Top 10 Psychology Conferences 2026 in the USA

Eight of the ten major U.S. psychology meetings of late 2026 are still open for registration; the other two, SRP and NAN, finished earlier this month. If you are choosing a psychology conference or psychiatry conference before the year ends, the remaining calendar runs from AACAP in Atlanta on October 26 to Evolution of Psychotherapy in Orlando on December 9.

Together these events span cognitive behavioral therapy, ADHD, child and adolescent care, neuropsychology, neuroscience, cognitive science and psychotherapy training. Clinicians can earn continuing education, researchers can present, and students can meet future mentors.

This guide is current as of October 24, 2026. Dates, venues and prices come from organizer materials, so confirm them on each official site before you book.

Why a Psychology Conference in 2026 Is Worth Your Time

Demand for mental health care still outruns supply, which is the strongest argument for staying current through a psychology conference 2026 calendar like this one.

The need. NAMI, drawing on federal survey data, reports that 61.5 million U.S. adults lived with a mental illness in 2024, over one in five. Of those, 14.6 million had a serious mental illness. Adults aged 18 to 25 were hit hardest, with 33.2% (11.6 million) affected. NAMI also cites an average gap of 11 years between first symptoms and treatment.

The treatment gap. SAMHSA's 2024 survey found that 52.1% of adults with any mental illness received care, compared with 70.8% of those with serious mental illness.

The workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted about 204,300 psychologist jobs in 2024 and projects 6% growth through 2034. The median wage was $94,310 in May 2024. Clinical and counseling roles are expected to expand fastest, about 11.2%, from 76,300 to 84,800 positions.

More patients, a growing field and fast-moving research make a well-chosen meeting an efficient way to update your practice and meet the colleagues you will refer to, collaborate with or hire.

The 2026 Calendar at a Glance

Here are all ten events in date order, with where each stands today.

The Ten Conferences, Grouped by Focus

Hybrid and Interdisciplinary

1. PubScholars International Psychology Conference (Boston, Nov 20-21)

This two-day meeting mixes in-person and online attendance, so you can join from anywhere. Its theme is next-generation neuropsychiatry and mental health, including clinical psychology, neuroscience and the use of artificial intelligence in research and care. The organizer lists live and on-demand sessions, oral and poster presentations, workshops and international networking. Abstract submission runs through the conference site, which makes it one of the few options left this year for presenting your own work.

Two cautions. Venue listings disagree: the conference site names the Hilton Garden Inn Boston Canton, while ticketing pages name the Aloft Boston Seaport District. Email [email protected] to confirm before you travel. I also could not verify attendance figures or CE/CME accreditation, so check credit eligibility with your licensing board.

Best for: researchers and early-career professionals who want to present, and clinicians who prefer a virtual option.

Clinical and Psychotherapy Training

2. ABCT 60th Annual Convention (Baltimore, Nov 12-15)

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies marks its 60th convention at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor and the Baltimore Convention Center. The theme links compassion with evidence-based collective action. More than 40 Special Interest Groups organize the program, so sessions on anxiety, OCD, trauma or youth treatment are easy to find. Posters run Friday through Sunday.

Best for: CBT clinicians, clinical scientists and graduate trainees.

3. International Conference on ADHD (Baltimore, Dec 3-5)

Hosted by ACO, ADDA and CHADD, the organizers bill this as North America's largest yearly multidisciplinary ADHD gathering. It meets at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor under the banner Connect, Learn & Thrive. Thursday, December 3 is a Professional Day for therapists, prescribers, coaches and researchers, with clinical updates and treatment strategies. That registration covers Thursday only; the general conference continues from Thursday afternoon through Saturday.

Best for: clinicians, coaches and educators who work with ADHD across the lifespan.

4. Evolution of Psychotherapy (Orlando, Dec 7-9)

Held at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort, this edition uses a single main stage. One page field shows December 6-9, so verify the schedule. Organizers say the event has gathered leading psychotherapy voices for four decades, and this year's discussions cover AI, integrative mental health, psychedelics and GLP-1 medications. Faculty includes Jeff Zeig, William Miller and Lynn Lyons. The page advertises 18+ CE credits from bodies such as APA, ASWB and NBCC, plus group and student discounts. The licensed-clinician rate was $649 through early November and $749 afterward, so check current pricing.

Best for: therapists who want CE credits and a one-track format in a single trip.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health

5. AACAP 73rd Annual Meeting (Atlanta, Oct 26-31)

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry meets at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta and Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Presenters must attend in person, but a virtual option, CAP@Home, streams selected programming such as plenaries and institutes for up to 90 CME credits. It starts in two days, so registration is a last-minute decision. The 2027 meeting moves to New York (Oct 25-30).

The timing is useful: the share of U.S. youth aged 12-17 with a major depressive episode fell to 15.4% in 2024 from 20.8% in 2021, and colleagues will be debating why.

Best for: child and adolescent psychologists and clinicians in integrated care teams.

Neuroscience

6. SfN Neuroscience 2026 (Washington, DC, Nov 14-18)

The Society for Neuroscience holds its 56th annual meeting at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The advance registration deadline (Oct 5) and the late-breaking abstract window (Sept 8-15) have passed, so expect standard rates. Future sites include Chicago in 2027 (Oct 23-27) and San Diego in 2028.

Best for: cognitive and affective neuroscientists and translational researchers.

Research Science Meetings

7. Psychonomic Society 67th Annual Meeting (San Diego, Nov 19-22)

The society calls this the most important international gathering of cognitive psychologists. It meets at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina with nearly 2,000 scientists, over 300 talks, five symposia and more than 1,000 posters. Register by October 31 to avoid late fees; online registration stays open until December 1. Next year's meeting is in New Orleans (Nov 18-21).

Best for: cognitive and experimental psychologists and graduate students.

8. SJDM Annual Meeting (San Diego, Nov 20-22)

The Society for Judgment and Decision Making studies how people form judgments and make choices. It shares the Marriott Marquis venue and usually runs alongside the Psychonomic meeting, so one trip can cover both. The schedule now runs Friday to Sunday with added Friday afternoon sessions. Next year it moves to New Orleans (Nov 18-20).

Best for: behavioral scientists and researchers in organizational or health decision making.

Recently Concluded (Plan Ahead for 2027)

9. SRP 39th Annual Meeting (Columbus, Oct 8-11)

Founded in 1985, the Society for Research in Psychopathology met at the Hyatt Regency Columbus and gives awards for outstanding student posters. It has ended for 2026, but it is worth watching for 2027 if you do psychopathology research.

10. NAN Annual Conference (Chicago, Oct 14-17)

The National Academy of Neuropsychology met at the Hilton Chicago. Founded in 1975, it offers workshops, posters, adult grand rounds and a trainee track. It has also ended, so neuropsychologists should look to SfN this fall and NAN next year.

Four Trends Shaping This Season's Programs

• AI in mental health. In November 2025 the American Psychological Association cautioned that generative AI chatbots and wellness apps lack the evidence and oversight to guarantee user safety. It called for randomized and longitudinal trials and urged clinicians to ask clients about their use of these tools. That debate threads through the PubScholars theme and the Evolution of Psychotherapy agenda.

• New treatment frontiers. Psychedelic-assisted therapy and GLP-1 medications now appear in mainstream psychotherapy programming.

• Remote participation. PubScholars is hybrid, and AACAP offers a virtual CME track, so travel is no longer a barrier for every event.

• A congested November. Five meetings fall in November, and several collide: ABCT and SfN overlap on November 14-15, while Psychonomic, PubScholars and SJDM overlap on November 20-21. Pick your priority event early.

Which Conference Should You Choose?

For the widest reach this fall, pick the PubScholars conference in Boston (November 20-21). It is hybrid, accepts abstracts and centers on AI, neuroscience and mental health. Confirm the venue and ask about CE/CME eligibility before you commit.

Getting the Most Out of Any Conference

• Match your caseload or research question. Scan the program for sessions that map to your work before you register.

• Verify credits in writing. Your state board decides what counts, so confirm accreditation for your license type.

• Weigh format against cost. In person maximizes networking; hybrid or virtual saves travel and time away from clients.

• Track deadlines. Rates rise as events approach, and Psychonomic's late-fee date is October 31.

• Plan your networking. Pick a few speakers or poster presenters to meet, and follow up within a week.

• Ask about group and student rates. Several organizers discount teams and trainees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which psychology conferences can I still attend in 2026?

Eight remain: AACAP (Oct 26-31), ABCT (Nov 12-15), SfN (Nov 14-18), Psychonomic (Nov 19-22), PubScholars (Nov 20-21), SJDM (Nov 20-22), the International Conference on ADHD (Dec 3-5) and Evolution of Psychotherapy (Dec 7-9).

Is there a hybrid option?

Yes. PubScholars in Boston is hybrid, and AACAP offers its CAP@Home virtual CME program.

Can I still present my research this year?

PubScholars lists oral and poster abstract submission; confirm its current deadline on the website. Most society meetings closed submissions earlier in 2026.

Will I earn continuing education credit?

Many events offer it, including CME at AACAP and CE at Evolution of Psychotherapy. Always check that the accrediting body fits your license.

Conclusion: Register Before the Year Ends

The best psychology conference 2026 USA options share three traits: they fit your specialty, offer credits your license accepts, and put you in a room with peers. With eight events left, and the hybrid Boston meeting offering the most flexible way to present or attend remotely, there is still time to build a solid professional development plan. Check dates, venues and prices on each organizer's site before you book, since schedules and rates change.

Sources

Event details come from organizer websites; population and workforce figures come from the agencies named. Facts were carried over from the earlier draft and not independently re-verified on October 24.

• PubScholars Psychology Conference website

• ABCT 2026 Convention page

• International Conference on ADHD website

• Evolution of Psychotherapy event page

• AACAP annual meeting pages

• National Academy of Neuropsychology website

• Society for Neuroscience meetings page

• Society for Research in Psychopathology website

• Psychonomic Society annual meeting pages

• Society for Judgment and Decision Making website

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook

• NAMI, Mental Health By the Numbers

• APA advisory on AI and wellness apps (November 2025