2026 NRPA Annual Conference: 30 Sessions to Help You Make the Most out of the Conference

The 2026 NRPA Annual Conference is right around the corner! From Tuesday, September 29 through Thursday, October 1, parks and recreation professionals from across the country will gather for three packed days of fresh ideas, practical takeaway, and opportunities to connect with others in the industry.

With more than 250 educational sessions to choose from, building your conference schedule is no small task. This year's lineup covers everything from programming and community engagement to funding, facilities, data, customer service, and plenty more. 

To help narrow it down, we've picked 30 sessions we think are worth checking out. Take a look below and start building your agenda!

And in between sessions, be sure to swing by the Xplor Recreation Booth, #1707, to meet the nextRec team and see what we've been up to. 

Read on to discover the 30 sessions worth adding to your list! 

• • 👇 Jump to Tuesday's Educational Sessions (Tuesday, September 29)

  • 👇 Jump to Wednesday's Educational Sessions (Wednesday, September 30)

  • 👇 Jump to Thursday's Educational Sessions (Thursday, October 1)

2026 NRPA Educational Sessions: Tuesday, September 29

1. From Teens to Trailblazers: How Teen Programs Build Leaders, Professionals and Purpose

Speakers: JaCory Bazell, Carlos Chapman

Time: 1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Room: 118AB

2. Great Leaders Get Fired: Planning for the Worst

Speakers: Greg Jackson, Lakita Frazier, Ryan Hegerness

Time: 1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Room: 201AB

3. Wearing All the Hats: How Small Agencies Make It Work

Speakers: Emmy Richards, Keith Cox

Time: 1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Room: 121AB

4. Activating "America's Outdoor Era" - A New Vision for Public Health in America Through Outdoor Recreation

Speakers: Whitney Potter Schwartz, Kristine Stratton, Vanesa Karmanian, Nathan Reigner

Time: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Room: 201AB

5. Choose Your Own Adventure: The Power of Succession Planning

Speakers: Myla Neal, Tommy Cureton

Time: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Room: 126AB

6. From Green Fees to Free Green Space: Converting Golf Courses Into Public Parks

Speakers: Michael Kirschman, Steve Torpy, Owen Wells

Time: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Room: 119B

7. From World Cup to Your Community - Growing the Game with MLS GO

Speakers: Chris Ward, Chris Busey, Patrick Kelleher

Time: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Room: 113C

8. Gloves and Ears: Leadership Lessons From Rocky Balboa and Mickey Mouse

Speaker: Neeley Bhatt

Time: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Room: 114 (Michael A. Nutter Theatre)

9. Maximizing Food and Beverage Operations/Concessions: 39 Strategies in 60 Minutes

Speakers: John Prue, Michael Holtzman

Time: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Room: 105AB

10. Politics, People and Performance: Leading Teams With Competing Ambitions

Speakers: Shonnda Smith, Hashim Taylor

Time: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Room: 108AB

2026 NRPA Educational Sessions: Wednesday, September 30

11. Becoming the Park and Recreation Influencer Your Community Needs

Speakers: Margo Diamond-Nelson, Stacey Arismendez-Martienez, Ein Hamilton

Time: 1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Room: 113C

12. Collaborations and Community Events - Money Isn't Everything!

Speakers: Johnathan Skinner, Lydie Gutfeld

Time: 1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Room: 121AB

13. Hidden Farm System: Smaller Agencies Are Growing Your Next Superstar

Speakers: Emmy Richards, Chris Nunes

Time: 1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Room: 103C

14. I'm Not Supposed to Be Here... And That's Why I'm Perfect for the Job!

Speakers: Keith Cox, Trista Taylor

Time: 1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Room: 201AB

15. Introduction to GIS for Park Asset Management

Speaker: Mitchell Fransen

Time: 1:15 - 1:40 p.m.

Room: Exhibit Hall: Speed Sessions Section B (Booth #246)

16. Commanding the Space: How Park and Recreation Professionals Can Walk In and Own Any Room

Speakers: Roslyn Johnson, Jai Cole, Bernita Reese, Shonda Smith

Time: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Room: 114 (Michael A. Nuttter Theatre)

17. From Happy Accidents to Intentional Impact: Growing the Next Generation for Parks and Recreation Pros

Speakers: Stacey Dicke, Meredith Lawrence, Tom Venniro

Time: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Room: 103AB

18. Other Duties Assigned: Marketing Without a Marketing Department

Speaker: Katie MacCammon

Time: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Room: 115AB

19. Future Directors Unplugged

Speakers: Tabita Martinez, Molly Keays, Bernita Reese

Time: 4:15 - 5:15 p.m.

Room: 114 (Michael a. Nutter Theatre)

20. The Esports Blueprint 2.0: Expanding Access, Engagement and Revenue Through Community-Based Gaming

Speakers: Cody Wager, Justin Swaney

Time: 4:15 - 5:15 p.m.

Room: 105AB

2026 NRPA Educational Sessions: Thursday, October 1

21. From Magic to Meaning: Carrying Disney's Culture of Care to the City of Brotherly Love

Speakers: Thomas Venniro, Aaron Dalzot

Time: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Room: 113AB

22. Mastering Mobile Recreation: Transforming Outdoor and Community Engagement

Speakers: Raynetta Brown, Chauncey Milbrandt, Oscar Venegas

Time: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Room: 119B

23. Zero to 90: A High-Speed Adventure Through the First 90 Days

Speakers: Kate Meacham, Jennifer Robinson

Time: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Room: 201AB

24. Playmaker to Playcaller: The Survival Guide for New Supervisors

Speakers: Zachary Morris, CPRP, Darius David, Christian Bell

Time: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Room: 201AB

25. The Circle of Life... of Programs: What Thrives, What Dies, What Needs a Reboot

Speakers: Megan Keul, Kevin Witte

Time: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Room: 118AB

26. Beyond Recreation: Cultivating a Culture of Emergency Response in Los Angeles City

Speakers: Melanie Escamilla, Adriana Smith

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Room: 105AB

27. The Concession Advantage: Funding and Activating Public Spaces

Speakers: Richard DePalma, Katie Burns Kays, Christin Chute Canul

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Room: 109AB

28. The Power of Public-Private Partnerships: How Baltimore Built 60+ Playgrounds in Three Years

Speakers: Sally Dorman, Dr. Reginal Moore, Frank Lance, Lysa Ratliff

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Room: 201AB

29. Dallas Park Safety and Security Dashboard: Data-Driven Strategies for a Safer Park and Trail System

Speakers: Kevin Mondy, Jeremy McMahon, Joseph Kheir

Time: 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Room: 105AB

30. T.E.A.M. at Work: A 20-Year Workforce Development Model Building Skills, Confidence and Community

Speakers: Adesimbo Jery, Dr. Farah Shakour-Bridges, Gamal Gordon, Darnell Mills

Time: 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Room: 109AB

We'll See You at NRPA 2026!

Whatever your 2026 NRPA Annual Conference schedule looks like, we hope you leave with new ideas, useful takeaways, and plenty of inspiration to bring back to your community. 

When you have a break between sessions, top by the Xplor Recreation Booth, #1707, and meet the nextRec team! We'd love to learn more about your organization, chat about the challenges your team is tackling, and show you how nextRec can help make managing recreation simpler.

When you stop by, you can:

🎁Pick up exclusive nextRec swag.

💻See the nextRec platform in action with a live demo.

👩‍💻Chat with our recreation technology experts.

🔎Discover how nextRec helps agencies streamline registrations, memberships, facilities, payments, reporting, and more.