Nursing leadership continues to evolve alongside new challenges in healthcare, workforce development, technology, education, and patient care. For nurse leaders, educators, researchers, and emerging professionals, staying connected to new ideas and to one another is increasingly important.
This fall, the 2026 Association for Leadership Science in Nursing International Conference will bring the nursing leadership community together in Los Angeles from September 30 through October 2, 2026, at the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center.
With the theme “Strengthening collaborative pathways to shape the future of nursing: Leading with intention and innovating with purpose,” this year’s conference will provide opportunities to explore current nursing leadership science, learn from colleagues across education and practice, and build meaningful professional connections.
A Conference Built for Nursing Leadership
The ALSN International Conference promises to bring together professionals whose work is helping shape the future of nursing leadership.
Attendees include nursing faculty, nurse leaders in practice settings, graduate students in DNP and PhD programs, healthcare professionals, and hospital administrators. ALSN describes the conference as a place for nursing educators, executives, administrators, and researchers to learn and discuss current healthcare and system challenges.
Whether your work centers on leadership practice, research, nursing education, workforce development, quality improvement, or organizational change, the conference offers an opportunity to learn alongside others facing many of the same questions.
Explore Current Issues in Nursing Leadership
The 2026 program reflects the wide range of issues nurse leaders are navigating today.
Conference sessions will examine topics including nurse retention and wellbeing, human-centered leadership, artificial intelligence and machine learning, workplace culture, academic-practice partnerships, leadership development, professional governance, virtual nursing, workforce strategy, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement.
The program also includes research examining questions such as what exceptional nurse leaders do differently, how leadership affects nurse retention, how organizations can better prepare future nurse leaders, and how emerging technologies are influencing nursing practice.
These discussions give attendees the opportunity to move beyond broad leadership concepts and engage with current research, real-world initiatives, and strategies being tested across healthcare and academic settings.
Connect Nursing Research, Education, and Practice at the 2026 ALSN Conference
One of ALSN’s central goals is bringing academic and practice leaders together to advance leadership science, nursing education, and the practice of nursing leadership.
That connection is reflected throughout the conference.
Research presentations, educational sessions, pre-conference workshops, keynote presentations, poster showcases, and collaborative discussions give attendees multiple ways to exchange ideas and learn from colleagues working in different areas of the profession.
For graduate students and emerging leaders, the conference also provides an opportunity to connect with experienced nursing scholars and leaders while gaining greater exposure to current leadership research.
Attend and Build Meaningful Professional Connections
Some of the most valuable parts of a professional conference happen outside the formal presentations.
The 2026 ALSN Conference includes opportunities to meet colleagues throughout the event, including a welcome reception hosted by UCLA, poster showcases, meals, exhibits, the ALSN Member Meeting and Awards, and other opportunities for conversation and connection.
For nurse leaders whose work often spans departments, institutions, and professional disciplines, those relationships can create opportunities for future collaboration, mentorship, research, and shared problem-solving.
Join the Nursing Leadership Community in Los Angeles!
The 2026 ALSN International Conference takes place September 30–October 2, 2026, at the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center in Los Angeles, California.
If nursing leadership is central to your work, research, teaching, or professional growth, we hope you’ll join nurse leaders, faculty, researchers, graduate students, and healthcare professionals from across the profession for three days of learning, collaboration, and connection.
Explore the full conference program and register for the 2026 ALSN International Conference: Explore the Program & Register
