FAQ

The 2026 NCTE Annual Convention will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Times for all sessions are Eastern Time (ET).

2025 registration pricing is available now for the 2026 NCTE Annual Convention! 2026 pricing for the NCTE Annual Convention, CEL Annual Convention, and ALAN Workshop will open later this summer.

Updates on #NCTE26 will be available this spring and summer. Convention registrants and NCTE members will be emailed automatically with speaker and meal event announcements. Or keep an eye out for website updates!

Yes. All presenters are required to register for the Convention.

Make a strong case for attending with sample language and planning tips available on our Professional Learning Justification page.

The Hotel & Travel page includes information on reserving your hotel room, travel discounts, and more.

Tentative hours for the Convention are below and are subject to change:

• Thursday, November 19: 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. ET
• Friday, November 20: 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. ET
• Saturday, November 21: 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. ET
• Sunday, November 22: 7:00 a.m.–1:15 p.m. ET

Tentative hours for the Exhibit Hall are below and are subject to change:

• Friday, November 20: 10:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, November 21: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Sunday, November 22: 8:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.

• Half-Day Workshop (Thursday, Nov. 19, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.): longer session devoted to a topic; registration fee will be charged
• Individual 30-Minute Session: with 1–2 presenters
• Panel Presentation: with 3 or more panelists
• Poster Sessions: poster presented at a poster board
• Roundtable Session: multiple presenters present on topics; attendees usually listen to 2–3 talks during the session
• Special Interest Group: for NCTE assemblies, caucuses, committees, or conferences

NCTE’s 2026 Convention is an in-person event.

Convention sessions with a special focus or in special sequences fall into session strands. Attend multiple sessions within a single strand for an in-depth learning experience:

• New in 2026! Community College Strand: sessions focus on connecting community college instructors to pedagogy-rich content
• Early Childhood Education Strand: sessions focus on education of children from birth to age eight
• ELATE (English Language Arts Teacher Educators) Strand: sessions focus on teacher development and teacher education programs
• LGBTQIA+ Strand: sessions focus on issues pertaining to LGBTQIA+ students, families, and teachers
• LLA (Literacies and Languages for All) Strand: sessions focus on whole language theory and practice
• National Writing Project (NWP) Strand: sessions focus on research, practice, and innovation at Writing Project sites
• New & Early Career Teachers Strand: sessions highlighting issues for new teachers
• Rainbow Strand: sessions focus on teaching culturally and linguistically diverse students
• Research Strand: sessions chosen through a refereed selection process

To request a certificate of attendance for the NCTE Annual Convention, CEL Annual Convention, or ALAN Workshop, please email NCTEevents@ncte.org at the conclusion of the events.

By attending the Convention, all attendees agree to follow NCTE Event Policies on Code of Conduct, Mutual Respect & Anti-Harassment, Demonstrations, Presenter Registration, Health & Safety, and Use of Multimedia.

Yes! NCTE uses a mobile app with eShow Events. Information on how to access the app will be sent in early November 2026.

Yes. An online listing of sessions will be posted in late summer for an early look at the Convention program (this listing will be updated as changes are received). Then the full printed Convention program will be available onsite for attendees.

NCTE members will receive the Convention Preview magazine in late summer, giving them registration information, speaker details, and more!

No, you will be able to register through the end of the Convention. Early-bird registration pricing will end on October 7, 2026.

Attendees will be able to register online until the start of the Convention and onsite in Philadelphia during the following times (tentative schedule, subject to change):

• Thursday, November 19: 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. ET
• Friday, November 20: 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. ET
• Saturday, November 21: 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET
• Sunday, November 22: 8:00–11:00 a.m. ET

NCTE welcomes journalists representing recognized news organizations to cover open sessions and events at the 2026 NCTE Annual Convention.

Complimentary press credentials are awarded at NCTE’s sole discretion and require advance registration. To register, please email media@ncte.org with your name, title, news organization, and a letter of assignment on company letterhead.

Convention attendees can reach NCTE Customer Service by email or by phone (877-369-6283). Standard business hours are 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

Yes! Discounts are available to NCTE members across all categories.

In addition, you can greatly enhance your Annual Convention experience by bringing a team; group discounts are available. Details are posted on the Registration page.

Yes! We offer highly discounted rates for college students. For nonmember students, your primary affiliation needs to be your school’s name, and your current professional status must be “student” to receive the student rate.

NCTE student members will receive the student rate automatically during registration.

The submission window for our Annual Convention Scholarships will open during the summer.

Funds will be awarded on a rolling basis as available. Decisions are made by a committee of NCTE members appointed by the 2026 Program Chair.

NCTE is a professional home for literacy educators across roles, disciplines, and contexts. Key constituencies include: 

• PreK through college teachers and administrators 

• Students

• Literacy researchers and advocacy professionals 

Primary professions of NCTE members include (but are not limited to):  

• Classroom teachers and professors  

• Educational administrators, deans, and department chairs 

• Librarians 

• Reading/Writing/Literacy specialists and coaches 

• State policy coordinators and administrators 

• Student/Preservice teachers 

NCTE membership provides access to: 

• Preferred Pricing—In addition to a discount of more than $100 on this Convention, NCTE members enjoy additional, exclusive discounts on events, meetings and professional learning materials spanning the full spectrum of literacy education and advocacy, plus a 20% discount in the NCTE Store, including on a wide range of NCTE-published books written by teachers for teachers. 
• NCTE Journals—Full subscription to the quarterly members-only magazine, The Council Chronicle, plus access to the comprehensive NCTE digital journal archive containing more than 1,800 issues of ten professional journals featuring current research, trends, and teaching strategies for educators at all levels, at a 66% discount.
• Online Community and Network Events—Engaged online community with hundreds of collaborative professional learning events, including author talks with Q&A sessions, members-only webinars, and online series—all free of charge to NCTE members. 
• Intellectual Freedom Center Resources—New and timely resources for educators as they advocate for books and defend titles that are being challenged in their classrooms and school libraries, including NCTE’s book rationale database that features more than 1,400 titles and is searchable by title, author, and grade level. 
• Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources—Standards-based lesson plans, teaching ideas, videos, and online tools to help students improve their reading and writing. 
• Member Insurance Programs—Discounts on a variety of insurance programs, including professional liability, life, health, and auto plans through the Trust for Insuring Educators. 

To join NCTE, simply visit the membership page on our main website at ncte.org/membership and click “Join” to create an account and sign up. Standard Membership is $59 annually, and Student Membership is $30 per year.