Higher Education Conferences 2026: An Agenda-Based Guide to Choosing the Right Event

For universities, colleges, and education-focused organizations, higher education conferences 2026 remain strategic touchpoints. 

They shape partnerships, inform leadership thinking, and influence how you position yourself within the global academic ecosystem.

This article curates confirmed higher education and edtech conferences taking place globally in 2026, covering topics from enrollment and campus IT to online education and digital learning infrastructure. 

Many of these events are already on our calendar at AnyforSoft as our team stays directly involved in the discussions universities and academic leaders are having on the ground. Connect with our CEO, Anatolii Pazhyn, and don’t miss the opportunity to meet us! 

Not a fan of longreads? Here’s a brief recap of all conferences:

InsightsEDU 2026 for enrollment and marketing leaders

February 17–19, 2026 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA | In-person | The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort | $995 individual / $2,945 team

InsightsEDU targets professionals responsible for enrollment outcomes and institutional visibility. The agenda aligns with roles focused on strategy, performance, and cross-team coordination:

• Enrollment management leaders
• Higher education marketing teams
• Admissions leaders focused on yield and intent
• Teams working across marketing, admissions, and analytics

The agenda treats enrollment as a system shaped by discovery, trust, and long-term relevance. This positions the event among higher ed marketing conferences 2026 with a strategic focus. Sessions examine how institutions adapt to AI-driven search and pressure to demonstrate value.

Core themes:

• Non-linear student journeys across AI tools, platforms, and social proof
• Unified enrollment strategy across undergraduate, graduate, and adult learners
• AI shaping search, brand perception, and trust before students reach institutional sites
• Reputation connecting brand visibility to enrollment and revenue outcomes
• KPIs tied to yield, intent, and decisions

Expected takeaways:

• Frameworks for evaluating enrollment strategy against student discovery patterns
• Methods for connecting discovery, brand, trust, and measurement
• Reference points for adapting enrollment models to AI-era behavior

SXSW EDU 2026 for higher ed leaders navigating cross-sector change

March 9–12, 2026 | Austin, Texas, USA | In-person | Austin Convention Center | From $695

SXSW EDU serves higher ed leaders tracking how technology, workforce demands, policy, and access expectations affect universities. The program is relevant for those looking toward system-level change:

• Higher education leaders and faculty involved in institutional change
• Continuing and professional education leaders working with adult learners
• EdTech, innovation, and digital strategy teams
• Policy, research, and workforce-aligned education professionals

Sessions most relevant to universities cover generative AI, policy and governance, equity and belonging, global collaboration, and workforce-aligned learning pathways.

Core themes:

• Generative AI, data interoperability, and ethical technology use in education
• Leadership, governance, and institutional change
• Equity, access, and belonging as structural challenges
• Workforce alignment, microcredentials, and adult learning pathways
• Global education, international learners, and cross-border collaboration

Expected takeaways:

• Practical concepts surfaced through workshops and applied sessions
• Cross-sector connections formed through meetups and community-led formats
• New tools and platforms identified through the Expo for further evaluation

UPCEA Annual Conference 2026 for continuing and online education leaders

April 15–17, 2026 | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA | In-person | ~$1,050–$1,800

UPCEA is built for continuing, online, and professional education leaders. The conference fits professionals who operate at the intersection of strategy, execution, and scale:

• Deans and senior continuing education leaders
• Online education and digital learning leaders
• Program, portfolio, and credential strategy teams
• Enrollment, marketing, and student success leaders
• Faculty development and instructional design leaders

The agenda treats continuing and online education as infrastructure shaped by workforce demand, policy, and internal capacity. Sessions cover program design, governance, and AI integration across operations.

Core themes:

• Program portfolio management: launches, reviews, and deactivation
• Workforce-aligned credentials guided by employer relevance
• AI across enrollment, advising, instructional design, and administration
• Governance models balancing centralization and campus autonomy
• Faculty development workflows that scale quality
• Measurement tied to student success and institutional sustainability

Expected takeaways:

• Portfolio evaluation frameworks and unit structuring approaches
• AI integration into daily workflows
• Peer institution models for governance and staffing
• Technology choices and sustainable growth strategies

NAGAP Graduate Enrollment Management (GEM) Summit 2026 for admissions and enrollment teams

April 8–11, 2026 | Baltimore, Maryland, USA | In-person | ~$800–$1,275 (main registration) + optional add-ons ($300–$400)

The GEM Summit is built for people accountable for graduate recruitment, admissions operations, and yield:

• Graduate admissions and enrollment managers
• Enrollment marketers supporting graduate and adult recruitment
• GEM leaders preparing for broader SEM roles
• Teams recruiting international graduate students
• Program-level recruiters in decentralized models

The agenda centers on graduate student discovery, value evaluation, and the path from inquiry to enrollment. Sessions provide practical tools for targeted recruitment with limited staff.

Core themes:

• AI in outreach, advising, and enrollment workflows
• Recruitment strategy frameworks and program planning models
• Benchmarks and marketing cost-per-enrollment metrics
• Program-level execution in decentralized models
• Friction reduction for international and hybrid program applicants
• ROI messaging connecting outcomes, networks, and career value

Expected takeaways:

• Methods for planning graduate recruitment by program
• Metrics that hold up in budget conversations
• Outreach approaches for AI-era discovery patterns
• Leadership and vendor evaluation frameworks
• Applicant experience improvement strategies

EdTech 2026 for learning technologists and researchers

June 3–4, 2026 | Dublin City University, St Patrick’s Campus (Dublin, Ireland) | In-person | €295

This conference is designed for professionals who work at the intersection of learning, technology, and educational values, with an interest in critical reflection:

• Learning technologists and designers
• Academic staff and researchers
• EdTech and student support professionals
• Early-career practitioners and doctoral researchers

The agenda moves EdTech discussions beyond tools and efficiency. Sessions examine who designs technologies, who benefits, and whose voices remain excluded.

Core themes:

• Human–tool–system dynamics in digital learning design
• Equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in EdTech practice
• Participatory approaches such as Students as Partners with focus on ethics
• Critical and resistant perspectives on AI in education
• Historical and reflective views on EdTech
• Digital wellbeing of learning

Expected takeaways:

• Reflection on how EdTech shapes learning cultures and student experience
• Critical perspectives often absent from mainstream conversations

EduTeach 2026 for cross-sector educators and researchers

June 6–7, 2026 | Toronto, Canada | In-person & virtual options | ~$385–$675 USD

EduTeach 2026 fits professionals who work across teaching, research, and educational technology in varied institutional contexts:

• Higher education faculty and researchers
• Educators across secondary and postsecondary settings
• Teaching and learning professionals
• Educational technology researchers and practitioners

The agenda reflects a cross-sector conference spanning education, teaching, and technology across multiple levels and disciplines.

Core themes:

• Teaching methods, curriculum design, and student experiences
• Educational technology across LMSs, VR environments, online assessment, and digital media
• Blended, online, and virtual education models
• Policy, leadership, assessment, and evaluation in education
• Innovation themes spanning sustainability, accessibility, and ethics
• Future-facing education models

Expected takeaways: cross-sector perspectives on teaching, technology, and pedagogy. 

Value depends on session selection and relevance to your institutional context.

EDUtech AU 2026 for digital learning and innovation leaders

June 3–4, 2026 | Sydney, Australia | In-person conference & expo | Paid conference + free expo and seminars

EDUtech AU is a large-scale education and EdTech event where higher education is one part of a wider audience. Sessions fit leaders working on digital learning, student experience, and campus-wide initiatives:

• Digital strategy and inclusion leaders
• Student experience and teaching professionals
• IT, learning design, and innovation teams
• Teams exploring AI and smart campus models

Sessions relevant to higher education emphasize institutional change through technology and data. The focus is on how digital tools and design choices shape learning environments and influence student outcomes.

Core themes:

• Integrated digital campus models beyond standalone LMS platforms
• Student experience design informed by data, automation, and system thinking
• Student leadership, voice, and participation in innovation initiatives
• Practical applications of AI in creativity, decision-making, and learning design
• Smart campus approaches and real-world implementation examples
• Graduate readiness, digital literacy, and transferable skills development

Expected takeaways:

• Awareness of how institutions are approaching digital campus design and AI adoption
• Directional and example-driven reference points and ideas

eduWeb Summit 2026 for marketing, enrollment, and communications teams

July 14–16, 2026 | Orlando, Florida, USA | In-person | 

eduWeb is designed for marketing, enrollment, and advancement professionals in higher education. Cross-functional teams attend to work on visibility and institutional growth:

• Marketing and communications teams
• Enrollment and admissions leaders
• Web, SEO, and digital engagement professionals
• Advancement and alumni relations teams

The conference addresses how institutions coordinate marketing, communications, and digital work. Sessions focus on alignment across teams and throughout the student lifecycle.

Core themes:

• Marketing strategy, branding, and performance analysis
• Enrollment operations for undergraduate and graduate programs
• Website governance, SEO, and digital engagement
• Alumni relations and development marketing
• Workflows connecting marketing, enrollment, and advancement

Expected takeaways:

• How peer institutions organize cross-functional operations
• Implementation examples for marketing and enrollment coordination

EAIE Glasgow 2026 for international education professionals

8–11 September 2026 | Glasgow, Scotland, UK | Scottish Event Campus (SEC)

Among higher ed conferences 2026 in Europe, this event brings together professionals working in international higher education. It suits those who build cross-border connections, manage partnerships, and coordinate institutional cooperation:

• International higher education professionals
• Mobility, exchange, and partnership teams
• University leaders involved in international cooperation

The programme centers on the theme “The Rhythm of Revolution.” Sessions examine how change happens in international higher education and what role collaboration plays in shaping the sector’s future.

Core themes:

• Questioning established practices in international higher education
• Collaboration and partnerships driving sector change
• Professional responsibility during periods of change
• Global and cultural contexts shaping future directions

Expected takeaways:

• Diverse perspectives from multiple session formats (panels, workshops, fishbowls, World Café)
• Professional connections across the international higher ed community
• New approaches to partnerships and institutional cooperation

EDUCAUSE Annual Conference 2026 for higher education IT professionals

September 29–October 2, 2026 | Denver, CO (In person)
October 14–15, 2026 | Online

Among the best higher ed conferences 2026 in the USA, this event fits professionals working with campus technology infrastructure. It brings together campus professionals and technology partners focused on systems, strategy, and how digital decisions shape institutional outcomes:

• Higher education IT and digital services professionals
• Campus leaders involved in technology strategy
• Staff working across teaching, learning, data, and student experience
• Technology providers supporting higher education institutions

The detailed 2026 agenda has not yet been released. Based on the official conference description and published program tracks, the conference focuses on core areas that consistently shape higher education technology work.

Core themes:

• Higher education technology and digital ecosystems
• Cybersecurity, privacy, accessibility, risk, and compliance
• Enterprise systems, data, infrastructure, and institutional support
• Teaching, learning, and the student experience
• Leadership, organizational change, and institutional adaptation

Expected takeaways: 

• Technology decision frameworks from peer institutions.
• Approaches to organizing IT work and aligning technology with institutional goals.
• Examples of how institutions handle digital infrastructure and campus-wide systems.

AnyforSoft is already part of the EDUCAUSE community and will be attending the event in Denver just like last year. 

At EDUCAUSE 2025, the conversation centered on practical AI implementation: agentic AI replacing legacy systems and cutting costs. We expect those conversations to deepen this year.

WCET 2026 for education researchers across fields

September 21–23, 2026 | Hong Kong, China | Hybrid | Fee range: $699–$1,149

WCET is not focused solely on higher education, but several sessions address higher ed directly or within specific domains like medicine, health, language education, and teacher preparation.

Most relevant for:

• Higher education faculty and researchers
• Academic leaders and administrators
• Educators in higher education–related professional fields

The agenda covers education research and practice across many areas, with higher education featured both independently and within specific disciplines.

Core themes:

• Higher education research, leadership, and academic practice
• Medical and health education
• Language teaching and learning
• Educational technology and distance education
• Educational psychology and learning theory
• Education policy, management, and leadership
• Arts, humanities, and sciences education
• Sustainability, inclusion, and global education

Expected takeaways:

• Cross-disciplinary perspectives on education research.
• Examples of how higher education intersects with other sectors.
• Research approaches from fields outside traditional higher ed contexts.

NACAC Conference 2026 for admissions and enrollment professionals

October 8–10, 2026 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA | In-person | Minneapolis Convention Center

As one of the top higher education conferences 2026, NACAC is built for admissions and enrollment professionals. It’s a peer-driven conference where practitioners share what’s working in admissions practice.

• College admissions counselors and advisors
• Enrollment and recruitment leaders
• Admissions operations and outreach teams
• Organizations supporting college access

At the time of writing, the detailed agenda remains unpublished. The conference expects over 6,500 admissions professionals and will keep its traditional emphasis on day-to-day admissions practice over broader strategy discussions.

Core themes:

• College admissions strategy and counseling
• Recruitment, access, and student pathways
• Professional standards and evolving practices
• Research and peer knowledge sharing
• Admissions tools and services

Expected takeaways:

• Peer approaches to recruitment and admissions challenges from across institutions. 
• Updates on professional standards and evolving practices. 
• Vendor evaluations and tool options from the Expo Hall.

AACRAO Conference on Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) 2026 for strategic enrollment leaders

November 1–4, 2026 | Baltimore, Maryland, USA | In-person

Among higher education conferences 2026 in the USA, this event fits professionals responsible for institutional enrollment across the full student lifecycle:

• Senior institutional leaders: presidents, provosts, vice presidents, chancellors, deans
• Strategic enrollment management directors
• Admissions and recruitment professionals
• Financial aid and registrar leaders
• Institutional research and analytics teams
• Student affairs and academic advising leaders
• Cross-functional enrollment and student success teams

The conference treats enrollment as a system spanning the full student lifecycle. Sessions address how institutions use data and policy to support access and persistence.

Core themes:

• Strategic enrollment planning across departments
• Financial aid strategy and retention
• Adult learners and nontraditional pathways
• Community college partnerships
• Microcredentials and workforce programs
• Forecasting under demographic pressure

Expected takeaways:

• Methods for defining enrollment success at your institution. 
• Ways to connect daily operations to institutional sustainability. 
• Peer models for cross-department planning.

NERCOMP Annual Conference 2026 for regional higher ed IT community

March 9–11, 2026 | Providence, Rhode Island, USA | In-person

NERCOMP fits professionals working with higher education technology who value regional peer learning. The community focuses on Northeast challenges while considering broader trends:

• Higher education IT leaders and practitioners
• Faculty and researchers engaged with digital infrastructure
• Library and academic technology professionals
• Campus leaders focused on IT collaboration

The conference addresses how Northeast institutions advance technology and leadership through collaboration. Sessions connect regional experience with global trends in higher education IT.

Core themes:

• Higher education IT leadership and collaboration
• Technology-enabled campus innovation
• Regional and cross-institution partnerships
• Global trends viewed through a local lens

Expected takeaways:

Peer learning from similar institutional contexts. Practical ideas and regional connections. Perspectives on shared challenges in higher ed IT.

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