NACD Directors Summit 2026 | The National Conference for Board Directors

NACD Directors Summit^™ 2026

October 11 - 14, 2026 | Washington, DC Area
17 NACD Credits

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What’s New

Who You’ll Meet

See who’s attending and the directors you’ll be connecting with onsite.

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Conference Topics Announced

Explore the 11 future-focused learning topics and start planning your Summit experience.

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Book Your Stay

Reserve your room at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort.

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What Summit Delivers

Discover the value, structure, and director-focused approach behind Summit.

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Speaker Spotlight

TIME100 honoree Sheila Bair, former FDIC Chair, joins the Summit mainstage.

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2026 Conference Topics

Effective board leadership demands fluency across an expanding range of disciplines. NACD Directors Summit's 11 future-focused learning topics are designed to meet directors where they are and challenge them to go further. Explore the topics below as you plan your Summit experience.

Governance Essentials

Designed for directors of all tenures, these sessions cover the core responsibilities of board service. Topics include fiduciary duties, committee structure, board dynamics, and more.

Private Company Governance

Focused on the unique realities of private company boards, sessions explore ownership dynamics, growth strategy, capital planning, and governance practices that support long-term value creation.

Industry Insights for Directors

These conversations explore the realities facing key sectors — hear how boards are responding to competitive pressure, disruption, and regulatory change.

Risk at the Top

A focused look at the most pressing risks facing companies today, including geopolitical uncertainty, regulatory shifts, cybersecurity threats, and reputational exposure.

The Innovation Imperative

These sessions explore how directors can champion transformation, evaluate emerging opportunities, and support bold strategic moves while maintaining the discipline that protects long-term value.

Human Capital & Compensation

A focused look at executive compensation design, CEO succession planning, and workforce strategy — and how boards can effectively oversee the human capital decisions that drive long-term value.

Board Oversight of Strategy

A look at how boards shape corporate strategy, challenge assumptions, and monitor execution against stated goals.

Managing Activist Risk

Sessions examine how boards anticipate activist campaigns, strengthen investor engagement, and protect long-term value.

Lead Director Education

These sessions offer a practical look at how lead directors shape boardroom dialogue, strengthen the chair relationship, and set the tone for governance that holds.

Audit Committee Oversight

Explore emerging audit risks, regulatory updates, cybersecurity oversight, and maintaining rigor in financial governance.

Technology and Digital Governance

Sessions focus on AI, cybersecurity, data governance, and digital transformation through a board lens.

A First Look at Summit 2026
June 30 | 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT

Join us for A First Look at Summit 2026, an exclusive preview webinar designed to help directors navigate this year’s agenda, identify the sessions most relevant to their role, and plan for meaningful boardroom takeaways.

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NACD Directors Summit at a Glance

Where directors from across the country come together to understand how boards are responding to today’s challenges and what they’re preparing for next.

Governance Leaders

Industries Represented

Visionary Speakers

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Registration Fees & Policies

Cancellations must be completed via the online cancellation form that is accessed via the Already Registered?
- Cancellations received before July 31, 2026, will receive a full refund, minus a $250 service fee.
- Cancellations received August 1 - 31, 2026, will receive a 50% refund.
- Cancellations after September 1, 2026, will not receive a refund.
All refunds will be returned via the payment method used at registration up to 120 calendar days after the transaction. After 120 calendar days, the refund is provided by check.
- All registrations must be completed by clicking the "Register" button. Registrations are not accepted by email or over the phone.
- All invoices must be paid within 30 days of registration. If the payment is not received within 30 days, NACD reserves the right to increase the registrant's rate to the current rate. Registrations can be paid online via credit card (American Express, Visa, and Mastercard). A receipt will appear in your confirmation email.
- No weapons of any kind are permitted at NACD events.
- Name badges must be worn at all times.
Group Discount

When registering five or more NACD members in a single transaction, a 20% discount will be provided. This offer is not retroactive for previous payments.

Chapter Leader Discount

Chapter leaders are eligible for the discounted price of $2,995. Please note that the chapter leader discount cannot be combined with any other discount, including the group discount.
NACD Credits

Earn up to 17 NACD Credits toward maintaining NACD Directorship Certification^®. Credit will be applied to your NACD transcript after the event based on your session attendance.

NASBA Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits (i.e., Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)) are available for NACD Directors Summit 2025^™ 2026. NACD is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.NASBARegistry.org.

By registering for an NACD or NACD Chapter Network event, you agree to the following Code of Conduct.

NACD and the NACD Chapter Network organizations (NACD) are non-partisan, nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing directors with the opportunity to discuss timely governance oversight practices. The views of the speakers and audience are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of NACD.