Thank you for joining us for the 2026 Best Friends National Conference 

Best Friends National Conference in Salt Lake City may be over, but our work to save the lives of homeless pets continues. Join us for next year’s conference March 31 - April 3, 2027, in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

At the 2026 Best Friends National Conference, we gathered together to spark ideas and share practical strategies to take lifesaving to the next level in our communities — everything needed to achieve, maintain, or return to no-kill. 

We heard from presenters from different backgrounds and all types of organizations, including leaders in advocacy and community engagement, field and animal services, shelter medicine and animal care, fundraising and development, and more. Now’s the time to put what we’ve learned into action to save more pets back home. 

Notable facts from the 2026 Best Friends National Conference

At the 2026 Best Friends National Conference in Salt Lake City, we welcomed: 

• more than 1325 attendees from 49 states 
• over 55 exhibitors and sponsors showcasing their latest products and services to help take lifesaving to the next level nationwide
• 190 volunteers who worked over 470 shifts and contributed 1,934 hours to make this remarkable event possible