2026 CONFERENCE
Save the dates: August 22-24!
OWAA is heading to the midwestern outdoor mecca of Madison, Wisconsin! Save the dates of August 22-24, 2026 (and leave room for some pre- and post-tours too) and plan to join us in The Badger State.
This capital city is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering five lakes, 270 parks and 200+ miles of scenic hiking and biking trails, plus access to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and stunning Driftless region. Madison is nationally recognized for its outdoor recreation and culture:
- Gold Rated for Walkability (Walk Friendly Communities)
- 1 of only 5 Platinum-Level Bike-Friendly Communities in the U.S. (League of American Bicyclists)
- #8 Greenest City in the U.S. (EcoCation, 2024)
What else makes this destination so unique? Thousands of Ho-Chunk effigy mounds—the largest concentration in the U.S.—were built along the shores of Madison’s lakes. Approximately 200 remain present, offering a profound connection to Indigenous history and storytelling. Just a short drive away in Baraboo, conservation pioneer and former UW–Madison professor Aldo Leopold penned A Sand County Almanac, laying the foundation for modern conservation ethics. John Muir, father of the U.S. National Park System, spent his formative years exploring Madison’s lakes and woods, experiences that were key to his growth as a naturalist.
Together, these threads of cultural heritage, ecological thought and natural beauty weave Madison into a uniquely powerful setting for outdoor writers to learn, gather and be inspired.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Badger State!
Be sure to bookmark this webpage and check back often as we add lists of speakers and other key elements of the schedule!
Outdoor media and other professionals attend OWAA’s annual conference to connect, mingle and learn from more than 250 outdoor storytellers – and the brands that support their work. They will network with other professionals, hone communications skills, find mentors/mentees and discover more and better ways to sell their work or promote their brand.
Conference attendees meet with some of the best outdoor communicators in the country and absorb presentations on writing and editing, photography and videography, broadcast and digital media, the latest tech and newest tactics, and more. Delegates also join pre- and post-tours to get the latest story on (and shots of) outdoor adventures in the region, be it hiking, climbing, hunting or other outdoor pursuits.
In the future, we’ll be adding:
- Registration dates
- Discounted hotel rates
- The draft agenda
- Speakers, as they’re confirmed
- Details on the annual Editor’s Panel
- Pre- and post-tours
- Spouse/partner tours
- Marketplace information
- Travel info, and more!
Call for Speakers
The Outdoor Writers Association of America is always looking for dynamic subject matter experts within the outdoor industry (and other, applicable adjacent industries) to speak at our annual conference. Speakers will present to 250+ attendees, two-thirds of which are media. Our members crave striking content, innovative thought processes, provocative subjects and true expertise. Nominations are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Call for speakers (And please, if you’re some corporate speaker-for-hire who doesn’t even ‘get’ us and what we do, don’t even bother clicking on the link)
- Call for workshop instructors
Call for Pre/Post Tours
The absolute deadline for submitting a tour is February 28th, 2026.
Is your brand, destination, agency or nonprofit interested in making a bigger ‘splash’ at our event to get noticed by even more of our vetted outdoor media? Great! Just request our sponsor deck by emailing info@owaa.org. And check out a few testimonials:
NSSF is proud to be a longtime sponsor of OWAA Conferences. Each year at conference we’re reminded of the value of being able to reach OWAA’s diverse membership with our information about firearms, hunting, shooting, safety and conservation.
— Bill Brassard, Sr. Director, Communications at NSSF
The Outdoor Writers Association of America is one of most revered media guilds not only in the outdoor world, but any industry in the U.S. Conference sponsorship is vital in getting our products, news and messaging before hundreds of influential journalists and enthusiasts in a singular, fantastic setting.
— Curt McAllister, Midwest Public Relations Manager and Outdoor Media Manager, Toyota Motor North America
Hotels & Travel
Hilton Madison Monona Terrace
Hilton Madison Monona Terrace is located in the heart of downtown Madison, conveniently connected to the Monona Terrace Convention Center by a climate-controlled skywalk. Enjoy walkable access to Lake Monona, the Wisconsin State Capitol, walking and biking paths and many locally-owned shops and restaurants. Amenities include an on-site restaurant, Audrey Kitchen + Bar, 24-hour in-room dining, an indoor heated lap pool & whirlpool, plus a fully-equipped fitness center.
Embassy Suites Downtown Madison
Embassy Suites is located in Downtown Madison, a short walk from Monona Terrace and Lake Monona, as well as the Wisconsin State Capitol, restaurants, museums and attractions. The hotel offers free made-to-order breakfast, complimentary evening social reception, business center, on-site restaurant and a fitness room.
Travel – by air
Dane County Regional Airport (airport code MSN) is a 12-minute drive from downtown Madison and offers more than 95 daily arrivals and departures. Convenient on-site car rental is available at the airport, as well as taxi, limousine and rideshare services including Lyft and Uber.
Flying into another city? Getting to Madison from Chicago and Milwaukee is easy. Hop on a Van Galder bus right from Chicago O’ Hare or a Badger Bus if you’re getting here from Milwaukee’s General Mitchell Airport.
Travel – driving distances by car
- Milwaukee: 79 miles, 1½ hours
- Dubuque: 91 miles, 1¾ hours
- Chicago: 147 miles, 2½ hours
- Green Bay: 140 miles, 2½ hours
- Minneapolis: 273 miles, 4½ hours
- Des Moines: 292 miles, 4¾ hours
- St. Louis: 359 miles, 5½ hours
As a platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community, Madison offers e-bike rental stations throughout the city, including stations near Monona Terrace and your hotel. Download the Madison BCycle app to get started.
For more information on maps and transportation in/around the city, visit the Destination Madison website’s transportation page.
Registration
We’ll open registration early in 2026 so stay tuned! Until then, our members can tell you more about the value of their experiences at our conference:
“Thank you for an absolutely wonderful event! I had a great first OWAA and what a kind and special community you have. Logistics were pulled off flawlessly, food was delicious, and you were all so helpful and great!”
– Beth Santos, Founder and CEO, Wanderful
“We found the wide-variety of seminars, workshops and keynote speakers to be enlightening and beneficial for future activities. Of particular value was the new “Speed Connections” session. We actually had more than 20 journalists stop by our table to speak with us – a welcome surprise!“
– Connie Spindler, Maryland Office of Tourism
“Thank you. We had an amazing time and can not wait for next year! It was literally life changing for us to guide and build our business.”
– Jennifer Anderson, Wild & Scenic Idaho
“A conference like this is an investment of time and money, neither of which a freelancer can afford to use carelessly. This was worth the investment! It offered great connections, writing ideas, and experiences.”
– Andrew Sharp, freelance writer