2026 Call for Proposals
The NAFSA annual conference is the largest, most comprehensive gathering of international education professionals in the world. It is the premier event that convenes international educators, institutions, organizations serving the field, public officials, and country delegations in one place.
The 2026 Annual Conference Committee invites you to submit a session, workshop, or poster proposal for the NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo in San Diego, CA.
Submission Deadlines
Session and workshops: August 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST
Posters: November 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM ET
If you have any questions or need assistance with the online proposal system, please Contact the Proposals Team. Please see below helpful links for the submission guide, sample proposal form, the evaluation rubric, and more information on the Posters Call for Proposals.
NAFSA 2026: Global By Design
The annual conference theme emphasizes the importance of creativity, thoughtful plans, innovation, and action in the field of international education. As you consider submitting a proposal, the Annual Conference Committee invites reflection on the below questions below.
Theme
- What is happening around us? What are we seeing? How are we responding creatively?
- Where does our collective power lie? How can we effectively advocate? How can we be intentional in the creation of the field we want to see?
- How can we tell our story to support the advancement of the field?
- Where do the most exciting opportunities in international education lie? Where do we see the most potential?
- What are the needs and interests of current and future students and scholars? How does the field meet those needs?
- What are new strategies to support international educators in managing the unexpected?
Content Priorities
The annual conference content priorities provide a framework to facilitate the development of a dynamic, cohesive, and compelling program. As you consider submitting a proposal, the Annual Conference Committee invites reflection on the following topics:
- Communication strategies for using data to tell a powerful story and advocate for the importance of the field and our work
- Shifting student interests and needs, and innovative responses
- The importance of the role of global experiences and designing creative programs and structures that support that role
- Innovative applications of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in international education, as well as ethical considerations and potential disruptions
- Paths for progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- International perspectives on approaches and practices in student, faculty, and staff support
- Global outlooks on trends in the field
- Emerging research that bridges knowledge gaps and presents new insights
- The importance of international education in fostering intercultural understanding and belonging
- Best practices in student and scholar advising focus areas, including immigration, academic learning, and career development
- Solution-focused topics related to NAFSA’s knowledge communities and NAFSA’s International Education Professional Competencies
For more information about the submission process, you can download the NAFSA 2026 CFP Submission Guide, as well as a sample form to use as a template for your submission.
NAFSA Knowledge Community Audiences
NAFSA’s Knowledge Communities are key conference audiences with specific work responsibilities within international education. Focus your content on one or more of these Knowledge Community audiences when developing your proposal.
Education Abroad
Proposals for this audience are focused on comprehensive advising and recruitment, safety and risk management, innovative program design, and strategic leadership and operations for the variety of academic experiences students engage in abroad.
International Education Leadership
Proposals for this audience are focused on advocacy for international education, people and leadership skills development, budgeting and management models, navigating current geopolitical trends, and comprehensive internationalization.
International Enrollment Management
Proposals for this audience are focused on admissions, recruitment, enrollment management, marketing, credential evaluation, sponsored student programs, and intensive English programs.
International Student and Scholar Services
Proposals for this audience are focused on complying with immigration regulations and on orienting, advising, supporting, advocating, and providing programming for international students, scholars, and staff.
Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship
Proposals for this audience are focused on cross-cultural competence and intercultural training, curriculum internationalization, and scholarly research that directly informs the work, development, and experiences of international educators.
Shared Interest
Proposals for this audience are focused on other, wide-ranging topics that are not specific to a knowledge community, or topics that apply to two or more knowledge communities.
Review Proposals
The 2026 Annual Conference Committee is looking for session and workshop reviewers from across all Knowledge Communities and professional backgrounds. NAFSA is hoping to increase the diversity of our reviewer pool, including adding more international reviewers.
Deadline to sign up is July 31, 2025.
The review period will be September 9-25, 2025.
Evaluation Rubric and Review Process
Reviewers are responsible for reading 5-15 proposals, depending on the topic, with the final selections being made by the ACC.
Each proposal will be rated on a scale of 1-5 for:
- How well do the title, abstract, and learning objectives align with each other
- How likely it is that the format and delivery methods selected will allow participants to achieve the stated learning objectives, including audience engagement appropriate to the objectives
- How knowledgeable the presenter(s) are on the topic
- How likely you would be to attend or recommend someone attend this session if placed on the program, given the limited number of slots available and the high volume of proposals received