36 Exclusive Educational Conferences and Events for 2026–27

Stakeholders in the educational sector can benefit from attending in-person and online educational conferences and events, where they can hear from thought-leaders, learn about recent research and best practices in the field, connect and network with other professionals, and exchange ideas with colleagues from across the nation. Many educators can reduce these professional development costs by taking advantage of educator discounts and perks available specifically for conference registration and travel expenses.

These interdisciplinary events organized by leading educational institutions and featuring top experts, including recipients of prestigious educator awards, offer access to various aspects of the dynamic educational environment to help educators and administrators enrich their teaching practices in line with new trends, make their institutions more inclusive and diverse, and boost the educational and emotional outcomes for their students.

However, with hundreds of education conferences in 2026–27, educators need to know where to focus their time, attention, and financial resources to reap the highest benefits for themselves, their institutions, and their students. Beyond conferences, education podcasts for professional development offer another valuable way to maximize learning opportunities throughout the year.

If you're an administrator looking to gain new strategies, connect with peers, and stay ahead of the curve, Fullmind can help make that happen. We offer financial support to school leaders attending professional development events like the ones listed below. Request a meeting with Fullmind to learn how we can help cover part of your conference attendance expenses.

The list of the 36 most exclusive educational conferences and events in the US for 2026–27 includes gatherings that often inspire educators and lead to thoughtful teacher appreciation gift ideas:

1. AMLE Annual Conference

• November 4–7, 2026: Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville, TN (my.amle.org/Events/Calendar-of-Events?type=1)
• November 11–13, 2027: New Orleans, LA (my.amle.org/Events/Calendar-of-Events?type=1)
• Who should attend: 5-9 grade teachers and educators, middle school administrators, district leaders, curriculum specialists, school psychologists, counselors, and special education staff

2. CASE Conference

• November 11–13, 2026: Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI (casecec.org/the-case-conference-2026); registration late rate (Oct 1-Nov 13, 2026): $675 CASE member / $825 non-member / $820 registration + membership
• November 10–12, 2027: Albuquerque, NM (casecec.org/the-case-conference-2026)
• Who should attend: Special education teachers and paraprofessionals, district- and school-level administrators, superintendents, assistant superintendents, school psychologists, counselors, and professional development coordinators

3. Learning & the Brain Conferences

• November 12–14, 2026: Hilton Austin (or virtual via Zoom), Austin, TX (learningandthebrain.com/conference-599/fall-2026-conference/conference-schedule)
• February 12–14, 2027: San Francisco, CA (learningandthebrain.com)
• April 15–17, 2027: New York, NY (learningandthebrain.com)
• Who should attend: Educators, parents, curriculum and staff developers, speech-language pathologists, PreK-12 teachers and administrators, learning specialists, special educators, early childhood educators, school psychologists, technology, reading, and behavior support teachers, superintendents, principals, school heads, guidance counselors, trauma and mental health professional, school leaders, and college and university professors

Learning & the Brain runs interdisciplinary conferences that connect research on the brain and learning with classroom practice. Its 2026–27 conferences are Teaching Motivated Minds, Teaching Social Brains and Future-Proof Brains.

4. NCTE Annual Convention

• November 19–22, 2026: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA (convention.ncte.org)
• November 18–21, 2027: Chicago, IL (convention.ncte.org/convention-history)
• Who should attend: K-12 ELA teachers and educators, English language department heads and chairs, literary specialists, reading coaches, writing and composition instructors, curriculum specialists, school administrators, librarians, and publishers

5. CEL Annual Convention

• Date: November 22–24, 2026
• Location: Philadelphia, PA
• Website: ncte.org/groups/cel/convention
• Registration fee: After Oct 7: CEL member $315 / NCTE member $360 / nonmember $430
• Who should attend: K-12 ELA leading teachers, English department heads and chairs, literacy coaches, ELA curriculum developers, school principals, district administrators, authors, librarians, and publishers

6. ACTE’s CareerTech VISION

• Date: December 2–5, 2026
• Location: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA
• Website: careertechvision.com
• Registration fee: Full conference: ACTE member $690 / nonmember $880; one day: $370 / $495
• Who should attend: CTE teachers and educators, technical school instructors, CTE program directors and administrators, curriculum developers, professional development coordinators, apprenticeship program coordinators, industry partners, and employers

The annual conference and exposition of the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is considered The Career and Technical Education Event of the Year.

7. Innovative Schools Summit

• December 3–6, 2026: San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter (host hotel), San Antonio, TX (innovativeschoolssummit.com/san-antonio)
• February 24–27, 2027: New York Marriott Marquis, New York, NY (innovativeschoolssummit.com/new-york)
• March 18–21, 2027: Marriott World Center (host hotel), Orlando, FL (innovativeschoolssummit.com/orlando)
• June 28–July 2, 2027: Caesars Palace (host hotel), Las Vegas, NV (innovativeschoolssummit.com/vegas)
• July 11–15, 2027: Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center (host hotel), Nashville, TN (innovativeschoolssummit.com/nashville)
• Who should attend: PreK-12 classroom teachers, principals, assistant principals, deans, other administrators, special ed personnel, school counselors, social workers, interventionists, behaviorists, psychologists, community and faith-based youth workers, and after-school program coordinators

The event allows education stakeholders to network with fellow educators and learn from nationally recognized speakers who share their experiences and proven strategies to succeed in the classroom and in their career.

8. Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC)

• Date: January 26–29, 2027
• Location: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
• Website: fetc.org
• Registration fee: Session pass $455 sale price (full $555) until Oct 30, 2026; Session+ $680 ($775); All-Access $1,130 ($1,245); Expo-only $0 for eligible educators ($409 otherwise)
• Who should attend: District leaders, school leaders, classroom leaders, IT leaders, coach leaders, inclusion leaders, Esports leaders, and library leaders

The event unites visionary educators, innovative tech leaders, and groundbreaking educational solutions that revolutionize learning.

9. LitCon: National K-8 Literacy Conference

• Date: February 1–28, 2027
• Location: Virtual
• Website: literacyconference.org/registration
• Registration fee: Early bird (to Nov 15, 2026): member $380 / non-member $480; regular: $480 / $580
• Who should attend: K-8 classroom teachers, literacy coaches and specialists, building and district administrators, Title I teachers and coordinators, interventionists, teachers of multilingual learners, curriculum directors, language arts specialists, and reading recovery professionals

LitCon ’27 is fully virtual: on-demand sessions run through February, with live keynotes on February 2, 2027.

10. National Principals Conference

• Date: February 6–9, 2027
• Location: Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL
• Website: principals.org/event/npc27
• Who should attend: PreK-12 school leaders

The National Principals Conference is run by the National Principals Association (principals.org, formerly NASSP) for PreK–12 school leaders.

11. ASBO International’s Eagle Institute

• Date: February 10, 2027
• Location: Savannah, GA
• Website: asbointl.org/events
• Who should attend: School business professionals, district members, affiliate executive directors and staff, and Emeritus members

The Eagle Institute carries an additional fee and is open only to Leadership Forum registrants.

12. ASBO International’s Leadership Forum

• Date: February 11–12, 2027
• Location: Savannah, GA
• Website: asbointl.org/events
• Who should attend: School business professionals, district members, affiliate executive directors and staff, and Emeritus members

This premier two-day educational event organized by the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International is designed to offer multiple tracks that allow emerging and established leaders alike to enhance various facets of leadership in the school business.

13. Beyond School Hours

• Date: February 17–20, 2027
• Location: New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, LA
• Website: beyondschoolhours.org
• Registration fee: Standard $689 per person; Thursday- or Friday-only $489
• Who should attend: K-12 after-school program teachers and educators, directors, coordinators, school administrators, district leaders, program evaluators, community-based organization leaders, and community engagement coordinators

Beyond School Hours (BSH) aims to be A Premier Gathering of Education Practitioners and Thought Leaders by providing vital professional development opportunities for educators and leaders working with students of all ages, across America.

14. K12 SIX National Cybersecurity Conference

• Date: February 17–19, 2027
• Location: Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, Atlanta, GA
• Website: k12six.org/2027-k12six-conference
• Who should attend: K-12 district IT directors, technology coordinators, chief information security officers, cybersecurity administrators, superintendents, assistant superintendents, cybersecurity educators, data privacy officers, school counselors, law enforcement and cybersecurity incident responders, and advocacy groups

This nationwide conference hosted by the K12 Security Information eXchange (K12 SIX) is a unique event designed to identify and share solutions and best practices that better defend the K-12 education sector from emerging cybersecurity threats. This is an increasingly larger problem within the educational system that needs constantly evolving solutions.

15. NCTM Spring Conferences

• February 18–20, 2027: Louisville, KY (nctm.org/louisville2027); registration non-member full: $429 early (to Dec 9, 2026) / $489 regular / $549 on-site; NCTM Essential member $319/$379/$439
• March 17–19, 2027: Seattle, WA (nctm.org/seattle2027); registration non-member full: $429 early (to Jan 20, 2027) / $489 regular / $549 on-site; NCTM Essential member $319/$379/$439
• Who should attend: K-12 mathematics teachers and educators, mathematics department heads and chairs, school principals, district administrators, and curriculum developers

The spring conferences of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) provide an opportunity to interact with thousands of classroom teachers and decision-makers in the mathematics education field.

16. AASA National Conference on Education

• Date: February 25–27, 2027
• Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA
• Website: nce.aasa.org
• Who should attend: District superintendents, assistant superintendents, and other school leaders

17. National PTA Legislative Conference

• Date: March 1–3, 2027
• Location: Arlington, VA
• Website: pta.org/home/events/National-PTA-Legislative-Conference
• Who should attend: PTA members, educators, teachers, school administrators, district representatives, and parents

The annual legislative conference of the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) aims to help PTAs, schools, educators, teachers, and parents grow their advocacy skills and speak with members of Congress about issues important to them, their students, and their community.

18. CEC Special Education Convention & Expo

• Date: March 10–13, 2027
• Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH
• Website: cecconvention.org
• Who should attend: Special education teachers and educators, paraprofessionals, instructional assistants, principals, school and district administrators, curriculum developers, school counselors, mental health professionals, social workers, assistive technology specialists, advocacy network representatives, and parents

The Special Education Convention & Expo of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is THE professional development event for special educators to find research, tips, and strategies that they can apply in practice to support students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. The event brings together thousands of special education professionals from around the globe.

19. COSSBA National Conference

• Date: March 11–14, 2027
• Location: Dallas, TX
• Website: cossba.org/cossba-national-conference
• Registration fee: Members: conference only $775 early (to Jan 12, 2027) / $875 after; with Mar 11 UBA preconference $1,125 / $1,225. Non-members: $975; with preconference $1,350
• Who should attend: School board members, district superintendents and assistant superintendents, school district legal counsels, school principals and administrators, school financial officers, curriculum developers, education advocates, parents, and PR and communication specialists

The event focuses on creating a unified front and ensuring access for all by developing and implementing policies and practices that eliminate barriers in public education.

20. SXSW EDU Conference & Festival

• Date: March 13–16, 2027
• Location: Austin, TX
• Website: sxswedu.com
• Registration fee: SXSW EDU Badge $595 (current rate; $250 off walk-up if registered by Oct 29, 2026)
• Who should attend: Educators, administrators, policymakers, students, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, creatives, and visionaries

This educational event aims to bring together the brightest minds in education to address complex issues and drive impact to create a new tomorrow for learners everywhere.

21. TESOL International Convention & Expo

• Date: March 15–18, 2027
• Location: Houston, TX
• Website: tesol.org/professional-development/education-and-events/in-person/tesol-convention
• Who should attend: ESL teachers and educators, English instructors, instructional coordinators, curriculum developers, TESOL trainers, school administrators, and district leaders

The annual convention and exposition of the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Association is the largest professional development event in the English language teaching field.

22. NSTA National Conference on Science Education

• Date: March 17–20, 2027
• Location: Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA
• Website: nsta.org/national-conference-science-education-boston-2027
• Who should attend: K-12 science teachers, STEM educators, science department heads and chairs, school administrators, curriculum developers, science education consultants, and educational technology specialists

23. National Service-Learning Conference

• Date: March 22–24, 2027
• Location: McNamara Alumni Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Website: nylc.org/nylc-announces-38-annual-national-service-learning-conference
• Who should attend: Educators, non-profit leaders, students, and visionaries

24. National Summit on Improvement in Education

• Date: March 30–April 1, 2027
• Location: High Tech High Graduate School of Education, 2150 Cushing Road, San Diego, CA
• Website: hthgse.edu/events/national-summit-on-improvement-in-education-2027
• Registration fee: Standard $1,400; late $1,500 (after Mar 2, 2027); $100 nonrefundable deposit option
• Who should attend: Classroom teachers, educators, school principals and administrators, district superintendents and leaders, curriculum coordinators, education researchers and scholars, advocates, and policy makers

Starting in 2026, the summit the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching used to host is led by the National Coalition on Improvement in Education. It brings together a community committed to improvement in education to learn from each other.

25. NSBA Annual Conference and Exposition

• Date: April 2–4, 2027
• Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
• Website: nsba.org/events/2027-annual-conference
• Registration fee: Tiered by category: advanced early bird (to Dec 4, 2026) $715-$1,020; onsite $1,500
• Who should attend: Public school district and public school representatives

The annual conference of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) is The Conference for Public Education Leaders. This national event brings together education leaders from across the country to learn about best governance practices, gain insights into child development, and explore the most recent programs and technology to enrich student learning.

26. CoSN Annual Conference

• Date: April 12–14, 2027
• Location: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando, FL
• Website: cosn.org/cosn2027
• Who should attend: Teachers, educators, school principals, district superintendents, school and district IT directors, education advocates, and policy makers

The conference allows educators to join peers from around the country to network, learn, share, and discuss the hottest topics in Edtech affecting school districts, such as cybersecurity, digital equity, and artificial intelligence.

27. OLC Innovate

• Date: April 20–22, 2027
• Location: Virtual
• Website: onlinelearningconsortium.org/conferences/olc-innovate2027
• Who should attend: Online and hybrid teachers and instructors, curriculum developers and designers, online school principals and administrators, district leaders, online learning program coordinators, and technical service providers

OLC Innovate is a joint conference of the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) and MERLOT, and it is now fully virtual.

28. NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo

• Date: June 1–4, 2027
• Location: Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Website: nafsa.org/2027
• Who should attend: Study abroad program advisors and administrators, international education directors and administrators, educators and teachers, ESL and foreign language teachers, student affair professionals, and policy makers

The event aims to be the most diverse, comprehensive, and exciting international education conference and exposition.

29. National PTA Convention

• Date: June 17–19, 2027
• Location: Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine, TX
• Website: pta.org/home/events/National-PTA-Convention
• Registration fee: Individual $340 early bird (Jan 21-Apr 14) / $425 regular; group (3+) $275 / $340
• Who should attend: PTA members, educators, teachers, school administrators, district representatives, and parents

The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) convention lets participants connect with PTA leaders, parents and educators to boost their impact for every child in the community.

30. HMH + NWEA Model Schools Conference

• Date: June 27–30, 2027
• Location: Nashville, TN
• Website: hmhco.com/forms/msc-2027
• Who should attend: Educators, teachers, instructors, school principals, district superintendents, special education coordinators and professionals, and curriculum developers

The event offers inspiring stories, innovative approaches, and practical tools.

31. ISTELive

• Date: June 27–30, 2027
• Location: Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, MA
• Website: conference.iste.org/2027/about/faq.php
• Who should attend: Classroom teachers, educators, instructors, curriculum developers and designers, school principals and administrators, district superintendents and leaders, and others

In 2026, ISTE+ASCD became the International Society for Transforming Education, and the ASCD Annual Conference is now part of ISTELive.

32. Online Teaching Conference

• Date: June 28–30, 2027
• Location: Hilton Anaheim (host hotel), Anaheim, CA
• Website: onlineteachingconference.org
• Registration fee: Early bird $549 (Nov 2, 2026-Apr 22, 2027); regular $649; onsite $699; pre-event workshops $199
• Who should attend: Online education teachers and instructors, online learning program administrators and coordinators, school administrators, district leaders, and technical service providers

The Online Teaching Conference is a premier gathering of faculty, staff, and administrators leading the way in developing innovative and effective online education.

33. NSPRA National Seminar

• Date: July 11–14, 2027
• Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Website: nspra.org/National-Seminar/Future-Dates
• Who should attend: School public relations professionals

34. School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference

• Date: July 11–13, 2027
• Location: Phoenix, AZ
• Website: anc.schoolnutrition.org
• Who should attend: School nutrition program operators and industry partners

The Annual National Conference (ANC) of the School Nutrition Association is referred to as the School Nutrition Event of the Year. It brings together thousands of school nutrition program operators, industry partners, and allied organizations for an educational and networking experience.

35. AASA/ASBO Legislative Advocacy Conference

• Date: July 12–14, 2027
• Location: Washington, DC
• Website: asbointl.org/events
• Who should attend: School business professionals and superintendents

The annual legislative advocacy conference of the School Superintendents Association (AASA) and the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International aims to help stakeholders learn about key federal policy issues that affect students and schools by hearing from policy makers, meeting with elected officials, and developing advocacy leadership skills.

36. ASCA Annual Conference

• Date: July 17–20, 2027
• Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH
• Website: ascaconferences.org/2027
• Registration fee: Member $449 (Feb 1-Mar 1) / $499 after; non-member $649 / $699; one-day $219 / $239; virtual-only member $229, non-member $399
• Who should attend: School counselors and other school counseling professionals

The annual conference of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is the premier school counseling professional development event where thousands of school counseling professionals take part.

Bottom Line

These are the 36 most exclusive educational conferences and events for 2026–27 that are guaranteed to bring together some of the most popular and most successful experts in the education field. They will cover a wide range of hot topics relevant to US educational professionals, whether in the public or private education system. Amid this diversity of subjects and formats, interested education practitioners are guaranteed to find an event right up their alley.