The open call for proposals for for Educational Sessions, Poster Presentations & the Play Research Symposium at the 2026 National Conference on the Value of Play: Play and You is now open! The conference will be held April 28-30, 2026, at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.
The latest research and practices in the field of play will be presented at the play conference, which brings together play researchers, educators, health scientists, architects, landscape architects, business and community leaders, park and recreation professionals, camp professionals, psychologists, physicians, library and museum professionals, students and parents from across the globe.
At the National Conference on the Value of Play, we have long relied on scholars, practitioners and industry leaders to share their expertise on various aspects of play.
All session presenters must register for at least one day of the conference and are strongly encouraged to register for the entire conference. Session presenters are not reimbursed for registration or expenses incurred to attend the conference.
Audio/Visual Note: Each room at the conference will be equipped with a PC computer, projector, speakers, and screen at no cost to presenters. We recommend that you bring your presentation on a flash drive and transfer it to the room’s computer.
There will be room monitors in each session to introduce the speakers, keep time, and assist as needed.
We expect our presenters to share knowledge, research and experiences. Sessions are not an opportunity to promote specific products or services.
Educational Sessions are 45 minutes long, inclusive of Q&A time.
Two Research Symposium presentations are scheduled for each 45-minute block. Each of the two research presentations scheduled per block should anticipate presenting for 15 minutes, followed by 5 minutes for Q&A. There will be allow for another 5 minutes of Q&A after each presenter has concluded.
There are 15-minute breaks in between session blocks. You may use this time to setup for your session.
Most presentation rooms are setup classroom style - rows of tables with chairs on one side facing the speaker. You can move furniture as needed, just be careful of the carpet and return it to the original setup before you leave.
Please do not use tape, thumbtacks, pins, etc. on the walls.
There is free wifi throughout the conference center.
If you wish for your session participants to have printed materials in hand during the conference, you will need to bring them with you, as we do not have access to a copier or printer at the conference venue. We never know exactly how many will attend each concurrent session, but 20 copies is a reasonable place to start for educational sessions.
A select number of flip charts will be available at the registration desk, and we will have a limited supply.
There will be room monitors in each session to introduce the speakers, keep time, prompt session evaluations, and assist as needed.
* Please understand that conference registration fees help to pay for the venue, catering, conference supplies, rentals and all related services as well as fund our operating expenses throughout the year. Unlike many other nonprofit professional organizations, we do not have membership fees. We seek to keep costs to a minimum and affordable to as many people as possible. Although our conference costs are rising substantially, our registration fees have been raised only minimally. We appreciate everyone’s professional contributions, and our conferences are highly participatory: Many attendees are also presenters or otherwise actively participating in the conference program. In order to keep the US Play Coalition operational, the contributions of each and every participant are needed, too.
Session Types
Educational Sessions are interactive and aimed at practitioners. These Educational Sessions are approximately 45 minutes long including Q&A.
Research Symposium Sessions are aimed at researchers and academics. Sessions will be grouped with similar research presentations. These sessions are approximately 20 minutes long, with brief Q&A, and typically combined with one or more other research presentations in a block format. A brief Q&A will follow each block.
The Posters Display will begin on Tuesday, April 28 and continue through Thursday, April 30 so that conference guests can see your poster throughout the conference. Please try to arrive on Tuesday morning to give your poster maximum visibility. We request poster be 48 inches by 36 inches (an easel will be provided). Posters must be freestanding; they cannot be affixed to walls. A formal poster session will be held Thursday during the Market-PLAY-ce of Ideas in order to also share your work with conference attendees during a dedicated time.
Themes
All sessions will be classified into the following themes to help attendees find the sessions that most interest them:
Play should be accessible, available, and open to all. Advance the field for play for all abilities, all shapes, all sizes, all colors.
Play is an avenue for creativity and innovation. Play facilitates process-based approaches. This theme incorporates, art, design, innovation, and creativity and their role in play.
Landscape architects, architects, designers, city planners, and civic groups are invaluable experts, practitioners and resources for PLAY. These sessions will be submitted for LACES CEU approval.
Play is a vital part of the learning equation, both in and out of the classroom. The faces of those learning while at play are some of the most engaging! Consider play as a vehicle for learning through both traditional and nontraditional settings including schools, camps, afterschool programs, museums, zoos, aquariums, parks & recreation departments, faith-based spaces, and more.
Play is changing! The Play movement is growing! Explore the latest in play- technology, social media, politics, policies, and more.
Play is a building block for healthy living. Examine health and physical activity trends related to play, healthy benefits of play, and the intersection of health and recreation to insure a healthy face of play.
Play looks very different around the world. Share play practices, history, and culture from countries across the globe.
The faces of play are often wet, muddy, and sun-glistened from hours spent outdoors. Focus on play in nearby and far away nature–backyards, parks, creeks, lakes, trails, wetlands, and beyond.
From play basics to play essentials. Share tips, trainings, techniques and tools for PLAY.
Promoting play across the life, including multi/intergenerational play, is central to our mission. Explore how adults (college-aged to retirees) play and how adults share and benefit from play with children.
