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Event ovERVIEW


Join your colleagues at AIRC's 18th Annual Conference, held at the Omni Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas, from December 1-4, 2026. The AIRC Annual Conference brings together 400+ professionals to discuss best practices and strategies in international enrollment management. The 4-day conference features 35+ breakout sessions, engaging plenaries, community meet-ups, exhibit hall networking hours, and social activities.


The 2026 conference theme, “Strategic IEM Approaches for a New Era,” emphasizes the necessity of forward-thinking leadership within a rapidly transforming international education landscape. The realities of this new era require stakeholders to unify and co-create innovative solutions, leveraging new tools, models, and ways of thinking to ensure a sustainable and purposeful future for international enrollment management.


Who Attends?

  • Four-Year Colleges and Universities
  • Community Colleges
  • Secondary Schools
  • Graduate Schools and Programs
  • English Language Programs
  • AIRC Certified Educational Agencies and Phase 1 Applicants
  • Service Providers
  • AIRC Sponsors and Strategic Partners


Top Reasons to Attend

  • Improve your international student recruitment strategies
  • Build stronger and more diverse global partnerships
  • Access exclusive in-person professional development opportunities
  • Ensure compliance with AIRC's Standards and best practices
  • Learn from top experts on the latest trends and insights in international enrollment management


Attending the AIRC Annual Conference is an investment in your professional growth, your institution or organization, and the quality of international student recruitment. AIRC is committed to helping make attendance more accessible and affordable for as many members as possible.


Hotel Travel Grants

To help reduce the cost of attending, AIRC offers a limited number of hotel travel grants for eligible attendees. These grants are designed to offset lodging expenses and make it easier for professionals from a variety of institutions and organizations to participate in the conference. Learn more and apply for the Hotel Travel Grant here.


Make the Case to your Leadership

Need approval from your supervisor or leadership? AIRC has developed customizable template letters to help you communicate the value of attending the Annual Conference.

These templates highlight how participation can strengthen your IEM strategies, expand your professional network with trusted partners, provide practical insights on emerging trends, and deliver actionable ideas you can bring back to benefit your team. Simply personalize the letter with your goals and expected outcomes before sharing it with your supervisor.

Download Template for Agencies Download Template for Institutions


Sponsor & ExhibitOR opportunities


The Annual Conference is an ideal venue for effective networking and for showcasing your products and services to current and prospective partners. AIRC offers a range of sponsorship, exhibit, and advertising opportunities which bring outstanding visibility to your company or organization. AIRC depends on the generosity of its sponsors to make the Annual Conference a success. Demonstrate your support of AIRC and its Annual Conference while promoting your services to conference attendees by securing a sponsorship today! Sponsorship items and exhibit tables can be added directly to your conference registration form.



View Exhibitor & Sponsor Brochure View Exhibit Hall Layout


OPportunities for local institutions


For local institutions (or within the state of Texas and surrounding states), we invite you to maximize your time at the conference by taking advantage of the following opportunities:


  • Familiarization Tour: Organize a fam tour before or after the conference to showcase your programs and offerings. This is an excellent and cost-effective way to engage with AIRC Certified agencies, service providers, and other institutions by welcoming them to your campus while they're in the area. AIRC will assist in promoting the event to conference attendees. The tour may take place on Monday, November 30th or Friday, December 4th. Email memberservices@airc-education.org to learn more.
  • Student Voices Panel: Nominate your international students to take part in the Student Voices Panel, the highly-anticipated event where current and recently graduated students speak about their experiences as students in the United States and their educational and career journeys. You can learn more and nominate your students here. 
  • Annual Awards: Nominate yourself or a colleague for one of AIRC's Annual Awards, including AIRC Member of the Year, Rising Professional, Volunteer of the Year, or Distinguished Service Award. Award recipients are recognized at the conference. You can learn more and submit your nomination here. 
  • Hosting Member Sponsorship: Become AIRC's Hosting Member Sponsor to showcase your programs and increase visibility of your institution among conference attendees. There are additional sponsor and exhibitor opportunities, including branded items, conference tech, sponsored plenaries, and social activities. You can view sponsor and exhibitor opportunities here. 


registration fees

Early bird rates end October 2, 2026


Registration fees cover all conference days and include all plenaries, sessions, and meals listed below. Pre-conference workshops on Tuesday are extra as are exhibits and sponsored items. Guest tickets for receptions are for non-conference attendees/family members.


AIRC Certified Agency 

  • Early Bird - $700.00
  • Regular - $775.00

AIRC Applicant Agency Phase 2

  • Early Bird - $700.00
  • Regular - $775.00

AIRC Individual Member 

  • Early Bird - $775.00
  • Regular - $850.00

AIRC Institutional or Service Provider Member

  • Early Bird - $775.00
  • Regular - $850.00

Non-Member Institution 

  • Early Bird - $1,125.00
  • Regular - $1,200.00

Non-Member Sponsor 

  • Early Bird - $1,125.00
  • Regular - $1,200.00


Meals Included

  • [Pre-conference workshops include lunch on Tue]
  • Refreshments/apps at the opening reception, happy hour, and trivia
  • Breakfast Wed, Thu, Fri
  • Lunch Wed, Thu
  • Coffee breaks Wed, Thu, Fri
  • Closing toast (non-alcoholic) Fri


SECONDARY SCHOOLS

New this year, we are pleased to offer a 2-day conference package for secondary schools. Registration fees cover all sessions, plenaries, and social activities on Tuesday and Wednesday. Contact staff@airc-education.org to register.


AIRC Secondary School Member 2-Day Package

  • Regular - $475.00

Non-Member Secondary School 2-Day Package

  • Regular - $625.00

SCHEDULE

Tentative schedule, subject to change


Monday, November 30th

  • Dallas-Area Fam Tours


Tuesday, December 1st

  • Dallas-Area Fam Tours
  • Registration
  • Pre-Conference Workshops
  • NEW! AIRC Connect B2B Networking Event
  • Newcomer Session
  • Attendee Welcome Reception


Wednesday, December 2nd

  • Opening Plenary & Awards Ceremony
  • Exhibit Hall Hours
  • Concurrent Learning Sessions
  • Networking Luncheon
  • AIRC Member Town Hall
  • Coffee Breaks & Demo Sessions
  • AIRC Happy Hour


Thursday, December 3rd

  • Exhibit Hall Hours
  • Concurrent Learning Sessions
  • International Student Voices Plenary
  • Networking Luncheon
  • Community Meet-ups & Trivia
  • Coffee Breaks & Demo Sessions


Friday, December 4th

  • Fitness Activities
  • Exhibit Hall Hours
  • Concurrent Learning Sessions
  • Coffee Break
  • Closing Toast
  • Dallas-Area Fam Tours

AIRC Annual AWARDS


AIRC invites community members to nominate individuals and organizations to receive one of this year's AIRC Annual Awards. Presented at the 2026 AIRC Annual Conference, the awards recognize both individuals and organizations for their outstanding contribution to the field of international enrollment management. Take this opportunity to acknowledge your AIRC peers or consider submitting a self-nomination one of the following award categories:


  • AIRC Member of the Year Award
  • Volunteer of the Year Award
  • Rising Professional Award
  • Distinguished Service Award


Nomination Deadline: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Submit Award Nominations

EVENT POLICIES


Attendee Cancellation Policy

Cancellation notices must be received in writing via email: staff@airc-education.org. All refunds are granted at the discretion of AIRC. From May 18, 2026 to October 2, 2026, a 50% refund may be granted at the discretion of AIRC. Please note, refunds are not guaranteed. From October 3, 2026, no refunds will be made.  Pre-conference workshops are non-refundable.


Attendee Conference Registration Credit and Registration Transfer Policy

In lieu of a cancellation, you may request a registration credit or transfer to a colleague. Conference registration credit requests must be received in writing via email: staff@airc-education.org by November 27, 2026. Conference registration credit is good for one calendar year, can only be used towards the 2027 conference registration fee, and the credit will only be in the amount of the 2026 conference fee. Registration transfer requests must be received in writing via email: staff@airc-education.org by November 27, 2026. A registration transfer can only be made one time to a member within the same organization.