GAEYC 2026 Annual Conference

Schedule
at a Glance

Two full days of plenaries, breakout sessions, wellness breaks, and community. Here's what to expect at Rise Together, October 2–3, 2026.

October 2–3, 2026
Phase Events · Alpharetta, GA
200 Seats Only
Register Now — Space is Limited
Thursday, Oct 2
Breakfast + 3 session blocks
Table Talk Lunch
Documentary screening
Opening Plenary
GAEYC STARS Reception
Friday, Oct 3
Breakfast + 3 session blocks
Table Talk Discussions
Afternoon snack break
Closing Plenary
Day One Oct 2 Thursday

Opening Day

Breakout sessions · Table Talk Lunch · Opening Plenary · GAEYC STARS Reception

7:45 AM
Breakfast
Registration Opens & Breakfast

Start your morning fueled and connected. Breakfast is served before sessions begin, giving you time to settle in, meet fellow attendees, and ease into the day with intention.

9:00 AM
Session Block 1
Morning Breakout Sessions

Choose from four concurrent breakout sessions across the S.T.A.R. tracks — Stronger, Together, Advocacy, and Resilience — each designed to deepen your practice and expand your perspective.

10:30 AM
Wellness
Wellness Break

A built-in moment to breathe, move, and reset. Because sustainable learning starts with taking care of yourself.

10:45 AM
Session Block 2
Mid-Morning Breakout Sessions

Keep the momentum going. A second round of concurrent breakout sessions gives you another opportunity to choose the learning experience that speaks most to your role and goals.

12:30 PM
Lunch
Table Talk Lunch

Lunch with a purpose. Facilitated table discussions invite you to connect with peers around shared challenges, ideas, and experiences. Come hungry for food and conversation.

1:45 PM
Session Block 3
Afternoon Sessions

Your third session block of the day. With concurrent tracks to choose from, you'll leave with a full toolkit of strategies, tools, and inspiration you can put to work immediately.

3:15 PM
Break
Afternoon Snack

Recharge before the final stretch. Grab a snack, connect with an exhibitor, or take a few minutes for yourself before the day's closing program.

3:30 PM
Screening
Make A Circle Screening

An optional documentary screening to close out the afternoon before the evening program begins. Details to be confirmed.

5:30 PM
Plenary
Opening Plenary

The official launch of the GAEYC 2026 Annual Conference. Gather as a full community for an inspiring kickoff that sets the tone for everything that follows.

Day Two Oct 3 Friday

Closing Day

Breakout sessions · Table Talk Discussions · Closing Plenary

7:45 AM
Breakfast
Registration Opens & Breakfast

Start your second morning fueled and connected. Breakfast is served before sessions begin, giving you time to settle in, reconnect with peers, and prepare for the day ahead.

9:00 AM
Session Block 1
Morning Breakout Sessions

Dive into your second day of work. Choose from four concurrent breakout sessions across the S.T.A.R. tracks — Stronger, Together, Advocacy, and Resilience — each designed to deepen your practice and expand your perspective.

10:30 AM
Wellness
Re-energize Break

A built-in moment to reset and re-energize. Because sustainable learning starts with taking care of yourself.

10:45 AM
Session Block 2
Mid-Morning Breakout Sessions

Keep the momentum going. A second round of concurrent breakout sessions gives you another opportunity to choose the learning experience that speaks most to your role and goals.

12:30 PM
Lunch
Table Talk Discussions

Lunch with a purpose. Facilitated table discussions invite you to connect with peers around shared challenges, ideas, and experiences. Come hungry for food and conversation.

3:15 PM
Break
Afternoon Snack

Recharge before the final stretch. Grab a snack, connect with an exhibitor, or take a few minutes for yourself before the conference's closing program.

3:30 PM
Plenary
Closing Plenary

We end the way we began — together. The Closing Plenary brings the full conference community back into one room to reflect, celebrate, and carry the spirit of Rise Together back into our work and communities.

Ready to Rise Together?

Space is limited to 200 attendees. Secure your spot before early bird pricing ends May 15, 2026.

Register Now
Early bird ends May 15, 2026