REGISTRATION IS NOW open.
What We’ve Built
Thousands of Fellows trained. Hundreds of campaigns won. Countless communities transformed. The real power lives in the relationships. The late-night strategy sessions. The resources shared. The doors opened. The hands extended.
We built this together. Chapter by chapter, cohort by cohort, conversation by conversation.
What Comes Next
Louisville brings us together to build the next 20 years. The leaders in this room are already shaping policy, organizing communities, and creating the future for the people coming up behind them.
We’re gathering because the moment demands it. Because our communities need us. Because we’re done waiting for someone else to do this work.
Join Us in Louisville
Tentative agenda
(Subject to change)
Thursday, July 16
Friday, July 17
Saturday, July 18
Sunday, July 19
- Registration & Check-In
- Reception
- Convention Programming
- Reception
- Convention Programming
- Awards Dinner & After Party
- Breakfast
- Hotel Checkout
- Optional Excursions and Recommendations
countdown to convention
General
When is the event?
Thursday, July 16 – Sunday, July 19
What is the exact location?
Louisville, Kentucky
When can I register?
Registration is open now and tickets can be purchased up to 48 hours prior to the event start date on July 16, 2026. Please visit this link.
What is the host hotel?
Galt House Hotel, A Trademark Collection Hotel by Wyndham
140 North Fourth Street
Louisville, KY 40202
What is the dress code?
You can expect a variety of experiences at Convention. Be prepared to bring business-casual attire and cocktail attire for receptions.
Participants are encouraged to bring a variety of layers in case the hotel or bus are cold, or the summer Louisville climate is hot, per their preference.
Can my partner and children attend too?
Yes, guests of NLC alumni are welcome to attend Convention, provided they also purchase a ticket if they are over 18 years old.
Topics discussed may feature adult content including sex, drugs, and alcohol. Speakers and Spark!Talk presenters may use expletive language in their presentations.
That being said, Convention is most appropriate for 18 – 99 year olds. All children under 18 must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Can non-NLC alumni attend?
As long as a ticket is purchased, Convention is open to all NLC alumni, Fellows, applicants, partners, sponsors, and supporters.
Can I register at the venue?
Unfortunately, registration closes 48 hours prior to the event start date. You will not be able to register at Convention.
If I have questions, who can I contact?
For any additional questions, please contact NLC HQ at [email protected]. Please give at least 48 hours hours for a response.
How can I sponsor Convention?
To inquire about sponsoring Convention, please contact NLC HQ at [email protected]. Please give at least 48 hours hours for a response.
Will there be alcohol at Convention?
Yes, alcohol will be available at the NLC Awards Dinner on Saturday evening, and may also be available during other Convention-related receptions and off-site venues. Attendees will be able to leave the event space for dinner and may purchase and consume alcohol. We ask that if guests choose to drink alcohol, they do so responsibly. All volunteers are expected to exercise good judgment and moderation and all volunteers are expected to comply fully with all laws (including laws prohibiting the operation of motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol), and to take safety precautions including arranging for a designated sober driver.
For other substances, we ask that attendees refrain from using, distributing, or otherwise possessing controlled substances, including recreational or medical marijuana. If you use marijuana for medical purposes and need to bring it with you to maintain your health, please contact us at [email protected].
Tickets
How much are convention tickets?
General admission – Early bird ticket prices are $250 through March 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
General admission – Regular ticket prices are $350 March 1st to June 30th, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
General admission – Regular ticket prices are $400 July 1st to July 14th, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
How do I pay for the registration?
Use this link to register for Convention. This year, we are offering participants to pay for their ticket in installments. Participants will be able to pay in three, non-refundable installments.
What food is covered by my paid ticket?
Your ticket will cover breakfast, lunch, and snacks, and a Celebration Dinner on Saturday evening.
local chapter volunteers
I am an NLC volunteer, how do I register for convention?
NLC volunteers get a special ticket price of $250.This rate applies to all volunteers including PY25-26 NLC LEAD facilitators, PY25-26 chapter board leaders, and members of the Senior Programs Advisory Committee.
NLC Chapter Volunteers will receive an email and can find their registration code in Weekly Briefings starting on January 16. Please contact staff at [email protected] with any questions.
Payment plan option
Is there a payment plan option?
Yes. This year for the 2026 NLC Convention in Atlanta, attendees will be able to sign up for a monthly payment plan for their convention ticket. The initial payment will be due while registering for convention.
Until when can I sign up for a payment plan?
Payment plans are made through a third party and can be made up until 48 hours prior to event start.
Is there special pricing or codes for the payment plan?
You do not need a code to sign up for a payment plan, however there will be no additional discounts for ticket payment plans.
I am no longer able to go to convention, can I get back what I’ve paid so far?
Because HQ will be counting you in as part of convention, we will not be able to refund ANY payments made through a payment plan.
I have a question about payment plan not answered above, who do I talk to?
Email [email protected].
Are there any restrictions for registration?
NLC is inclusive of all ages. Topics discussed may feature adult content including sex, drugs, and alcohol. Speakers and Spark!Talk presenters may use expletive language in their presentations.
That being said, Convention is most appropriate for an 18+ audience.
We also expect all attendees to uphold NLC’s values, especially our values of equity, community, and progress. Review more here: httsp://www.newleaderscouncil.org/about/.
If something comes up and I can no longer attend, can I get a refund?
If you are no longer able to attend Convention you may request a refund by June 30 or, if you are willing and able you may donate your purchased ticket to a Fellow or NLC volunteer by notifying us by June 30 at [email protected].
This excludes payment plan tickets because they are non-refundable.
Are there opportunities to secure financial support to attend?
NLC partners with venues and sponsors to ensure the price of Convention activities are minimized and kept to an accessible rate. Financial support may be available for participants in need. Please email [email protected] if you would like to be considered to receive financial assistance.
All submissions remain confidential.
Logistics
What are the accomodation arrangements for guests?
NLC has secured a group rate for Convention attendees of $169 – $199 per night Make a reservation.
What is the expected weather?
Climate is typically hot in Louisville in July
Is there airport transportation to and from the hotel?
The Galt House Hotel is 6.3 miles (15 minute drive) from the Louisville International Airport (SDF). Sorry, there is not a shuttle available to and from the airport at this time.
I am driving to Convention. Is parking covered in my ticket or hotel reservation?
At the hotel, parking is available starting at $30 per night for self-parking. Valet prices vary. Valet is offered 24 Hours around the clock.
What happens if the event is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances or circumstances beyond NLC’s control?
In the event of situations beyond our control, attendees will have the option to receive a refund, or apply their ticket purchase to the date of the rescheduled event.
WILL THE CONVENTION BE OPEN TO THE PRESS?
Yes, portions of the program will be open to press. To submit a media inquiry, please email [email protected].
Inclusivity and accessibility
I am a person with disabilities, will I be able to get accommodations?
NLC is happy to work to provide accommodations, please indicate on the registration form and reach out to us at [email protected].
ADA-accessible rooms are available at the Galt House Hotel upon request and NLC HQ can make audio and visual accommodations as well.
What are the COVID requirements for this event?
New Leaders Council continues to closely monitor public health conditions and will always operate following all state and county health orders to safeguard its community and event attendees.
The only exemption to this policy will be religious or documented medical reasons. When this occurs, specific health protocols including pre-event COVID testing must be followed, and otherwise, attendees will not be admitted.
Will guests be required to wear masks?
NLC will follow all applicable state and county health orders, including indoor mask mandates if put in place. If cases continue to rise and a mask mandate is needed, NLC will let all registered guests know as early as possible. Guests may choose to wear a mask at their discretion while enjoying indoor activities. Meals will be shared in both indoor and outdoor spaces and we ask that all guests take precautions to social distance during times when masks cannot be worn.
Where can I offer a suggestion on how to make Convention inclusive and accessible?
Please email [email protected] if you have any suggestions, questions, or additional requests.
Program and schedule
WHERE CAN I OFFER SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PROGRAM?
Please email [email protected] if you have any suggestions, questions, or additional requests.
Awards
What awards will be given out at the Awards Dinner?
Coming soon!
How to nominate or apply
Coming soon!
I’m an alum who won an award! What do I win?
Coming soon!
My chapter won an award! What do I win?
Coming soon!
Past Alumni Awards
Alumni Capstone Award
The Alumni Capstone Award recognizes an NLC alumni who has transformed their Institute Capstone project into an equitable, sustainable impact in their community and beyond. Ideal awardees are alumni of any class who have used their Capstone project to advance equitable and impactful progress, such as launching a thriving non-profit or helping create policy in their community.
Alumni Power of Stories Award
The Alumni Power of Stories Award recognizes an NLC alumni who uses their personal story to not only shift hearts and minds, but policies and structures too. Ideal awardees are alumni who use their platform – whether in-person or digitally – to share their experiences, trials, wins, and lessons learned to highlight a systematic problem and hopeful solution in their communities. Examples include using stories of overcoming and/or dismantling barriers to bring inclusion or access to others, testifying at a government body using personal anecdotes, or writing a book that has shifted the local or national conversation about a topic.
Alumni Equity Champion Award
The Alumni Equity Champion Award recognizes an NLC alumni who has advanced equity in the causes and organizations they serve. Ideal awardees use their professional role, personal affiliations, and NLC network to dismantle white supremacy and combat policies or practices that are racist, sexist, ableist, or otherwise exclude or harm people in their community.
Alumni Mentorship Award
The Mentorship Award recognizes an NLC alumni or chapter board member who has mentored a Fellow(s) or chapter(s) and supported them in the last program year.
Alumni Advancement Award
The Advancement Award recognizes an NLC alumni or Fellow who has gone above and beyond to fundraise creatively while aligning with NLC’s mission and values.
Alumni Collective Impact Award
Alumni Collective Impact Award recognizes NLC alumni that are uplifting the collective impact model. This individual, or group, has organized community-wide and systems-wide change with the help of other local alumni and community partners, using collective strengths and perspectives to make progress.
Past Chapter Awards
Chapter Collective Impact Award
The Collective Impact Award recognizes an NLC chapter’s programming or efforts that are uplifting the collective impact model. This chapter has organized community-wide and systems-wide change with the help of many local alumni and community partners, using collective strengths and perspectives to make progress.
Examples include collaborating across chapters, building external partnerships, participating community service projects, or facilitating community conversations about important local issues. This chapter may have partnerships with individuals and other organizations and have contributed to positive change within their community.
Chapter Equity Champion Award
The Chapter Equity Champion Award recognizes an NLC chapter that has made new advancements in incorporating equity into their programming and operations. This chapter advances equity in their cohort and community.
Examples include efforts that go above and beyond to recruit Fellows from populations that are not historically invested in or finding creative ways to provide support for Fellows during Institute.
Chapter Power of Stories Award
The Chapter Power of Stories Award recognizes an NLC chapter’s programming or efforts are uplifting the power of storytelling. This chapter’s leaders use their personal and collective stories to not only shift hearts and minds, but policies and structures too.
Examples include hosting community roundtable discussions or town hall conversations, a chapter or cohort visit with public officials, or strategic social media campaigns that uplift the personal or professional stories of NLC alumni.
Chapter Institute Award
The Chapter Institute Award recognizes an NLC chapter’s outstanding curriculum innovations and improvements, including adapting lessons to local issues, recruiting dynamic speakers and trainers who engage Fellows in creative ways, or creating collaborative activities that connect Fellows to the materials.
Chapter Mentorship Award
The Chapter Mentorship Award recognizes an NLC chapter’s outstanding mentorship innovations and improvements, including finding creative ways to help Fellows include dynamic mentorship in their everyday lives, or creating opportunities to introduce Fellows to potential mentors or give them access to a larger pool of mentors coordinated by the Chapter.
Chapter Capstone Award
The Chapter Capstone Award recognizes an NLC chapter’s outstanding capstone innovations and improvements, including recruiting alumni to continuously weigh in and assist with Capstone visioning, creating opportunities of collaboration between Fellows, connecting community resources with Fellows using alumni connections, or finding creative ways to uplift Fellows or alumni’s capstone projects.
Chapter Advancement Award
The Chapter Advancement Award recognizes an NLC chapter’s outstanding fundraising innovations and improvements, including creating creative ways for Fellows to successfully fundraise, finding high-dollar and values-aligned sponsors for chapter events, and hosting inclusive events that inspire community investment.
Chapter Resiliency Award
The Chapter Resiliency Award recognizes chapters that have successfully risen above challenges, including increasing their number of Fellows, boosting board engagement, connecting with more chapter alumni, or innovating chapter management operations.
Chapter Digital Innovation Award
The Chapter Digital Innovation Award recognizes a chapter who has creatively engaged with their audiences on social media, including creating beautifully branded content, making fun and informative videos, using their platform to share important issue and cause-based information, building partnerships using social media, and other digital outreach innovations.
Energize Chapter Award
The Energize Chapter Award recognizes an Energize Chapter that has worked to assess, strategize, and implement revitalized programming and leadership for their chapter. Due to their efforts, this chapter has hit the milestones to ensure a strong Institute experience in program year 2024-25.