Let your ideas soar at NIRSA 2026!

The 2026 NIRSA Conference & Campus Rec Expo is happening April 8–11 and we want you to help shape it.

This isn't just another conference—the NIRSA Conference is where the heart of campus recreation beats loudest. It's where careers are built, connections are sparked, and the collective energy of our field comes to life.

Take to the stages

We're officially opening a call for proposals for:

• Roundtable Discussions – Bring your expertise on specific topic areas to guide conversations amongst your peers around the latest trends and common issues
• Panel Presentations – Team up and share stories, strategies, and perspectives from the field
• Standard Presentations – Dive deep into your topic with a classic format and time for Q&A
• Expo 20-Minute Sessions – Quick, powerful bursts of content and best practices
• Fitness Forums – Move your audience—literally—with physically engaging presentations
• Poster Presentations – Perfect for showcasing research, pilot programs, or emerging ideas in an approachable format

We're especially excited this year to invite attendees to focus on the basics: Think foundational practices, emerging insights, and new ways to support student success, wellbeing, and community—whether on the field, in the facility, or behind the scenes.

Whether you're offering a fresh perspective on staff development, breaking down facility ops, diving into aquatics, or showcasing success at a small program, this is your chance to spark growth and connection in one of the most vibrant, supportive spaces in higher education.

Except for poster presentation proposals, all other proposals are due Monday, September 29; poster presentation proposals are due Friday, January 30.

Why present at NIRSA?

Presenting at NIRSA is a great chance to expand your own professional development and share your knowledge with others. Here are just a few of the reasons regular presenters give for why they present at the NIRSA Conference:

• Showcase your institution's work and innovative programs
• Build community with fellow campus recreation professionals
• Foster meaningful connections with professionals—from students to seasoned leaders—and receive feedback from peers

When you help deliver the conference program, you are part of something bigger than a conference: you join the campus recreation movement.

So here's your moment: Take what you know, what you've learned, and what lights you up—and share it with your peers in the Rockies. Let's make NIRSA 2026 a place where big ideas take flight—and where we share more of what matters: people, play, and priorities. We can't wait to see what you'll bring!

"This was my second NIRSA Conference that I've attended with my UCLA student organization: Fitness Improvement Training Through Exercise and Diet (FITTED). We had the chance to present at the conference and share the importance of student initiated, community-based health organizations like our own. It was amazing to show professionals how students like us can be empowered in making our own decisions and implementing programming, because as students we understand the unique needs of our peers." – Daniella Shahrdar, Project Director for FITTED at UCLA

Other opportunities for subject matter experts!

NIRSA is also currently recruiting proposal reviewers! We're looking for experienced campus recreation professionals to help shape the conference program by volunteering to review session proposals.

Reviewers are typically assigned approximately 10 proposals to review, and the rubric consists of six questions. Reviewers typically budget 5-10 hours of review time which must be completed between October 3-20.