If you've looked at the schedule for the NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo, you know it's easy to get overwhelmed by all of the offerings. Among the hundreds of sessions, workshops, networking events, speakers, exhibitors, special events, it can be hard to know where to start.
We asked NAFSA staff members to tell us about the hidden gems and can't-miss events at NAFSA 2026. See below for the inside scoop, and dig into the full schedule to start planning your days at the conference.
Caroline Donovan White
Senior Director, Education Abroad and Volunteer Engagement
Can't Miss: The Community Dialogues in the Knowledge Community centers give you a moment to just sit and talk with colleagues about key issues in your work. Each dialogue has a theme and a facilitator—where the conversation goes is up to you and the people at your roundtable. No slides. No "front of room" experts. Rather, expertise shared by your peers to help you through this moment. Meet new people, get new ideas, and sit down and rest your legs? What could be better?
Hidden Gem: And when no community dialogue is going on, these community centers are YOUR spaces to sit and chat with a partner and to find a quiet moment.
Will Eichhorn
Exhibits Manager
Can't Miss: If you're looking for practical takeaways, the Learning Lab at booth 1719 in the expo hall is a must-stop! It's packed with sessions where exhibitors and peers break down their newest initiatives and programs in a real, useful way. And since it's right in the expo hall, you can jump from networking conversations straight into a session without slowing down.
Hidden Gem: The annual conference is a whirlwind of connections and you head home each year with a pile of business cards from countries across the globe. To facilitate richer and more meaningful connections, NAFSA is offering new "no-host" networking sessions this year, organized by regions of the world: Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, Oceania, and North America. These networking sessions are a great opportunity to be very intentional with the regional connections you make! The sessions will take place in the Global Connections Lounge on the first floor of the conference center.
Maria Fusca
Senior Event Technology Specialist
Can't Miss: For first-time attendees, navigating the conference can feel daunting, which is exactly why you shouldn't miss our "Networking for First-Time Attendees" event on Monday, May 25, at 4:00 p.m. It's the perfect way to meet other people experiencing the NAFSA annual conference for the first time, and perhaps find a conference buddy for the rest of the week.
Hidden Gem: I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Sunshine Studio! This is a space within the convention center dedicated to showcasing the host city's vibrant culture. Programming is specially curated by our Local Arrangements Team, a dedicated group of local Orlandoans who are ready to ensure you leave with more knowledge about the city than you arrived with. To view hours of operation and programming, look up "sunshine studio" in the search bar of the online planner, or navigate to "engagement activities" in the program types listing.
Elizabeth Hannah
Director, Learning and Training
Can't Miss: After a day filled with content and connections, don't miss the opening celebration on Tuesday! It is a great party and an opportunity to relax. Plus you don't want to miss seeing Dr. Fanta Aw dance!
Hidden Gem: Enhancing your learning experience with a workshop. (Although they have an additional fee, it will be money well spent!) These workshops give you time to dig deeply into the content and to put your learning into practice. Plus you have the time to develop more meaningful connections. We have a full schedule of workshops all day Monday, May 25, and on Tuesday afternoon. You can find the full schedule in the online planner.
Ellie Harris
Program Manager, Regional Affairs
Can't Miss: Get inspired by "Global By Design, Human By Story" in the NAFSA Pavilion at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday! Meet four refugee women entrepreneurs who have turned resilience into opportunity. This 30-minute Pavilion session highlights how access, inclusion, and community support create pathways to stability and globalization.
Hidden Gem: Stop by the Global Artisan Marketplace located in the expo hall next to the food court every day during conference week! This is a unique opportunity to celebrate creativity, resilience, and cultural heritage within our refugee communities. The marketplace brings together refugee artists, artisans, and food makers from across the globe to showcase and sell their work. There will be handmade goods, foods, and cultural items for sale, with 100 percent of proceeds going directly to the talented women. It's both a meaningful way to support entrepreneurs and a platform for the artisans to share their stories. Stop by to experience global creativity and entrepreneurship in action while supporting impactful, people-centered work.
Maraina Montgomery
Associate Director, Education Abroad Services
Both Can't Miss and a Hidden Gem! Interested in connecting with colleagues from around the world who support study abroad operations for U.S. institutions? Then join us at the education abroad welcome and awards gathering on Tuesday at 12:00 p.m.! This event is a must-visit event at the conference for professionals working in and outside of the United States! The Education Abroad Knowledge Community (EA KC) is dedicated to making this community gathering space more "Global by Design"! Come and learn about what the EA KC does, the amazing, award-winning work being done by our peers in the field, and how to become part of this globally focused network.
Lauren Newton
Director, Professional Development Programs
Can't Miss: I love an independent bookstore. Did you know that every year NAFSA has one inside the expo hall? If you're feeling overstimulated, need a few minutes to yourself, or if you simply love a good bookstore like I do and want to pick up your next great read, definitely stop by the NAFSA Bookstore inside the NAFSA Pavilion. It's also a great way to support your fellow NAFSAns since many of the books found in the store are written by your colleagues at the conference! And don't forget to pick up some NAFSA merch while you're there too—I love the baseball hats!
Hidden Gem: When I travel, I typically don't take as much care of my body as I should. My normal wellness routines, like eating reasonably healthy and taking lunchtime walks, go out the window. That's why I'm excited to see the Rise & Move series held each morning before the conference gets started for the day. This guided stretching opportunity will help me feel prepared for the busy conference days!
Leslie Owusu
Editor, Publishing Services
Can't Miss: Three words: Africa NOW Forum! If you're passionate about the future of global higher education, this is a must-attend. It's a rare opportunity to hear directly from experts on how institutions across the African continent are embracing technology and innovation to transform research and learning, all while connecting with a dynamic international community of colleagues doing this work every day.
Hidden Gem: The Global Connections Lounge provides a wonderful space for you to meet, chat, and make connections with fellow conference attendees from around the world. They are organized by geographic regions and last for about an hour. Be sure to look and plan ahead for the one(s) you'd like to attend! These are great opportunities for serendipitous gatherings and networking magic.
Alena Palevitz
Associate Director, International Student and Scholar Services and International Enrollment Management
Can't Miss: Everyone should attend at least one conference offering outside of their immediate area of expertise. The challenges facing our field, including regulatory shifts, funding pressures, and workforce issues, are increasingly interconnected, and cross-functional learning often sparks some of the most innovative solutions! The online planner's "browse by session/workshop track" and "browse by knowledge community" tools are helpful starting points for identifying emerging issues and conversations beyond your day-to-day focus areas.
Hidden Gem: The poster fair in the expo hall! With more than 10 themes and 200+ presenters, this is a unique space to engage directly with international educators as they share their work in a more conversational setting. I've always enjoyed spending time in the poster fair because it's one of the few places where you can have extended one-on-one or small group conversations with presenters and explore their ideas in depth. It's also a great environment for making unexpected connections. For those who like to plan ahead, the online program includes short audio summaries for each poster, recorded by the presenters, making it easy to preview content at your own pace before the conference.
Madeline Wiltse
Associate Director, Internationalization Services
Can't Miss: The Symposium on Leadership has been a NAFSA annual conference staple for years, and for good reason. Each Symposium centers around a theme of particular relevance to the field. This year's topic, "Reimagining Global Leadership in the Age of AI," is especially timely, and the speakers have incredible experience and perspectives on how institutions can approach, analyze, and possibly implement artificial intelligence on their campuses. Come hear from these great leaders on Tuesday, May 26, from 1:30–3:00 p.m.!
Hidden Gem: If you're a professional under the age of 35, don't miss out on the young professionals reception on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m.! Join fellow conference attendees to network, share experiences, and connect with peers who share your passion for international education.