RWA 2026 Annual Conference

RWA 2026 Annual Conference

RWA2026 Annual Conference – July 15–18, 2026 | Albuquerque, NM

Mark your calendars! The RWA2026 Annual Conference is headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it’s never too early to start planning your trip.

Registration Schedule

Cyber Sale Registration (December 1 - 31, 2025)

$399 RWA Members
$499 Non Members
$299 Industry Professionals

Early Bird Registration (January 1 - February 15, 2026)

$450 RWA Members
$550 Non Members
$350 Industry Professionals

Regular Registration (February 16 - June 15, 2026)

$499 RWA Members
$599 Non Members
$399 Industry Professionals

Late Registration (June 16 - July 18, 2026)

$549 RWA Members
$649 Non Members
$449 Industry Professionals

Guest Pass (guest passes may be purchased only by registered conference attendees.)
Guests must be 18 years of age or older to attend.

$45 Welcome Reception
$75 Awards Dinner and Ceremony
$105 Welcome Reception & Awards Dinner and Ceremony


We understand that budgeting matters. You can take advantage of our convenient two-payment plan (includes a $26 processing fee). Your first payment is due upon invoice, with the second payment due within 45 days of your initial invoice date. This option is available from December 4, 2025, through May 15, 2026, in accordance with the listed registration schedule.

For registration purposes, an industry professional is defined as an acquiring literary agent or an acquiring editor employed by a publishing company.

Cyber Sale Registration
Early Bird Registration
Regular Registration
Late Registration Here

Conference Registration Scholarship Application

Registration Scholarship Applications are now being accepted for RWA2026. The application is open to members and non-members and offered based on funds available as determined by the RWA Board of Directors. The application period ends December 15, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their status on or before December 31, 2025.

Apply Here

Conference Hotel

Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque
1000 Woodward Pl NE
Albuquerque, NM 87102

Reservations Information

RWA is utilizing a rooming list to manage all reservations within the conference room block. Rooms are available exclusively through the RWA rooming list; reservations cannot be made directly with the hotel.

Each room in the block is a comfortable two-room suite, complete with a separate living room and bedroom.

  • $169 per night Standard King Bed Suite (sleeps 4)
  • $169 per night Standard Double/Double Bed Suite (sleeps 6)

Why Attend?

  • Inspiring workshops, deep dive sessions, and insider access sessions
  • Pitch appointments with agents and editors actively acquiring romance manuscripts
  • Networking events that bring writers and industry professionals together
  • Author Book Signing open to the public
  • Prestigious Golden Heart Awards, Diamond Heart Awards, and more at our Saturday Awards Dinner & Ceremony
  • Market Place featuring vendors July 16-18
  • Exclusive discounts for local businesses and restaurants
  • Plus… the always-popular Scavenger Hunt and unforgettable after-hours fun!

Tentative Conference Schedule Outline

  • Wednesday, July 15: Retreats, Deep Dive Sessions, Chapter Expo, Welcome Reception
  • Thursday, July 16: Workshops, Pitch Appointments, Vendor Marketplace, Evening Get Together with Featured Speaker, After Hours Networking & Fun
  • Friday, July 17: Workshops, Pitch Appointments, Vendor Marketplace, Librarians & Booksellers Event, Evening Get Together with Featured Speaker,  After Hours Networking & Fun
  • Saturday, July 18: Workshops, Pitch Appointments, Vendor Marketplace, Author Book Signing, Awards Dinner & Ceremony, After Party Celebration

Sponsorships

Vendor Marketplace

Advertising

Author Book Signing

Accepting Workshop Proposals

The RWA Conference Workshop Committee is on the lookout for fresh, next-level, and interactive workshops that will inspire, educate, and empower career-focused romance writers. If you have a fresh perspective on craft, career, industry trends, or the writer’s life, we want to hear from you!

Deep Dive Session: 2-hour workshop is an intensive, in-depth focused exploration of a specific topic, technique, or area of the romance writing or publishing that go beyond surface-level instruction, offering advanced insights, actionable strategies, and hands-on application for writers.

Deep Dive Session Speakers receive:

  • A small honorarium
  • Complimentary conference registration
  • Name badge ribbon
  • Name and image featured in promotional materials

Workshops: Offered in 60-minute and 90-minute formats, these sessions are tailored to specific experience levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—ensuring that every participant receives practical, actionable guidance suited to their current stage. Our regular conference workshops are designed to meet writers exactly where they are in their romance writing journey.

Workshop Speakers receive:

  • Complimentary conference registration
  • Name badge ribbon
  • Name and image featured in promotional materials

Be prepared to upload a 3–5 minute video overview of your proposed workshop or copy and paste a link to the video in a form field. Your recording should clearly explain the workshop content, goals, and audience takeaway. Videos must be in MP4 format and may be up to 150 MB in size. Please note: submissions without a video will not be considered for the selection process.

Submit a Workshop Proposal Here

View our Proposal Guidelines.