Start Your Engines: Registration Is Open for the 2026 NFDA International Convention & Expo

Charlotte’s calling. Join funeral service professionals from around the world for four days of education, innovation and connection in the Queen City.

Brookfield, Wis. – Each year, thousands of funeral service professionals, suppliers, educators and thought leaders gather for what has become the profession’s largest and most influential annual event. The 2026 NFDA International Convention & Expo, taking place October 25-28 in Charlotte, North Carolina, will bring that global gathering to the Queen City for four days of learning, collaboration and forward-thinking ideas designed to help funeral professionals and their businesses thrive.

This year’s Convention will have an even stronger international presence as NFDA hosts the annual meeting of FIAT-IFTA (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Thanatologues – International Federation of Thanatologists Associations), welcoming additional funeral professionals from around the world and creating expanded opportunities for global collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Known for speed, innovation and Southern hospitality, Charlotte provides an ideal backdrop for a profession that continues to evolve, adapt and keep pace with changing consumer expectations.

Education Designed to Keep You Moving Forward

Funeral service continues to evolve rapidly, from changing consumer expectations and workforce challenges to new technologies and shifting business models. The 2026 NFDA Convention education program is designed to help funeral professionals navigate those changes with practical, immediately applicable ideas that help move businesses forward.

Convention participants can earn up to 16 continuing education hours while selecting from dozens of workshops spanning business strategy, technical skills, leadership development and emerging trends.

This year’s education program includes sessions exploring topics such as:

• Leadership strategies focused on building strong cultures, leading through change and preparing the next generation of funeral service leaders
• Helping families navigate difficult conversations, grief, sudden loss and increasingly complex decisions around disposition and remembrance
• Strengthening community relationships through aftercare, outreach, hospice partnerships and crisis response collaboration
• Practical approaches to creating exceptional family experiences through stronger communication, personalized service and more effective arrangement conferences
• Legal, ethical and compliance issues, including risk management, Funeral Rule updates and advocacy developments from Washington, D.C.
• Marketing, branding and business strategies designed to strengthen visibility, build trust and position funeral homes for long-term success
• Emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and changing consumer preferences shaping the future of funeral service 

Technical education remains a cornerstone of the NFDA Convention experience, with sessions covering advanced embalming and restorative art techniques, decomposition science, decedent care, and practical applications for increasingly complex cases.

Education sessions are sponsored by TruStage.

To create a more accessible and inclusive learning environment, NFDA will again offer real-time captioning and translation through Wordly, giving attendees access to Convention programming in more than 60 languages using their own mobile devices.

For participants looking for even deeper learning opportunities, NFDA is introducing three new pre-Convention seminars designed to provide immersive, focused education before Convention officially begins. These extended sessions require separate registration and give participants additional opportunities to customize their NFDA Convention experience around the topics most relevant to their work.

The Art & Weight of the Arrangement Conference: Navigating Complexity in Deathcare – Saturday, October 24, noon to 4 p.m.: Led by Lanae Strovers, LFD, NFDA Education and Professional Development, this interactive master class explores how funeral directors can navigate emotionally complex arrangement conversations through case studies, discussion and practical exercises focused on family dynamics, ethical challenges, cultural humility and communication.

Cremation Conversations: Decisions, Meaning and the Future of Disposition – Saturday, October 24, noon to 4 p.m.: Presented by Timothy Copeland, MS, LFD, CCO, NFDA Education and Professional Development, this master class explores cremation as more than a process, examining how grief, family dynamics and cultural change shape decisions while addressing meaningful remembrance and emerging disposition options.

Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Partnerships Among Funeral Professionals, End-of-life Doulas and Hospice Teams – Sunday, October 25, 8–11 a.m.: This interactive seminar will bring funeral professionals, end-of-life doulas and hospice caregivers together to explore how collaboration, communication and shared goals can strengthen support for families before, during and after a death.

Keynotes That Challenge Conventional Thinking

This year’s keynote presentations will encourage participants to think differently about change, disruption and the role funeral professionals play in helping families live meaningful lives.

Strategy in a World of Disruption Presented by Shawn Kanungo – Opening General Session, Monday, October 26: Disruption strategist and bestselling author Shawn Kanungo will challenge participants to rethink traditional approaches to business, innovation and leadership in an era of constant change. Through practical examples and forward-thinking strategies, he will explore how organizations can remain competitive while creating better experiences for employees and customers alike. Kanungo’s keynote address is sponsored by NGL.

28,000 Days: What Death Teaches Us About Truly Living Presented by John Kenney – Closing General Session, Wednesday, October 28: New York Times bestselling author John Kenney will offer a thoughtful and humorous reflection on mortality, meaning and the lesson funeral professionals understand better than most: that life is finite and every moment matters. Carriage is proud to sponsor Kenney’s keynote address.

Experience the World’s Largest Funeral Service Expo

The NFDA Expo Hall is far more than a trade show floor – it is where funeral professionals can experience the future of funeral service firsthand.

Featuring more than 300 exhibitors, the Expo Hall provides opportunities to explore emerging technologies, compare products side by side, evaluate new service offerings and discover solutions designed to help funeral homes operate more efficiently and move forward with confidence. Attendees can explore innovations related to:

• Funeral home technology and management software
• Cremation and memorialization products
• Vehicles and equipment
• Marketing and business development services
• Financing and succession planning resources
• Merchandise and personalization products
• New approaches to service delivery and consumer engagement 

Beyond exhibitors, the Expo experience also includes numerous interactive experiences and booths hosted by NFDA, including:

• NFDA Endorsed Providers, offering member-exclusive savings opportunities
• The NFDA Funeral Career Hub, connecting employers and job seekers
• Consumer education resources and outreach tools from Remembering A Life
• The NFDA Pursuit of Excellence showcase, highlighting innovation from funeral homes around the world
• The NFDA Publications booth, connecting attendees with the teams behind The Director, Memorial Business Journal and the Director.edu 

The Expo Hall will once again play host to one of the profession’s most entertaining traditions, Funeral Face-off, a fast-paced, pub-style funeral service trivia competition, taking place live in the NFDA Lounge in the Expo Hall. Whether attendees are competing for bragging rights or cheering from the sidelines, Funeral Face-off brings energy, friendly rivalry and plenty of fun to the NFDA Convention experience while celebrating the knowledge and passion that make funeral service unique. Convention participants interested in competing should contact Morgan Schlender (MSchlender@NFDA.org or 262-789-1880) for more information. NFDA thanks Precoa for its continued support of Funeral Face-off. 

More Than Education: A Convention Experience Built Around Connection

While education may bring participants to the NFDA Convention, relationships are often what keep them coming back year after year.

For many funeral professionals, Convention is one of the few opportunities each year to step away from day-to-day responsibilities and spend uninterrupted time with colleagues who understand both the challenges and rewards of funeral service.

Throughout the NFDA Convention, attendees can participate in experiences specifically designed to encourage conversation, collaboration and community building.

The new Connection Hub will serve as a welcoming gathering space where attendees can participate in informal meetups, discuss professional challenges, exchange ideas and build meaningful relationships. Whether someone is attending their first Convention or reconnecting with longtime colleagues, the space is designed to encourage authentic conversation and peer-to-peer learning.

The Community Impact Zone enables participants to make a positive impact while visiting Charlotte through hands-on service projects benefiting local organizations. Attendees will have opportunities to participate in activities designed to strengthen connections not only with one another, but also with the community that is hosting the NFDA Convention.

NFDA Convention traditions also return, including:

26th Annual Funeral Service Foundation Golf Classic: The Queen City Classic – Sunday, October 25: For 26 years, funeral professionals and allied partners have gathered on the golf course for one of the profession’s premier networking events while raising funds in support of the Funeral Service Foundation.

Held at Charlotte’s award-winning Olde Sycamore Golf Club, this shotgun scramble-style tournament welcomes golfers of all skill levels and has raised more than $2.15 million to support programs and initiatives that strengthen funeral service and lift up grieving communities. Visit FuneralServiceFoundation.org/Golf to register and learn about sponsorship opportunities.

Welcome Party – Sunday, October 25: Things will kick into high gear at the NASCAR Hall of Fame as attendees gather for one of the NFDA’s Convention’s most anticipated traditions. The Welcome Party gives participants an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, make new connections and explore one of Charlotte’s most iconic destinations in an atmosphere designed for conversation and celebration.

Whether attendees plan to step inside the Hall’s interactive exhibits, share stories with longtime friends or meet fellow professionals for the first time, the Welcome Party sets the tone for the week ahead: connection, community and fun. The Welcome Party is included with registration and is sponsored by Batesville and Legacy.com.

Service of Remembrance – Monday, October 26: Each year, the Service of Remembrance provides Convention participants with a meaningful opportunity to pause, reflect and honor the lives that have shaped both the profession and their personal journeys.

This year’s Service of Remembrance, which will be held in conjunction with the Opening General Session, will carry additional significance as NFDA commemorates the 25th anniversary of September 11, honoring those lost, recognizing the enduring impact of that day and reflecting on funeral service’s important role in helping families and communities navigate grief, remembrance and healing. The Messenger Co. and Tukios return as sponsors of the Service of Remembrance.

All-Star Recognition Ceremony – Monday, October 26: The All-Star Recognition Ceremony celebrates the people and organizations helping move funeral service forward. During this special event, NFDA will recognize Pursuit of Excellence Award recipients, Funeral Service Foundation scholarship recipients, new NFDA Green Funeral Practice Certificate holders, new NFDA Certified Preplanning Consultants, New Cremation Certification designees, 2026-27 National Emerging Leaders participants, the 2026 Inspiration Award recipient, the 2026 Meet the Mentors participants, new International Professional Achievement Certificate holders and new Academy of Funeral Service Practice Certified Funeral Service Practitioners.

The ceremony serves as both a celebration of professional achievement and a reminder of the innovation, compassion and leadership shaping the future of funeral service.

International Opportunities

The NFDA Convention’s global reach will be even stronger in 2026 as FIAT-IFTA co-locates its annual meeting with the NFDA Convention & Expo.

Led by FIAT-IFTA President and NFDA Past President Bill Wappner, the partnership is expected to bring additional funeral professionals from around the world to Charlotte, creating expanded opportunities for global networking, collaboration and knowledge sharing. FIAT-IFTA participants will attend education sessions and explore the Expo Hall alongside NFDA Convention attendees. NFDA Convention attendees are also invited to attend the FIAT-IFTA International Gala the evening of Tuesday, October 27 (ticket required).

Traditionally, FIAT-IFTA presidents host meetings within their home countries, making this year’s collaboration particularly significant and further reinforcing the NFDA Convention’s role as a truly global gathering for funeral service.

A Smart Investment in Professional Growth

The value of the NFDA Convention extends far beyond education sessions alone. One registration provides access to continuing education, keynote presentations, the world’s largest funeral service exposition, networking opportunities, recognition ceremonies and experiences that many attendees say shape their businesses and careers long after the Convention ends.

Attendees frequently describe the NFDA Convention as one of the profession’s most valuable investments because the return extends beyond what happens during four days with their colleagues.

Ideas gained at the NFDA Convention help improve operations, strengthen family service, increase efficiency and uncover new opportunities for growth. Conversations with colleagues and subject matter experts provide practical solutions to real-world challenges. Relationships built during Convention often become year-round support systems, while Expo discoveries introduce products, services and strategies that attendees can immediately put into practice.

The NFDA Convention also provides something more difficult to measure, but equally valuable: the opportunity to step away from daily demands, gain fresh perspectives and return home with renewed energy, confidence and momentum.

Simply put, NFDA Convention participants leave with more than CE credits – they leave with new ideas, stronger connections and practical tools to help them better serve families and move their businesses forward.

Scholarships Available Through the Funeral Service Foundation

Licensed funeral directors in the United States and Canada are encouraged to apply for Convention scholarships through the Funeral Service Foundation. The Foundation will award up to 20 scholarships valued at $2,200 each, covering NFDA Convention registration fees, three nights of lodging and up to $500 in travel reimbursement. Applications must be submitted by July 23 at FuneralServiceFoundation.org/Scholarship-Opportunities.

Get Ready for Charlotte

The latest information, including information on how to register and make hotel reservations, is available at NFDA.org/Convention or by calling 262-789-1880.

NFDA International Convention & Expo participants should register on or before Thursday, August 13 to take advantage of early-bird pricing. After August 13, registration fees will increase by $200.

Maritz Global Events is the official hotel bureau for the 2026 NFDA International Convention & Expo. Maritz enables participants to easily compare hotel prices and locations to find the accommodation that best meets their needs. Maritz’s simple booking process – and friendly, helpful staff – will make booking a hotel room and managing reservations a breeze. Reservations must be made online by September 30. 

Funeral service professionals may receive calls or emails from scammers offering hotels for the NFDA Convention. While these offers may seem like a good option, they may not be legitimate, come with unreasonable cancellation or change penalties, have exorbitant fees, or be completely non-refundable. When Convention participants book with Maritz Global Events, they will be treated honestly and fairly.

About NFDA

NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit NFDA.org.