We are very pleased to announce The Compassionate Friends (TCF) 49^th Annual National Conference in Baltimore, MD! TCF's National Conference is an enriching and supportive event for many newer and long-time bereaved parents, grandparents, and siblings. Attendees come and find renewed hope and support, as well as strategies for coping with grief, all while making friendships with other bereaved people who truly understand the heartbreaking loss of a child, sibling, or grandchild. Lifelong friendships are often formed and rekindled each year at TCF conferences.  

Unique and cherished highlights of our conference include our heartfelt Saturday evening Candle Lighting Program, Sharing Sessions, Keynote Addresses, Healing Haven, Butterfly Boutique, Crafty Corner, and Silent Auction. Our weekend of inspiration, sharing, and learning is followed by the Walk to Remember on Sunday morning. 

If you would like to attend the conference, please use the "Register Now" button at the top of this page to complete your registration. Registration for your hotel room is separate. You can reserve a room as part of our hotel block with our special conference rates.

This year’s conference will be held at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor. Reservations can now be made online at TCF’s dedicated reservation link. Our discounted room rate with the Hilton is $189 per night (reg. $334+/night) plus applicable taxes and fees. Please note that each attendee can reserve a maximum of two rooms. Many attendees arrive on Thursday since we  have pre-conference activities that are offered on Thursday evening, that attendees find beneficial. We look forward to seeing you in Baltimore!

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Support the National Conference with a Sponsorship

Your sponsorship enables TCF to provide this gathering at an affordable rate so that all who need to can attend.

Our Keynote Speakers

David Kessler is a bereaved father as well as one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and loss. He is the author of seven books, including his latest bestselling book, Finding Meaning, as well as the Finding  Meaning Companion Workbook. He co-authored two books with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Life Lessons and On Grief and Grieving. He also co-wrote You Can Heal Your Heart with Louise Hay and authored Visions, Trips and Crowded Rooms: Who and What You See Before You Die. His first book, The Needs of the Dying, received praise from Saint (Mother) Teresa.

Dr. Laura Berman is one of the world’s most recognized love, and relationship therapists, as well as a New York Times bestselling author who’s written 10 books, an award winning radio and television host, and media personality. Laura’s journey into grief work began after the devastating loss of her son, Sammy in 2021. Today she combines her clinical expertise and lived experience to guide people in creating lives filled with connection, resilience, and love in the Grief Healing Collective.

Stephen Panus is an author, storyteller, mentor and coach at heart, one driven by purpose, resilience, and the unwavering belief that we can turn pain into positive change. As the author of the best-selling book Walk On, he shares his deeply personal journey following the tragic loss of his 16-year-old son, Jake, who was a passenger in a vehicle tragically killed in a reckless and senseless car crash in the summer of 2020. Through telling his story, inspirational speaking and leadership development training, Stephen inspires others to find strength, create meaning, and hold tightly onto hope in life’s most difficult moments. His debut novel, The Circles We Carry, will be published on December 4, 2026.

Katy Myers found The Compassionate Friends after the death of her sister, Kristin, and over time, found her tribe—fellow siblings, her chosen family within her local chapter, and a national community built through service and connection. Her annual workshop, Finding Your Tribe, grew from her own search for belonging and has become a consistent space where siblings feel seen, understood, and less alone. Katy often shares that TCF saved her life—and as a keynote speaker for Sibling Sunday, she brings her whole self: a devoted sister, a committed leader, and a passionate advocate for siblings carrying love, loss, and hope forward together.

See you in Baltimore!