Top Nurse Practitioner Conferences to Attend in 2026

Nurse practitioners are one of the fastest-growing segments of the US healthcare workforce. With over 400,000 NPs currently practising in the USA and employment projected to grow by 35–38% over the next decade, staying current has never been more important. 

This guide covers the top nurse practitioner conferences to attend in 2026. For each event we list the confirmed date, location, CE hours available, and what you gain. We start with the PubScholars Nurse Practitioner Conference 2026 in San Diego — a hybrid event with up to 20 CEU credits, open abstract submission, and an international scientific committee. 

For broader nursing events covering clinical nursing, oncology, critical care, and nursing leadership, see our guide to the top nursing conferences in 2026. 

Why attend a nurse practitioner conference in 2026? 

NP conferences are designed specifically around advanced practice responsibilities — prescribing, independent diagnosis, scope-of-practice advocacy, and the clinical realities of NP-led care. They are not interchangeable with general nursing events. 

Here is what you gain by attending: 

•  Pharmacology contact hours that count toward state CE renewal — hard to find outside NP-specific events. 
• Clinical updates on evidence-based prescribing, diagnostic reasoning, and advanced assessment. 
• Legislative and scope-of-practice updates essential for navigating state-specific NP practice laws. 
• Networking with NPs from your specialty, your state, and nationally recognised NP leaders. 
• Hands-on workshops in procedures, EKG interpretation, advanced assessment, and simulation. 
• Abstract presentation and publication opportunities. Read our guide on how to write a conference abstract before you submit. 

Top nurse practitioner conferences in 2026 

1. ★ Nurse Practitioner Conference 2026 — PubScholars (San Diego, USA) 

Date: October 17–18, 2026 

Location: Porto Vista Hotel, 1835 Columbia St, San Diego, CA 92101, United States (Hybrid — in-person and virtual) 

Theme: “Global Nursing Horizons: Empowering Education and Leadership Through AI & Innovation” 

The PubScholars Nurse Practitioner Conference 2026 is an international hybrid event bringing together nurse practitioners, advanced practice nurses, nursing educators, researchers, and healthcare leaders to explore the future of NP practice. The conference covers advanced clinical decision-making, primary care and acute care management, pharmacology updates, AI and digital health tools, mental health care in NP practice, women’s health and reproductive care, paediatric NP care, geriatric care, cardiovascular management, chronic disease management, and interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Accepted presenters already confirmed for 2026 include Mrs. Amanda F. Freedman from WakeMed Health & Hospitals USA, Dr. Rami Nadji from INSERM France, and Deborah A. McDaniels-Jolly from Kaiser Permanente San Diego. 

Who should attend: Nurse practitioners across all specialties, APRNs, clinical nurse specialists, CRNAs, certified nurse-midwives, nursing educators, healthcare administrators, NP researchers, and postgraduate nursing students 

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

Registration:  https://nursepractitionerconferences.pubscholars.org/conference-registration/

Website:  https://nursepractitionerconferences.pubscholars.org/

2. AANP National Conference 2026 — American Association of Nurse Practitioners (Las Vegas, USA) 

Date: June 23–27, 2026 

Location: The Venetian Resort, 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA 

The 2026 AANP National Conference is the largest nurse practitioner conference in the United States. More than 330 sessions and workshops are available at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, covering every NP specialty — family practice, acute care, psychiatric-mental health, gerontology, paediatrics, women’s health, and more. 

In-person attendees earn more than 26 CE contact hours without workshops, or more than 32 hours with workshops. On-demand access is included in the in-person registration through August 25. The conference closes with a keynote from Dr. Wendy Wright — named Top 10 NP in America three times and founder of a nationally awarded NP-run clinic in New Hampshire. 

Who should attend: Nurse practitioners of all specialties, from family practice and acute care to psychiatric, gerontological, and paediatric NPs, and NP students in their final year 

CE Hours: 26–32+ in-person contact hours | 75+ on-demand CE hours (Jul 7–Aug 25) 

Pharmacology CE: Yes — pharmacology contact hours across multiple sessions 

Website:  https://nc.aanp.org/

 3. AANP National Conference 2026 — Online (On-Demand) 

Date: July 7 – August 25, 2026 

Location: Virtual — online access from anywhere 

For NPs who cannot travel to Las Vegas, the 2026 AANP National Conference — Online offers approximately 75 on-demand CE contact hours, including pharmacology hours. Dozens of sessions from the in-person conference are made available on demand plus additional online-only content. 

Sessions are available at any time during the access window. CE evaluations must be submitted by August 25, 2026. In-person registrants receive on-demand access at no extra charge through the same date. 

Who should attend: NPs who cannot travel to Las Vegas, those needing additional CE beyond what was earned in person, and international NPs following the AANP programme remotely 

CE Hours: Approximately 75 CE contact hours including pharmacology 

Website:  https://nc.aanp.org/

4. NPAC 2026 — National Conference for Nurse Practitioners in Acute Care (Orlando, USA) 

Date: March 4–8, 2026 (already held) 

Location: Hyatt Regency Orlando, 9801 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819, USA 

 The 2026 NPAC is the largest national conference specifically for acute care NPs. The 3-day main conference offered up to 22.75 AANP contact hours — including 14 pharmacology hours and 2.95 advanced procedures hours — one of the highest pharmacology CE concentrations of any NP conference in 2026. 

Sessions included the Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS) Course and 12-Lead EKG from Start to Competent in 3 Hours. Registration ranged from $219 to $699. The 2026 Orlando edition has already taken place. Watch npac2026.com for the 2027 edition. 

Who should attend: Acute care NPs, emergency NPs, critical care NPs, and any NP wanting a high concentration of pharmacology and advanced procedures CE 

CE Hours: Up to 22.75 contact hours — including 14 pharmacology hours 

Website:  https://www.npac2026.com/

5. NAPNAP Annual Conference 2026 — National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (Pittsburgh, USA) 

Date: March 18–21, 2026 (already held) 

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 

The 2026 NAPNAP Annual Conference is the premier annual event for paediatric nurse practitioners. The conference delivered more than 20 CE contact hours with a focus on paediatric clinical practice — covering chest imaging interpretation, concussion diagnosis, breastfeeding support, and paediatric otitis management. 

Registration costs $290–$795 depending on NAPNAP membership status. The 2026 Pittsburgh conference has already taken place. Visit napnap.org for confirmed 2027 dates. 

Who should attend: Paediatric nurse practitioners in primary, acute, and specialty care; paediatric NP students; and nurses transitioning toward paediatric NP practice 

CE Hours: 20+ contact hours including pharmacology CE 

Website:  https://www.napnap.org/national-conference/

6. NONPF Fall Conference 2026 — National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (Tucson, USA) 

Date: November 5–6, 2026 

Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA 

Theme: “Reimagining Diagnostic Excellence: An NP Faculty Summit” 

The 2026 NONPF Fall Conference is designed specifically for NP faculty and academic leaders who train the next generation of NPs. The 2026 theme — Reimagining Diagnostic Excellence — focuses on foundational diagnostic reasoning and how NP faculty can embed it more effectively into curricula. 

For NPs in academic roles, NONPF is the most directly relevant professional development event available. It addresses curriculum design, teaching strategies, and the evolving competency frameworks for NP education. 

Who should attend: NP faculty, clinical preceptors, academic directors of NP programmes, and experienced NPs transitioning into teaching or academic roles 

CE Hours: Verify on nonpf.org 

Website:  https://www.nonpf.org/page/futureconferences

7. AANP State Conferences 2026 — Year-Round Across the USA 

Date: Year-round — multiple dates across all 50 states 

Location: Multiple — check aanp.org/events for your state 

In addition to the national conference, AANP runs an extensive programme of state-level NP conferences throughout 2026, providing regionally focused CE, state-specific legislative updates, and local networking. State conferences typically offer 6–16 CE contact hours, including pharmacology hours. 

State conferences are particularly valuable for NPs navigating state-level practice restrictions, full practice authority campaigns, and local Medicaid reimbursement policy. Credits are accepted by all major certifying bodies including ANCC, AANP, AACN, PNCB, and NCC. 

Who should attend: NPs in all specialties wanting regionally focused CE, state legislative updates, and local networking without national conference travel costs 

CE Hours: Typically 6–16 contact hours per event, including pharmacology CE 

Website:  

8. APNA Annual Conference 2026 — American Psychiatric Nurses Association 

Date: 2026 — confirm current dates on apna.org 

Location: USA — confirm venue on apna.org 

The APNA Annual Conference is one of the most comprehensive events for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners. It covers psychopharmacology, therapy integration, mental health policy, suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, and the latest updates in psychiatric prescribing at a depth that the broader AANP programme cannot fully replicate. 

For PMHNPs, APNA is the specialist annual event for recertification CE and clinical updates. It is particularly strong for NPs working in community mental health, inpatient psychiatry, and integrated care settings. 

Who should attend: Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners, psychiatric registered nurses, mental health NP students, and any NP working in behavioural health or integrated care settings 

CE Hours: CE credits available — verify on apna.org 

Website:  

9. NPACE Conferences 2026 — Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education 

Date: Multiple events throughout 2026 — virtual and in-person 

Location: Various USA locations and online 

NPACE is a world leader in NP continuing education, offering day-long and two-day virtual events plus three- to four-day pharmacology, acute care, and primary care conferences year-round. They offer some of the most clinically practical and immediately applicable CE content available to NPs. 

For NPs needing targeted pharmacology CE or clinical skills updates without committing to a full national conference, NPACE provides flexible, accessible options throughout the year at varying costs by location and format. 

Who should attend: NPs of all specialties needing focused pharmacology CE, clinical skills updates, or flexible CE throughout the year 

CE Hours: Varies by event — day-long, two-day, and multi-day formats available 

Website:  https://www.npace.org/live-conferences

10. AWHONN Annual Convention 2026 — Women’s Health and Obstetric NPs 

Date: June 2026 — confirm current dates on awhonn.org 

Location: USA — confirm venue on awhonn.org 

The AWHONN Annual Convention is the premier event for women’s health nurse practitioners and nurses in obstetric, maternity, and neonatal care. Sessions cover maternal-fetal medicine, high-risk obstetrics, neonatal care, perinatal mental health, lactation, and evidence-based gynaecological care. 

For women’s health NPs and nurse-midwives, AWHONN delivers specialty CE content that no other NP conference on this list provides. It is a required annual commitment for practitioners in this area rather than an optional development event. 

Who should attend: Women’s health nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, obstetric NPs, perinatal clinical nurse specialists, and NPs in reproductive health and gynaecology 

CE Hours: CE credits available through AWHONN accreditation — verify on awhonn.org 

Website:  https://awhonnconvention.org/

Quick comparison: nurse practitioner conferences 2026 

Use this table to match the right event to your specialty, CE needs, and schedule. 

Conference	In-person	Virtual	CE Hours	Pharma CE	Date
PubScholars NP Conference 2026 ★	San Diego	✓	✗	✓	Oct 17–18
AANP National Conference 2026	Las Vegas	✓	26–32+	✓	Jun 23–27
AANP National Online 2026	Virtual only	✓	75+ CH	✓	Jul 7–Aug 25
NPAC 2026 (Acute Care NPs)	Orlando	✗	22.75	14 hrs	Mar 4–8 ✓held
NAPNAP 2026 (Pediatric NPs)	Pittsburgh	✗	20+	✓	Mar 18–21 ✓held
NONPF Fall Conference 2026	Tucson, AZ	✗	Verify	N/A	Nov 5–6
APNA Annual Conference 2026	USA	✗	Verify	✓	2026

 NPAC 2026 and NAPNAP 2026 have already taken place. All other events confirmed as of May 2026. Always verify on official websites before registering. 

How to choose the right NP conference for your goals 

 If you want to present research and get published 

The PubScholars Nurse Practitioner Conference 2026 (Oct 17–18, San Diego) is the only event on this list offering abstract submission, international peer review, and publication in conference proceedings alongside CEU credits. Abstract submissions close May 15, 2026. Submit at nursepractitionerconferences.pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/. 

If you want the most CE hours in a single event 

The 2026 AANP National Conference (Jun 23–27, Las Vegas) offers 26–32+ in-person contact hours plus 75 on-demand hours through August. NPAC 2026 (already held) offered the highest pharmacology CE concentration — 14 pharmacology hours in one event. 

If you are a psychiatric or mental health NP 

The APNA Annual Conference 2026 is the most targeted event for PMHNPs, covering psychopharmacology, therapy integration, and mental health policy at a depth the broader AANP programme cannot match. 

If you are a paediatric NP 

The NAPNAP Annual Conference 2026 (Pittsburgh, March) has already taken place. The next edition is confirmed — visit napnap.org for 2027 dates. In the meantime, the AANP National Conference (Las Vegas, June) has the largest paediatric NP track of any remaining 2026 event. 

If you are an NP faculty member 

The NONPF Fall Conference 2026 (Nov 5–6, Tucson) is designed specifically for NP faculty. The 2026 theme — Reimagining Diagnostic Excellence — directly addresses curriculum and teaching strategies for diagnostic reasoning. 

If you need flexible or virtual CE throughout the year 

NPACE offers year-round virtual and in-person events. The AANP National Conference Online (Jul 7–Aug 25) offers 75 on-demand CE hours including pharmacology content.

Useful guides for nurse practitioners 

These PubScholars resources will help you prepare: 

•  How to write a conference abstract — structure, format, and template for NP clinical and research work 
• Nursing grants and scholarships 2026 — funding options to cover conference registration and travel costs
• Top nursing conferences 2026 — broader list covering clinical nursing, oncology, ICU, and specialty events 
• Nursing education conference 2026 — events for NP faculty, educators, and curriculum developers
• Guide to USA conference visa requirements — for international NPs travelling to San Diego or Las Vegas 

Frequently asked questions — nurse practitioner conferences 2026 

What is the biggest nurse practitioner conference in 2026? 

The 2026 AANP National Conference (June 23–27, The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas) is the largest NP conference in the United States, with 330+ sessions, 26–32+ in-person CE hours, and 75+ on-demand hours. It covers all NP specialties and draws NPs from across the country and internationally. 

Is there a nurse practitioner conference in San Diego in 2026? 

Yes. The PubScholars Nurse Practitioner Conference 2026 runs October 17–18 at The Porto Vista Hotel, 1835 Columbia St, San Diego, CA 92101, United States.Register at nursepractitionerconferences.pubscholars.org. 

Which NP conference offers the most pharmacology CE hours? 

NPAC 2026 (National Conference for Nurse Practitioners in Acute Care, March, Orlando) offered the highest pharmacology CE concentration — 14 pharmacology contact hours within a 22.75-hour total CE programme. The AANP National Conference and state conferences also offer pharmacology CE throughout the year. 

Is there a hybrid nurse practitioner conference in 2026? 

Yes. The PubScholars Nurse Practitioner Conference 2026 (October 17–18, San Diego) is a hybrid event with both in-person and virtual attendance. Register at nursepractitionerconferences.pubscholars.org. 

What is NONPF and who should attend their 2026 conference? 

NONPF — National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties — is the professional organisation for NP faculty and academic leaders. Their 2026 Fall Conference (November 5–6, Tucson, AZ) is themed “Reimagining Diagnostic Excellence: An NP Faculty Summit.” It is designed for NP programme directors, faculty, and preceptors rather than clinically practising NPs. Visit nonpf.org for registration details. 

Do I need a visa to attend a nurse practitioner conference in the USA? 

International NPs travelling to San Diego, Las Vegas, or other USA venues may need a B-1 visa. Your conference organisers can provide a formal invitation letter. Read our complete guide to USA conference visa requirements for the documents you need and how to apply. 

Final thought 

Nurse practitioners in 2026 have one of the richest conference calendars in advanced practice nursing history — from 32 CE hours in Las Vegas to specialist events in acute care, paediatrics, psychiatry, and NP education. 

If you are an NP ready to present original clinical or research work internationally and earn up to 20 CEU credits in a hybrid format, the PubScholars Nurse Practitioner Conference 2026 (October 17–18, Porto Vista Hotel, San Diego, CA) has abstract submission and registration open now.