About Evaluation Conference

The Evaluation Conference is AEA's annual flagship event for evaluation professionals, researchers, nonprofit leaders, government staff, consultants, and others who use or conduct program evaluation.

What happens at the conference?

Participants attend:

• Professional development workshops
• Research and practice presentations
• Panel discussions and roundtables
• Networking events
• Sessions on evaluation methods, data analysis, equity, learning, and program improvement
• Opportunities to connect with evaluators across sectors such as healthcare, education, philanthropy, government, and community organizations. 

Purpose

The conference is designed to help attendees:

• Learn new evaluation approaches and methodologies
• Share findings and best practices
• Build professional networks
• Explore emerging topics such as AI, evidence use, cultural responsiveness, and equity in evaluation.

2026 Theme

This year's conference theme is Evaluation Across Boundaries, which invites evaluators to move beyond traditional limits and explore new possibilities through collaboration, innovation, and shared learning. This year's theme recognizes that today's most pressing challenges often span sectors, disciplines, generations, methodologies, and geographic regions, requiring evaluators to think broadly and work together in new ways.

The theme encourages openness to diverse perspectives and approaches, embracing the value of both qualitative and quantitative methods, academic and applied practice, and established and emerging evaluation techniques. It also celebrates the contributions of evaluators at every career stage, fostering a culture of mutual learning, knowledge exchange, and professional growth.

By crossing boundaries and building connections, evaluators can strengthen the field's ability to respond to complex challenges, adapt to changing environments, and increase the impact and relevance of evaluation. Evaluation Across Boundaries reflects our collective commitment to advancing evaluation through curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to learn from one another.

Join us in Charlotte, North Carolina, November 16-20, 2026, as we come together to explore new ideas, share expertise, and shape the future of evaluation.

Evaluation 2026 welcomes professionals from across the evaluation community and related fields who are committed to learning, sharing knowledge, and advancing practice across boundaries.

This conference is designed for:

• Evaluators working in government, nonprofit, philanthropic, academic, and consulting settings
• Researchers and scholars engaged in evaluation theory, methods, and practice
• Program managers, administrators, and decision-makers who use evaluation to drive improvement and impact
• Funders and grantmakers interested in evidence-informed decision-making
• Data, learning, and performance measurement professionals
• Community leaders and partners involved in evaluation and participatory learning efforts
• Students and emerging evaluators seeking to build skills, expand their networks, and explore career opportunities
• Experienced evaluation professionals looking to share expertise, discover new approaches, and engage with colleagues from around the world

Whether you are new to evaluation or a seasoned practitioner, Evaluation 2026 offers opportunities to explore innovative ideas, strengthen your practice, and connect with a diverse community of professionals dedicated to using evaluation to create meaningful change.

Offerings may include:

What did you like best about Evaluation 2025?

I appreciated the diversity of topics covered and the range of sessions that covered emerging topics, methodology and community engagement.

I am new to evaluation, and I loved getting to immerse myself in a learning environment where I could experience diverse perspectives on the practice. It helped me 1) gain practical skills and knowledge, and 2) begin to see myself in the practice long-term.

I enjoyed meeting other evaluators across the nation along with the sharing the challenges in the industry. As a first time attendee and novice evaluator, I was able to apply much of my new knowledge.

AEA is my professional home and seeing colleagues and friends is the best part.