The NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo is coming to Orlando, Florida, in May, and whether you're a first-time attendee or an old pro, there's never been a more important time to be there. Here are eight reasons to make the trip.
#1. The Most Comprehensive Program in the Field
With 18 curated learning tracks and more than 200 workshops and sessions, NAFSA 2026 delivers the broadest and deepest professional learning available in international education. Whether you work in advising, recruitment, program development, partnerships, leadership, or any other corner of the field, there's a full schedule built for you. Topics range from team management and the latest U.S. immigration regulations to strategies for fostering students' career readiness and how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workplace. And that's just the beginning!
Learn more about this year's conference program.
#2. Unparalleled Networking and Opportunities for Professional Connection
Attendees consistently say that networking is the number-one highlight of the NAFSA annual conference—and it's easy to see why. Relationships formed at the conference have led to institutional partnerships and agreements, collaborative research, and innovative solutions that improve student and scholar support and operational effectiveness. With thousands of international education professionals gathered in one place, the breadth and quality of connections you can make during four days in Orlando can't be replicated anywhere else.
#3. The Largest International Education Expo
The expo hall at the NAFSA annual conference is a one-of-a-kind marketplace for international education professionals and global partners. With more than 250 exhibitors and 45 country consortiums—including new exhibitors in 2026 from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and Thailand—you can connect with institutions, service providers, and international partners without hopping multiple flights to multiple events. Save your organization time and money, reduce your carbon footprint, and take advantage of this environment specifically designed for meaningful professional engagement.
Don't miss the NAFSA Pavilion, home to the NAFSA bookstore—the only bookstore of its kind at an international education conference. Browse NAFSA's latest and most popular titles, and you may even get the chance to meet the authors: NAFSA authors speak and attend events at the pavilion throughout the week, making it a natural gathering spot for anyone who wants to go deeper on the ideas shaping the field.
Learn more about the expo hall.
#4. Insights You Can Use the Moment You Get Home
The NAFSA conference is built around practical application—you won't just hear about best practices, you'll leave with strategies you can put to work right away. Sessions are designed to be actionable, whether you're looking to strengthen your compliance protocols, build a more effective recruitment pipeline, or lead your team through a period of institutional change. Every session you attend, every conversation you have, and every resource you gather is an investment that pays off the day you return to your desk.
#5. Renewal and Support from the Global Education Community
International education is demanding work, and the NAFSA annual conference is one of the rare spaces where you're surrounded by people who truly understand that. Being in community with colleagues from around the world—people who share your commitment to student success, global impact, and institutional growth—has a way of restoring energy and perspective that can be hard to find in the day-to-day. Amid the challenges of the current moment, it's never been more important to gather as a community and have the important conversations that can only occur in person.
#6. Keynotes and Spotlight Presenters That Are Worth the Trip
The NAFSA annual conference brings together some of the most compelling voices in international education and beyond for keynotes and spotlight presentations that open and close each conference day. These aren't abstract inspirational addresses—they're substantive, thought-provoking conversations about the forces shaping higher education, global mobility, and the future of the field. Past keynotes have sparked some of the most memorable and lasting discussions at the conference.
Learn more about this year's exciting lineup of speakers.
#7. Orlando: A Vibrant, Welcoming Host City
Orlando is one of the world's most visited cities for a reason—it knows how to welcome people. The city's world-class convention infrastructure, warm weather, and renowned hospitality make it a natural fit for a conference that draws thousands of attendees from more than 100 countries. Beyond the convention center, Orlando offers an extraordinary range of dining, culture, and experiences—the kind of city where you can have a great time outside of conference hours, whether that's your first visit or your tenth. Florida is also home to almost 45,000 international students and one of NAFSA's largest regional membership concentrations, so this year's conference is hosted by a community that knows the value of international education.
#8. Unmatched Value
Attending the NAFSA annual conference is an investment that pays for itself in knowledge, partnerships, and strategies. This year's host city makes the most of that investment: Orlando offers great hotels and restaurants at prices that won't strain your budget, so you can focus on making the most of your conference experience. With NAFSA's negotiated hotel block rates at official conference hotels, you'll find quality and affordability in a city that's ready to welcome you.
Register by April 1 and Save
Early-bird registration runs through April 1—and the savings are significant. Members pay $899 for early-bird registration, compared to $1,049 at the regular rate and $1,199 on-site. NAFSA nonmember registration starts at the $1,199 early-bird rate—but join NAFSA now and save $300 USD on your early-bird registration as an individual, international, group, or new member. First-year membership is only $199, which means joining and registering early costs less than nonmember early-bird registration alone, and you get a full year of member benefits on top of it.
Members who are students, retired, or from UN-designated least developed countries pay $525 for early-bird registration and $675 at the regular rate.
Book in NAFSA's Hotel Block for the Best Rates
NAFSA has negotiated the lowest available rates at official conference hotels. Booking within the block ensures you get those rates while they last.
Register for NAFSA 2026 | Learn more about NAFSA's hotel block