Top 10 Psychology Conferences to Attend in 2026

The field of psychology is moving fast in 2026. AI in mental health, genomics in psychiatry, trauma-informed care, and digital therapy tools are reshaping how professionals work and how patients are treated. 

Whether you want to earn CEUs, present your research, or simply stay current in your specialty, the right conference can make a genuine difference to your career. This guide covers the 10 most important psychology conferences of 2026 — with dates, locations, who should attend, and what you gain at each. 

Two events on this list — including the PubScholars International Psychology Conference 2026 in Boston — offer open abstract submission and publication opportunities that most conferences do not. 

Why attend a psychology conference in 2026? 

Conferences are not just about collecting CEU hours. The real value is what happens around the sessions — the research you encounter before it reaches journals, the colleagues who become collaborators, and the ideas that shift how you approach your work. 

Here is what you stand to gain:  

• Access to new research months before it is published in journals. 

• Continuing education credits for licence renewal — most events offer 10–30+ accredited hours. 

• Abstract presentation slots that build your academic and clinical profile. 

• International networking that leads to referrals, co-authorship, and multi-centre studies. 

• Direct exposure to AI tools, digital platforms, and emerging clinical approaches. 

Top 10 psychology conferences in 2026 

1.  International Psychology Conference 2026 — PubScholars 

Date: November 20–21, 2026 

Location: Aloft Boston Seaport District, 401–403 D St, Boston, MA 02210, USA (Hybrid — in-person and virtual) 

Theme: “Next-Generation Neuropsychiatry & Mental Health: Integrating AI, Genomics and Clinical Excellence” 

 The PubScholars International Psychology Conference 2026 is a hybrid event bringing together psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, researchers, and mental health professionals from across the world. 

Sessions cover clinical psychology, cognitive and behavioural therapy, AI in mental health, trauma-informed care, neuropsychiatry, child and adolescent psychology, organisational psychology, and digital mental health tools. 

Both in-person and virtual attendance are fully supported. Accepted abstracts are reviewed by an international scientific committee and published in official conference proceedings. Virtual attendees receive a digital certificate and full session access. 

Who should attend: Psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, counsellors, neuroscience researchers, mental health advocates, HR professionals, public health specialists, and postgraduate students in psychology 

CEUs / Credits: CPD-accredited credits for in-person and virtual attendees. Contact info@pubscholars.org for documentation 

Abstract submission:  https://psychologyconference.pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/

Website:  https://psychologyconference.pubscholars.org/

Early bird registration closed April 30, 2026. Second round of abstract submissions closes May 15, 2026. 

2. APA Annual Convention 2026 — American Psychological Association 

Date: August 6–8, 2026 

Location: Washington, D.C., USA (In-person and virtual) 

The APA Annual Convention is the largest psychology conference in the United States. It covers every discipline — clinical, counselling, forensic, school, sports, and health psychology — with hundreds of sessions across all three days. 

Registration opened April 22, 2026. If you attend one psychology conference a year and need the broadest possible coverage, the APA convention is the safe choice.

Who should attend: Psychologists across all specialties, therapists, counsellors, researchers, and psychology students at all career stages 

CEUs / Credits: APA-approved continuing education credits available 

Website:  https://convention.apa.org/

3. APS Annual Convention 2026 — Association for Psychological Science 

Date: May 28–30, 2026 

Location: Centro de Convenciones Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB), Barcelona, Spain 

 The 2026 APS Annual Convention is the first time this conference has been held outside the United States — a landmark moment for international psychological science. The programme features six Integrative Science Symposia, a new Industry Day, and AI content threaded throughout every track. 

Topics include mental health, brain development, individual and collective cognition, language, culture, and the societal impact of AI. Early-bird registration closed April 8, 2026. 

Who should attend: Psychological scientists, researchers, academics, and advanced students focused on the science rather than the clinical practice of psychology 

CEUs / Credits: CE credits available — verify on psychologicalscience.org 

Website: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/conventions/2026-aps-annual-convention

4. SIOP Annual Conference 2026 — Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology 

Date: April 29 – May 2, 2026 

Location: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA 

 The 41st SIOP Annual Conference is the definitive event for industrial-organisational psychology. It covers leadership, employee well-being, talent assessment, diversity, and organisational change — with 400+ sessions and 600+ poster presentations. 

For anyone working at the intersection of psychology and the workplace, SIOP is the most comprehensive annual gathering in the field. 

Who should attend: I-O psychologists, HR professionals, organisational development consultants, business leaders, and workplace psychology researchers 

CEUs / Credits: CE credits available — verify on siop.org 

Website:  

 5. 4th Global Conference on Psychology 2026 — Oxford, UK 

Date: August 21–23, 2026 

Location: Oxford, United Kingdom (Hybrid — in-person and virtual) 

 The 4th Global Conference on Psychology brings together researchers, professors, therapists, and students from around the world for three days of interactive sessions. Previous editions have led to publications in respected psychology journals. 

The conference covers educational psychology, clinical psychology, cognitive and behavioural psychology, mental health, and emotional well-being. Abstract submission deadline is July 31, 2026. 

Who should attend: Researchers, therapists, educators, and students across all psychology disciplines seeking international research exposure and publication opportunities 

CEUs / Credits: CE credits available — verify on psychologyconference.org 

Website:  https://www.psychologyconference.org/

6. SPPAC 2026 — Society for Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference 

Date: April 2026 — confirm exact dates on societyforpediatricpsychology.org 

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 

 SPPAC 2026 runs under the theme “Inquire, Inspire, Ignite.” The conference moved from Phoenix to Las Vegas for 2026 and features plenary speakers including Dr. Felicity Enders and Dr. Yalda T. Uhls. 

All programming is in-person only. For psychologists and researchers working in child and adolescent mental health, SPPAC is the most focused event of the year. 

Who should attend: Paediatric psychologists, child therapists, paediatric healthcare professionals, and researchers in child and adolescent mental health 

CEUs / Credits: CE credits available — verify on societyforpediatricpsychology.org 

Website:  https://pedpsych.org/sppac-2026/

7. European Conference on Positive Psychology (ECPP) 2026 

Date: 2026 — confirm dates on enpp.eu 

Location: Dublin, Ireland 

 The 12th ECPP runs under the theme “Body Meets Mind: Positive Psychology and Health for Everyone.” It is the primary positive psychology event in 2026 — the IPPA World Congress runs in odd years only, so ECPP is where the positive psychology community gathers this year. 

Sessions cover well-being, resilience, strengths-based approaches, positive education, and the relationship between physical and mental health. 

Who should attend: Positive psychology researchers and practitioners, therapists, educators, coaches, and professionals working in well-being and human flourishing 

CEUs / Credits: CPD credits available — verify on enpp.eu 

Website: https://www.ecpp2026.com/

8. CPA Annual Convention 2026 — Canadian Psychological Association 

Date: March 7–10, 2026 

Location: JW Marriott Parq Vancouver Hotel, Vancouver, BC, Canada 

 The CPA Annual Convention is the leading psychology conference in Canada, covering clinical, research, and applied psychology across all disciplines. It attracts Canadian and international psychologists for workshops, symposia, and paper presentations. 

For North American psychologists seeking a well-rounded event with strong clinical depth and a more accessible scale than APA, CPA is an excellent option. 

Who should attend: Canadian psychologists, clinical practitioners, researchers, educators, and psychology students across all specialties 

CEUs / Credits: CE credits available — verify on cpa.ca 

Website:  https://convention.cpa.ca/

9. 24th World Congress of Psychotherapy 2026 

Date: June 2026 — confirm exact dates on worldcouncilforpsychotherapy.org 

Location: New York City, New York, USA 

 The 24th World Congress of Psychotherapy focuses on psychotherapy, mental health, and human rights. It brings together psychotherapists, counsellors, psychiatrists, and researchers from every continent. 

For psychotherapists specifically, this is one of the most internationally diverse and clinically rich events of 2026. 

Who should attend: Psychotherapists, counsellors, psychiatrists, social workers, and mental health researchers with a clinical or human rights focus 

CEUs / Credits: CEUs available — verify on worldcouncilforpsychotherapy.org 

Website:  https://wfpsychotherapy.org/world-congress-of-psychotherapy/

10. ISTP 2026 — International Society for Theoretical Psychology 

Date: June 8–12, 2026 

Location: Pratt Institute, Brooklyn Campus, New York, USA 

 The ISTP 2026 Conference explores the role of psychological theory as a political and cultural force in times of crisis. It invites scholars and practitioners working at the intersection of psychology, art, narrative, and politics. 

For researchers in theoretical, critical, or cultural psychology, this is the most intellectually distinctive event of 2026. 

Who should attend: Theoretical psychologists, critical psychologists, academics in cultural and social psychology, and practitioners interested in the political dimensions of mental health 

CEUs / Credits: CEUs available — verify on istp2026.org 

Website:  https://istpsychology.org/

Quick comparison: 2026 psychology conferences at a glance 

Use this table to compare the key features at a glance before you decide. 

Conference	Hybrid	Abstract	CEUs	AI Focus	USA
PubScholars Psychology 2026 ★	Hybrid	✓	✓	✓	✓
APA Annual Convention 2026	Hybrid	✓	✓	✓	✓
APS Annual Convention 2026	In-person	✓	✓	✓	✗
SIOP Annual Conference 2026	In-person	Limited	✓	✓	✓
4th Global Psych Conference	Hybrid	✓	Limited	✗	✗
SPPAC 2026	In-person	Limited	✓	✗	✓
ECPP 2026	In-person	✓	Limited	✗	✗

 All dates accurate as of May 2026. Always verify on official conference websites before registering. 

How to choose the right psychology conference for you 

If you want to present research and get published 

The PubScholars Psychology Conference 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston) is the strongest option on this list for researchers. Abstract submissions are open, the review process is handled by an international scientific committee, and accepted papers are published in conference proceedings. The 4th Global Conference on Psychology (Oxford, Aug 21–23) is a good alternative, with a July 31 abstract deadline. 

If you need CEUs for licence renewal 

The APA Annual Convention (Aug 6–8, Washington DC) offers the most comprehensive APA-approved continuing education programme of any psychology event in 2026. It covers every specialty area under one roof. SIOP (New Orleans, Apr 29–May 2) is the strongest choice if your CEU needs are in I-O psychology specifically. 

If your focus is AI and technology in mental health 

The APS Annual Convention in Barcelona (May 28–30) has AI woven throughout its entire programme, including dedicated Integrative Science Symposia on AI and cognition. The APA convention also features AI sessions across most specialty tracks.

If you are in organisational or workplace psychology 

The SIOP Annual Conference (Apr 29–May 2, New Orleans) is the definitive event. It is the most comprehensive I-O psychology gathering globally. Before you submit, read our guide on how to write a conference abstract to maximise your acceptance chances. 

If you are an early-career researcher or student 

The 4th Global Conference on Psychology (Oxford, Aug 21–23) is the most accessible for early-career researchers seeking international publication. The APS Annual Convention in Barcelona is excellent for postdoctoral researchers in psychological science. 

Frequently asked questions — psychology conferences 2026 

What is the biggest psychology conference in 2026? 

The APA Annual Convention is the largest psychology conference in the world. The 2026 edition runs August 6–8 in Washington, DC with both in-person and virtual options. It covers every psychology specialty and draws one of the largest audiences in the field each year. 

Which psychology conference should I attend in Boston in 2026? 

The PubScholars International Psychology Conference 2026 runs November 20–21 at the Aloft Boston Seaport District, Boston, MA. The theme is ‘Next-Generation Neuropsychiatry & Mental Health: Integrating AI, Genomics and Clinical Excellence.’ It is a hybrid event with abstract submission open. Register or submit at psychologyconference.pubscholars.org. 

Is there a hybrid psychology conference with abstract submission in 2026? 

Yes. The PubScholars Psychology Conference 2026 (November 20–21, Boston) and the 4th Global Conference on Psychology (August 21–23, Oxford) both offer hybrid attendance and open abstract submission. The APA Annual Convention (August 6–8, Washington DC) also has a virtual attendance option. 

How do I submit an abstract to a psychology conference in 2026? 

It depends on the conference. For APA: visit convention.apa.org. For APS: submission for 2026 has closed. For the 4th Global Conference (Oxford): deadline is July 31, 2026 at psychologyconference.org. For the PubScholars Psychology Conference (Boston): visit psychologyconference.pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/. All abstracts should state background, objectives, methods, results, and conclusions clearly in 250–500 words. 

Which psychology conference focuses on AI in 2026? 

The APS Annual Convention in Barcelona (May 28–30) features AI topics across every track, including dedicated symposia on AI, cognition, and mental health. The APA Annual Convention in Washington DC also has substantial AI-focused programming. Both are strong choices if your research sits at the intersection of psychology and technology. 

Do I need a visa to attend a psychology conference in the USA in 2026? 

International attendees travelling to the USA may need a B-1 business visa. Your conference organisers can provide a formal invitation letter to support your application. Read our complete guide to USA conference visa requirements for the documents you need and how to apply. 

Register for the PubScholars Psychology Conference 2026 

Abstract submissions are open now. Both in-person (Boston) and virtual attendance are available. Early bird registration closed April 30, 2026 — check the website for current rates.