Last updated: March 2026
Whether you’re looking to deepen your practice or connect with fellow educators, 2026 has a strong lineup of social-emotional learning (SEL) conferences. Below are the must-attend SEL events of the year — from spring workshops to major end-of-year summits. We’ve also noted two earlier events that already took place, in case you want to access their recordings.
1. University of Northern Iowa SEL Conference
Organized by: University of Northern Iowa College of Education
Location: Cedar Falls, IA (in-person + virtual option)
Date: April 17, 2026
Audience: Educators, administrators, school counselors, and mental health professionals
Speakers:
– Stephanie M. Jones, PhD – Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education
– Susan Verde – New York Times bestselling author
Cost: Registration details at the link below
Link to register: https://coe.uni.edu/2026-social-and-emotional-learning-conference
2. ASCD Annual Conference 2026 / ISTELive 26 (SEL Sessions)
Organized by: ISTE + ASCD
Location: Orlando, FL
Dates: June 28 – July 1, 2026
Audience: Educators, instructional coaches, school and district leaders, and ed-tech professionals
Speakers: Leading educators and researchers across SEL, curriculum, and instructional technology tracks
Cost: Registration details at the link below
Link to register: https://event.ascd.org/2026/registration/register/
3. Innovative Schools Summit Las Vegas — Social-Emotional Learning Forum
Organized by: AccuTrain Corporation
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Dates: July 6–10, 2026
Audience: Educators, school administrators, counselors, and mental health professionals
Speakers: Expert presenters across 20+ breakout sessions; up to 26 contact hours available
Cost: Registration details at the link below
Link to register: https://innovativeschoolssummit.com/vegas/
4. CharacterStrong National Conference
Organized by: CharacterStrong
Location: Tacoma, WA
Dates: July 23–24, 2026
Audience: Educators, school leaders, and school culture advocates focused on whole-child development
Speakers: 20+ breakout sessions on school culture, leadership, and character education
Cost: Registration details at the link below
Link to register: https://characterstrong.com/nationalconference/
5. Innovative Schools Summit Nashville — Social-Emotional Learning Forum
Organized by: AccuTrain Corporation
Location: Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville, TN
Dates: July 25–29, 2026
Audience: Educators, school administrators, counselors, and mental health professionals
Speakers: Dedicated SEL Forum with expert keynotes and practitioner-led breakout sessions
Cost: Registration details at the link below
Link to register: https://innovativeschoolssummit.com/nashville/
Already Happened in Early 2026? Check the Recordings
Two major SEL events took place earlier in 2026. If you missed them, recordings and resources are available:
CASEL SEL Exchange — February 18–19, 2026 (virtual). Hosted by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. Access session recordings at selexchange.casel.org.
International SEL Day — March 2, 2026. A global awareness day celebrating social-emotional learning. Resources available at selday.org.
Fostering Inclusivity in Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
Delve into evidence-based strategies for building and implementing inclusive SEL programs. Essential for directors of counseling and counselors, this infographic elucidates how to integrate SEL interventions that engage all students, particularly those from marginalized groups.
- Program Design: Highlights the application of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the importance of addressing systematic barriers for students with disabilities.
- Program Development: Emphasizes culturally affirming programs and family involvement to enrich SEL.
- Program Implementation: Focuses on the role of teachers and the need for adult development in SEL programs.
- Program Research: Points out the impact of culture on emotional development and the value of culturally responsive pedagogy.
6. Innovative Schools Summit San Antonio — Social-Emotional Learning Forum
Organized by: AccuTrain Corporation
Location: San Antonio, TX
Dates: December 3–6, 2026
Audience: Educators, school administrators, counselors, and mental health professionals
Speakers: Dedicated SEL Forum sessions with leading practitioners
Cost: Registration details at the link below
Link to register: https://innovativeschoolssummit.com/
7. Learning Forward Annual Conference
Organized by: Learning Forward
Location: Gaylord Texan Resort, Dallas, TX
Dates: December 6–9, 2026
Audience: Instructional coaches, curriculum leaders, administrators, and professional learning advocates
Speakers: Keynotes and sessions on professional learning, SEL integration, and school improvement
Cost: Registration details at the link below
Link to register: https://conference.learningforward.org/
Related Resources
Learn more about Ori Learning’s comprehensive emotional well-being curriculum.
