The National Association of the Deaf’s 2026 Convention runs June 30 through July 5 in San Francisco, California. Whether you are attending for the first time or the tenth, here is what you need to know before you go.
The Basics
Dates: June 30–July 5, 2026
Location: San Francisco, California
Registration: Visit nad.org for current registration options, hotel block information, and the full event schedule. Registration details change; the NAD site is the authoritative source.
What to Expect
The NAD Convention is not a passive conference. It is a working gathering of the nation’s largest Deaf civil rights organization. Programming typically includes general assembly sessions where members vote on resolutions and leadership, skill-building workshops, advocacy panels, youth programming, and the Junior NAD component for young Deaf leaders.
If you are a first-time attendee, the sheer density of ASL in one space can be disorienting in the best possible way. Conversations happen on the floor, in hallways, at meals — not just in scheduled sessions. Plan to be flexible.
What to Bring
- Business or networking cards — the convention floor is one of the best networking spaces in the Deaf community, and paper still travels well
- A portable charger — convention venues drain phones fast
- Cash for the exhibit hall and merchandise tables, where card readers are not always reliable
- Comfortable shoes for long days on concrete floors
- Patience for the registration and general assembly lines, which move but take time
Add It to Your Calendar
Download the ICS file from our NAD 2026 page to add the convention dates directly to your calendar. The page also has links to NAD’s registration information and a submit-event link if you are hosting a side event in San Francisco during convention week.
We will be publishing daily coverage starting June 30. Follow along at deafmonitor.com or submit a tip if you are on the ground in San Francisco.