Whether you’re a researcher, educator, practitioner, or student — 2026 is packed with opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. Here’s a comprehensive, chronological guide to social work conferences happening across Canada and around the world.
Pictured above: my wooden conference badge from a recent event in Salzburg, Austria.
Before we dive into the 2026 calendar, I want to share a small moment that stuck with me. At a recent conference in Salzburg, Austria, I was handed something I’d never received at an academic event before — a wooden badge. No lanyard with a plastic sleeve. No thick printed program booklet. Just a beautifully crafted wooden badge with a QR code that contained the entire conference program, schedule, and presenter information. No paper. No waste. Everything you needed was right there in your pocket.
It was one of the most sustainability-focused conferences I have ever attended. The organizers had clearly thought about every detail — from eliminating single-use materials to featuring local Austrian cuisine throughout the event, sourced from the region and served with genuine pride. It reminded me that how we gather matters just as much as why we gather. A conference can model the very values our profession champions: respect for community, responsibility toward the environment, and intentionality in everything we do.
I carried that wooden badge home with me, and it now sits on my desk as a quiet reminder that conferences can — and should — do better. As you plan your 2026 calendar using the guide below, I’d encourage you to look not only at what a conference offers in terms of content, but also at how it’s organized. Ask about sustainability practices. Support events that walk the talk.
Now, onto the list.
Planning your professional development calendar for 2026?
From intimate regional symposia to the largest global gathering of social workers on the planet, this year offers something for everyone in the field. I’ve compiled this list to help colleagues — especially those of us based in Canada — find the right events to attend, present at, and bring back new ideas from.
February 2026
9th Global Conference on Healthcare and Social Work
- Dates: February 25, 2026
- Location: McGill New Residence Hall, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Focus: Integrating healthcare and social work, global health collaboration
- Why attend: A Canadian-hosted event at a world-class institution — ideal for those working at the intersection of health and social services.
- Registration: Eventbrite – 9th Global Conference
March 2026
17th Annual Faculty of Social Work Research Symposium (University of Calgary)
- Theme: Global to Local: Collaborating with Communities to Create Change
- Dates: March 4–5, 2026
- Location: Calgary, Edmonton, and online (hybrid)
- Focus: Research presentations, community–university partnerships, evidence-informed practice
- Why attend: A great opportunity for emerging and established researchers, with the flexibility of hybrid participation.
- Info: socialwork.ucalgary.ca
Millennial Social Work Conference
- Dates: March 6–7, 2026
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Focus: Next-generation social work practice and leadership
- Link: millennialswc.com
Social Work Week 2026 and World Social Work Day
- Dates: March 16–20, 2026 (World Social Work Day: March 17)
- Focus: Multiple free programs and events planned throughout the week to celebrate and advance the profession
NASW Maryland Social Work Month Conference
- Dates: March 19–20, 2026
- Format: Virtual (CEUs available)
- Focus: Continuing education and professional practice
- Why attend: Fully virtual with CE credits — easy to attend from anywhere in Canada.
- Link: NASW Maryland Conference
Georgia School Social Workers Association (SSWAG) Spring Conference
- Dates: March 23–25, 2026
- Location: Braselton, Georgia, USA
- Focus: School-based social work practice
- Link: sswaga.org
National School Social Work Conference (SSWAA)
- Dates: March 24–27, 2026
- Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Focus: School social work research, practice, and policy
- Website: sswaa.org
Southeastern Social Work Conference
- Dates: March 26–27, 2026
- Location: UNC Pembroke, North Carolina, USA
- Focus: Regional social work research and practice
- Link: UNC Pembroke – Southeastern Social Work Conference
April 2026
Social Work Distance Education Virtual Conference (SWDE 2026)
- Dates: April 8–10, 2026
- Format: Virtual / Online
- Focus: Distance and online social work education
- Why attend: Fully online, no travel required — perfect for educators exploring or already working in distance learning.
- Link: training.ua.edu/swde
May 2026
CAUCE 2026 National Conference
- Dates: May 13–15, 2026
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Host: Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE)
- Focus: Professional development in continuing education, learning communities
- Why attend: Relevant for those developing CE programming or innovative educational models within social work.
- Website: cauce-aepuc.ca/conference
June 2026
CASWE-ACFTS Annual Conference
- Theme: Interconnected Futures: Centering Land, Justice, Resistance and Solidarity in a Complex World
- Dates: June 4–7, 2026
- Location: University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Focus: Social work education, equity, justice, research, and practice in the Canadian context
- Why attend: This is Canada’s primary national academic social work conference, with a strong presence of BSW/MSW educators, researchers, and graduate students. Often hosted alongside the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. If you work in curriculum innovation, educational frameworks, or community-engaged research, this is essential.
- Website: conference.caswe-acfts.ca
Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) Conference
- Dates: June 17–20, 2026
- Location: Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Focus: Research on work, family policy, and community well-being
- Why attend: A strong interdisciplinary event held right here in Canada, relevant to human services and social work research.
- Website: wfrn.org/2026-conference
International Conference on Healthcare and Social Work (ICHSW)
- Dates: June 19–20, 2026
- Location: Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Focus: Integration of healthcare and social work practice, policy, and workforce development
- Website: ichs.ca
Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD 2026)
- Dates: June 26–29, 2026
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Organizers: International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), and partners
- Focus: Global social policy, practice models, education, and human rights
- Why attend: The largest global gathering of social workers and educators. Canadians frequently present community-engaged, Indigenous-informed, and diaspora-related work. If global partnerships and international social justice are part of your mission, this is the event.
- Website: swsd2026.or.ke
October 2026
Manitoba College of Social Workers 2026 Education Event
- Date: October 21, 2026
- Location: Victoria Inn, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Focus: Professional development and provincial social work practice updates
- Website: mcsw.ca/events/2026-education-event
Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) Events and Symposia
The CASW hosts policy, advocacy, ethics, and professional practice events throughout the year, typically clustering in spring and fall. These are smaller than CASWE but highly practice-oriented — ideal for those focused on licensing, professional standards, and community leadership.
- Website: casw-acts.ca
Planning Tips for Canadian Social Workers
Registration deadlines matter. Many conferences open calls for papers and early-bird registration months in advance. If you want to present, start planning now.
Look into funding. University professional development funds, SSHRC travel grants, and internal research bursaries can offset costs — especially for international events like SWSD 2026.
Check visa requirements early. For events like SWSD 2026 in Nairobi, give yourself plenty of lead time for travel documents.
Earn your CE credits. Several conferences on this list — both Canadian and American — offer continuing education certificates for social work licensure and registration requirements.
Consider the virtual options. Events like SWDE 2026, the NASW Maryland conference, and the University of Calgary symposium offer online participation, making it possible to attend without the travel costs.
Did I miss a conference you know about? Drop a comment or reach out — I’d love to keep this list growing throughout the year.
Safe travels and see you at one of these events!
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