What Makes a Great Conference

The behind-the-scenes work of putting together the New Voices New Rooms Conference each year sometimes feels like a whirlwind, as new authors are confirmed, new exhibitors are signed on, and new ideas for education sessions are added almost every day. It is also something of a marathon for the NVNR planning team, which, after only a month off from one conference, starts meeting to plan the next. They bring creative ideas they have seen across the industry, discuss the needs of NAIBA and SIBA booksellers, and pore over the feedback forms from the most recent conference to identify what worked, what didn’t, and what people wished to see. (Yes, those feedback forms really matter. When you get one, fill it out!)

Although the specifics of this year’s program are still being confirmed, regular attendees of the NVNR Conference know that the schedule always follows a basic pattern:

Day 1: Getting Your Bearings: Bus Tours, Orientations, and a Kick-Off Reception.

Day 2: All About Bookseller Development: Education and Author Panels

Day 3: Building Industry Relationships: The Exhibit Hall, Rep Picks

Day 4: Networking and Information Sharing: The Bookseller Retreats

Last year, in response to many, many bookseller requests, NVNR added “tracks” to its programming for booksellers who want to focus on a specific goal. Both booksellers and industry attendees were effusive:

“I came back with a notebook filled with ideas I’m already implementing.”

“This year I needed two big questions answered and wanted to be educated on a few topics. I left with a lot of info and a solid plan moving forward.”

“It was incredible! The information shared and the insight passed on from other booksellers was more than I could have dreamed of.”

In 2026, the tracks focus on bookstore resilience:

• Profitability will include a workshop for owners to dig into their numbers and look at possibilities with fresh perspective.
• Event, Promotion, and Marketing is geared towards store managers, who now have an education track and a retreat to learn and share ideas.
• Nurturing Programs includes sessions on issues of burnout and emotions around money, along with the favorite small group session work.
• Level Up will have higher-level content across many topics.

In addition, NVNR is placing “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) tables covering all the subjects that could not be squeezed into the Monday panel sessions. AMA will be running all day on Tuesday, outside the exhibit hall.

Bookstore success is the primary goal of the New Voices New Rooms conference. There is a wealth of information and guidance on offer at NVNR 2026 for both new and veteran booksellers. The skills learned here, and the ideas you take back, can be key to making your business resilient and able to weather any challenges ahead.

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