loughborough University, set the tone for the day with a thought-provoking keynote. She challenged delegates to think beyond participation and visibility, calling for greater ambition in designing systems, environments, and investment models that better meet the needs of women.
The summit explored various themes influencing the future of women’s sport, including the role of partnerships in accelerating progress, the importance of sustained visibility, and how organizations can work together to create opportunities on and off the course. Speakers also discussed how research, technology, and artificial intelligence can support athletes, improve fan experiences, and shape the future of the sport.
Inspiring the Next Generation
A particular highlight was a panel discussion featuring amateur golfer and adidas ambassador Zainab Jeppe Colombian amateur golfer Maria Jose Marin and Wigan Warriors’ Megan Williams. They shared their experiences of overcoming barriers and the value of visible role models, reinforcing the importance of Creating welcoming environments where more women and girls feel they belong.
Panellists also spoke about the responsibility of today’s leaders to inspire the next generation while ensuring the progress seen in recent years continues across every level of sport.
The Future of the AIG Women’s Open
The summit concluded with a conversation between AIG and The R&A on the continued development of the AIG Women’s Open. Mark Darbon Chief Executive of The R&A, reflected on the role the Championship has played in growing the women’s game. He highlighted the importance of building global audiences, creating world-class experiences for players, and allowing women’s golf to continue shaping its own identity.
Across the day, speakers shared a common ambition: to build on the momentum behind women’s sport through collaboration, innovation, and long-term commitment. This ensures future generations have even greater opportunities to participate, compete, and lead.
