Staying ahead of the ever-shifting educational landscape — whether it be policy, learning models, classroom tools or school operations — is no small feat. And that’s saying nothing of the Sisyphean task of figuring out where to invest the time and funds to gain the additional knowledge and best practices needed to meet those demands.
However, 2026 will bring plenty of K-12 professional conferences that offer school and district leaders the opportunity to network with peers and hear how they’re addressing these issues in their school systems. To help you plan, we’ve compiled a list of top K-12 events scheduled for 2026.
Do you plan on attending a K-12 conference next year that isn’t on this list? Let us know.
Future of Education Technology Conference
Jan. 11-14
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida
The Future of Education Technology Conference brings educators and technology leaders together to share ed tech solutions and innovations.
AASA National Conference on Education
Feb. 12-14
Music City Center, Nashville, Tennessee
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, convenes district leaders from across the U.S. at its National Conference on Education to discuss trends, opportunities and challenges in education and develop strategies to address those issues.
The 2026 National K-12 Cybersecurity Leadership Conference
Feb. 24-26
Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico
The National K-12 Cybersecurity Leadership Conference brings together cybersecurity professionals, K-12 leaders and policymakers to identify and share strategies to address school cyberthreats including ransomware and data breaches.
National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention
Feb. 24-27
Hyatt Regency Chicago, Chicago
The National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention will feature nearly 1,200 educational sessions and opportunities to connect with thousands of practitioners across the nation.
SXSW EDU
March 9-12
Hilton Austin, Austin, Texas
SXSW EDU gathers educators, entrepreneurs, researchers and other thought leaders to network and share innovative ideas through sessions, workshops, film screenings and more.
Council for Exceptional Children Convention & Expo
March 11-14
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City
The CEC Convention & Expo brings together special education professionals from around the world to learn and connect in hundreds of sessions covering the latest research, tips and strategies to support learners with disabilities and gifted and talented students.
Consortium of State School Boards Association National Conference
March 13-15
Galt House Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky
COSSBA’s annual conference gives attendees a chance to share and discuss trends and best practices in areas such as finance, governance, school safety, mental health, stakeholder engagement, student achievement and innovations like artificial intelligence.
National Summit on Improvement in Education
March 30-April 1
High Tech High Graduate School of Education, San Diego
The annual summit, hosted this year by the National Coalition for Improvement in Education, features sessions on educational improvement principles, as well as space for sharing progress, best practices and efforts toward realizing ambitious goals for students.
National School Boards Association Conference for Public Education Leaders
April 10-12
Henry B. González Convention Center, San Antonio
NSBA’s annual conference gives school board members an opportunity to network and gain insight and best practices on governance, child development, and innovative programs and technology.
Consortium for School Networking Annual Conference
April 13-15
Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago
The Consortium for School Networking’s annual conference aims to improve K-12 leaders’ skills in topics like cybersecurity, student data privacy and the use of generative AI tools.
National Science Teaching Association National Conference on Science Education
April 15-18
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California
The National Conference on Science Education presents content crafted by science educators on new strategies and tools, and offers time to network with peers and explore professional opportunities.
PBL World 2026
June 15-18
American Canyon High School, Napa Valley, California
Hosted by PBLWorks, PBL World is a project-based learning conference that gathers K-12 teachers, instructional coaches, school and district leaders to share best practices and build community.
National PTA Convention
June 18-21
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh
This year's theme is “Together Again: PTA Lights the Way for Every Child.” The convention features skill-building workshops, networking spaces and keynote speakers.
National Youth Leadership Council National Service-Learning Conference
June 22-25
Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C.
The National Service-Learning Conference gathers educators, nonprofit leaders, students and innovators to celebrate the "collective power of young people leading with courage, creativity, and purpose.” This year’s event is held in partnership with the Points of Light Conference, a social impact event that brings together purpose-driven companies, nonprofit leaders and civic innovators.
ASCD Annual Conference
June 28-July 1
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida
"Co-located" once again this year with ISTE’s annual conference, the ASCD conference convenes educators to discuss classroom-related challenges and network with peers in a variety of sessions and activities.
ISTELive
June 28-July 1
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida
Held along with ASCD Annual Conference, the International Society for Technology in Education’s annual conference brings together education leaders and influencers from across the globe to explore the latest innovations in ed tech.
Education Commission of the States National Forum on Education Policy
July 8-10
Washington, D.C.
The Education Commission of the States National Forum on Education Policy gathers state education policy leaders from across the nation to discuss trends in their field.
American School Counselor Association Annual Conference
July 11-14
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans
The American School Counselor Association’s annual conference gathers thousands of school counselors for networking and professional development opportunities.
School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference
July 12-14
Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
The School Nutrition Association’s School Nutrition Annual National Conference offers insights on trends and innovations in K-12 food services. This conference brings together thousands of school nutrition program operators, industry partners and related organizations for professional development and networking.
National Association of Elementary School Principals National School Leaders Conference
July 13-15
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Florida
The National Association of Elementary School Principals’ annual conference unites primary school leaders to connect and gain knowledge and best practices from a variety of sessions, keynotes and exhibits.
National School Public Relations Association National Seminar
July 19-22
Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans
The National School Public Relations Association National Seminar brings together school communications professionals, superintendents and education leaders from across theU.S.,, Canada and beyond.
National Association of State Directors of Special Education Annual Conference
Sept. 28-30
Hyatt Regency San Antonio, San Antonio
This annual special education conference brings together state directors, other state education agency staff, and staff from the U.S. Department of Education to discuss federal policies and their impact on the state level.
Association of School Business Officials International Annual Conference & Expo
Oct. 14-16
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh
ASBO International's Annual Conference & Expo gathers school business leaders from around the world to discuss and network over issues related to school finance.
National Family Engagement Summit
Oct. 13-14 Virtual; Oct. 14-16 in-person
Charleston, South Carolina
The National Family Engagement Summit will convene educators, administrators and family engagement leaders to share strategies for engaging families to address issues including chronic absenteeism, student achievement, teacher retention and culturally responsive practices.
Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents 23rd National Summit on Education
Oct. 15-17
Denver
The flagship leadership development and networking event for administrators at schools and districts primarily serving Latino and other historically marginalized youth, the ALAS National Summit on Education aims to facilitate discussion of and identify solutions for challenges in the nation’s education system.
National Rural Education Association National Forum to Advance Rural Education
Oct. 19-21
San Antonio
The National Forum to Advance Rural Education is designed to support collaboration and innovation in strengthening rural education, economic and workforce development, and civic and community engagement.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Meeting & Exposition
Oct. 28-31
Denver
This conference brings together math teachers to exchange information on the latest tools, ideas and resources to implement in the classroom.
Association for Middle Level Education Annual Conference
Nov. 5-7
Nashville, Tennessee
The Association for Middle Level Education's annual conference is designed to help middle school professionals connect with peers and learn about new strategies and best practices.
Council of Administrators of Special Education Conference
Nov. 11-13
Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island
This conference, hosted by the Council of Administrators of Special Education, offers professional learning opportunities for special education leaders to collaborate, innovate and share best practices.
National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention
Nov. 19-22
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia
The annual conference of the National Council of Teachers of English convenes teachers, leaders, researchers, authors and illustrators for sessions on topics surrounding English language arts and literacy instruction.
Association for Career and Technical Education CareerTech Vision 2026
Dec. 2-5
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans
The Association for Career and Technical Education's CareerTech Vision annual conference draws secondary and postsecondary career and technical educators, business leaders and industry professionals for sessions on preparing learners for successful careers.
National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference
Dec. 5-8
Washington, D.C.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children’s annual conference provides opportunities for early childhood educators from around the globe to connect, collaborate and learn about the latest classroom solutions and early childhood developments.
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