#ARNOVA26 FAQs - 55th ANNUAL ARNOVA CONFERENCE

When and where is the 2026 ARNOVA Conference?

The 2026 ARNOVA Conference is scheduled to take place on Nov. 19-21, 2026 at the Loews Hotel Philadelphia.

What are the health & safety measures at this year's in-person conference?

The safety of attendees, speakers, and staff remains our top priority. To keep our members and registrants informed about our latest decisions, we have dedicated a Duty of Care page.

How do I register and what is the cost to attend?

Rates and registration are available on the registration webpage. Note: Although ARNOVA offers a non-member rate this year, we still require all presenters to become members. If you have any questions or issues getting registered, please email us at conference@arnova.org.

What is included in the Registration Fee?
The conference registration fee includes admission to all sessions, plenaries, receptions, awards luncheon and daily coffee breaks (morning and afternoon); digital program.

Does ARNOVA provide AV during the presentations?

Presenters are required to bring their own laptop for their session presentations. Please coordinate with the other presenters in your session to determine who will provide the laptop. If no one in your session has materials to show on screen, then you do not need to provide a laptop. See the detailed Guidelines for Presentation here

Can I bring family/guests with me to the conference?

ARNOVA is going to Philadelphia, PA this year, and we know many of our attendees are planning to bring a guest or two along!

Families and children accompanying an ARNOVA attendee are welcome in the general conference spaces including registration, exhibit space, and meeting room foyers. Additionally, members are welcome to purchase adult guest passes and bring along children for free to our Thursday night reception. Reach out to conference@arnova.org to make your guest pass reservation.

Children must be accompanied and supervised at all times by a responsible adult over the age of 21, who may be an attendee or an additional caregiver. We strongly recommend children not attend sessions or luncheons at the conference because these are work sessions. Conference attendees who are presenting may bring in an additional caregiver to supervise children in a general conference space during their session time.

What if I need to cancel my registration?

If you cancel on or before October 16th, 2026, you may request a full refund, unless you wish to donate all or part of your refund. If you cancel after October 16th, 2026 no refunds will be available unless you notify us that:

You are unable to obtain a visa for entry into the United States; or

If you need to cancel within the 30-day window, substitutions/transfers will be accepted, and refunds may be handled on a case by case basis. No refunds or transfers will be accepted after Nov 22.

If you have questions, please contact ARNOVA at conference@arnova.org or 317-684-2121

What is the conference schedule?

The schedule at a glance will be available end of February. The detailed schedule will be available in late August. It can be viewed here.

I'm only presenting in one session - do I have to become a member and pay for the conference?

We often get questions about why we require presenters to register for the conference. Historically, ARNOVA has long held the policy that presenters must register (and therefore pay) in order to present. As a membership association, we require membership in order to participate in programs and events such as the Annual Conference, as well as have access to a number of other resources such as the NVSQ.

Of course, we want to engage practitioners and other non-ARNOVA members in our work because it can only enhance the depth and breadth of our understanding. Given that desire to connect with other perspectives/fields/researchers, panel, paper, and colloquy conveners often ask us to provide complimentary registration; this is not only a lovely gesture, but it also makes a lot of logical sense in terms of expanding engagement - particularly in a time when we’re all (at least in the U.S.) becoming more aware of issues of equity, being clear in our criteria for access to complimentary anything is critical, and challenging.

Having said that, there are at least two options that could help. First, our ARNOVA sections occasionally cover fees for invited guests; if that’s the case, and you have been invited by a section, they may be able to cover your cost. If it’s not a section session, we have also asked registrants to purchase “BuyOneGiveOne” registrations, so we can provide registration scholarships to those who are looking for some financial assistance. If you are interested in this option, please reach out to us at conference@arnova.org and we will handle the details.

When is the latest date to complete an online submission?

The site will close at 11:59 pm EST on Thursday, April 30th, 2026, for nonmembers and Thursday, May 7th, 2026, for members for Papers, Colloquiums, Panels, Posters, and Professional Development workshop submissions.

Can I use my ARNOVA membership credentials to log in?

No, you don’t need to create an account to complete your submission. Once you complete your proposal you will receive an email with the submission title and a link to set up your account in case you need to edit/update your proposal.

What do I need to include in my submission?

The items that need to be included in your submission vary based on the type of presentation you would like to present. There is a description of the requirements for each type of submission in the Call for Proposals. Submissions guidelines will be available in March.

How do I know if my submission or application was received?

Once the submission is complete, the proposal submitter will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive confirmation, please check your Spam/Junk filters or contact ARNOVA at conference@arnova.org or call us at 317-684-2121.

Can I save or modify my submission?

Yes, you can modify or update your submission at any time until the deadline. Your confirmation email will include login information for you to return to your submission and make changes. Please be sure to save this email somewhere so you have it for future reference.

How many words are allowed in the Narrative?

The Narrative is limited to 500 words, not including spaces and headings. The title of the abstract and names of the authors are not included in this word count. Text that is incorporated into a chart or graph is calculated in this word count.

Am I required to submit my demographic information?

ARNOVA continues to focus on strengthening the diversity of the field, we will ask for this information when you confirm your presentation if you are accepted to present at the conference and encourage you to share as much as you are comfortable sharing.

Do I have a set amount of time to complete my submission?

No, you have an unlimited amount of time to complete your submission. If your screen is idle for too long, it will prompt you to make sure you are still working.

Can I submit more than one proposal?

Submission Policy: No more than two papers can be submitted under the “Paper Submissions” category. Participants are limited to two presentations but there is no limit to the number of papers in which a participant can be a non-presenting co-author. A member can still serve as a chair or discussant in other sessions.

When will I hear whether my submission was accepted?

Notifications are sent in July for papers, emerging research presentation, panels, colloquium and posters. If you have a submission and haven't received the notification please contact conference@arnova.org

Can I make scheduling requests?

If you submit a proposal and have a religious obligation that affects the timing of your presentation, you may include a scheduling request during the submission process. While every effort will be made to accommodate such requests, they cannot be guaranteed.

We expect that anyone submitting a proposal will be available to present on all three days of the conference unless a religious accommodation request has been granted (see above). Please plan accordingly when submitting your proposal. The conference begins at 8:00 AM, Thursday, November 19, and concludes at 12:00 PM, Saturday, November 22.

Will ARNOVA pay for the hotel or travel expenses of my speakers?

No. Honorarium will not be offered for any speakers.

I have a non-member presenter who will be presenting in one session only. Does s/he really have to pay a registration fee & become a member?

You must be an ARNOVA member to present and attend the conference. All accepted presenters are expected to join ARNOVA and pay the conference registration fee. Check the ARNOVA website (Membership - ARNOVA) for current membership rates.

I am a non-member presenter. If my proposal is accepted, do I have to pay registration fees?

Yes, all accepted presenters MUST register for the Annual Conference and become ARNOVA Members.

Do I have to be a member of ARNOVA to submit?

No, anyone can submit a program proposal for ARNOVA Annual Conference. You must become a member and pay the registration fee if you plan to present at the conference.

Can I reuse materials in a submission that I've already presented somewhere else?

Authors are expected to conform to accepted ethical standards of not submitting original research findings in multiple conferences or journals. The ARNOVA Conference is meant to be formative, not summative. It's okay to submit research presented at other conferences if there are different audiences or the work has been improved between conferences. The ARNOVA Conference is not designed for the presentation of accepted or published manuscripts. We encourage you to submit work for which you would like feedback.

Authors uncertain about their compliance with this rule should contact conference@arnova.org.

Can I save or modify my nominations/applications?

Yes, you can modify or update your application at any time until the deadline.

Can I save incomplete nominations/applications?

Incomplete submissions will be saved in your account for completion until the deadline.

Can I apply for more than one award or scholarship at once?

Yes, you can apply for multiple awards and scholarships. Each award and scholarship requires a separate application. Note: you may only accept one award and one scholarship.

Can I apply if I have accepted an award/scholarship in the past?

Updated terms and conditions will be available in the following weeks.