We can't wait to see you in Portland! This page contains important event information. Please read it carefully. |
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The NFA's 54th Annual ConventionAugust 6-9, 2026 Oregon Convention Center777 NE Martin Luther King Jr BlvdPortland, OR 97232 |
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Before You Leave Home
Sign up for a One-Hour Volunteer Shift: Each of our 200+ events requires a volunteer door monitor. If 75 of you sign up for a one-hour shift when you receive this email, we will meet our goal for the day. Volunteers who are also registered to attend the convention are eligible for a redeemable voucher worth $15 for every three shifts or each single competition shift worked. Sign up for a shift today! Check-In Email (QR Code): You'll receive a separate email on Monday, August 3 with a QR code and information about badge pick-up. Please save this email or print it out for a faster check-in experience. Please check your junk or spam email on Monday. If you do not receive a code, you can bring your confirmation email or receipt with you to registration and our staff will be able to assist you. When you arrive in Portland, please allow extra time to complete the check-in process. If you have any questions, please email Mily Montanez.Membership Status: Your NFA membership must remain active for the duration of the convention. If your membership is scheduled to expire during the convention, you will be required to renew it at check-in. Check your member status in the member portal. If you have questions about your membership, please email Mily Montanez.Event Schedule & Program Book: A pdf version of the convention program book, which includes the complete convention schedule, is available for download here. If you purchased your printed program book when you registered, you will pick it up at check-in. Printed program books will be sold on-site in Portland for a $5 fee. Quantities are limited. Guidebook Convention App: The Guidebook Convention App is your comprehensive guide to the convention. Through the app, you can see real-time schedule changes, receive notifications with important information, connect with fellow convention guests, and more! Have a Parking Plan: Our friends at Travel Portland have provided a Parking Map of the area around the Oregon Convention Center. We strongly recommend checking a discount parking service (like SpotHero) to reserve your parking in advance. Additional parking information for the Oregon Convention Center is available here. Vote in the NFA Election: Active, Life, and Lower-Income members of the NFA are invited to cast their votes in the 2026 NFA elections! This year's ballot includes candidates for Vice President, Assistant Secretary, and the Board of Directors, in addition to proposed changes to the NFA’s Bylaws. Voting will close at 5pm PT on Saturday, Aug. 8. Cast your vote today.Learn About Portland: Visit this page on our website for a list of local discounts and area activities. Our friends at Travel Portland have also created a special website for convention guests with maps, activity guides, and lists of must-see attractions while you're in town. FAQs: Answers to frequently asked questions are published on our website. Please review them to prepare for your trip!
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Arriving in Portland
Maps: A Practical Guide to Portland: We've created this guide to getting around Portland and making the most of your time in the city.
Getting to the Oregon Convention Center: Local travel information is available on our website. If you are flying into PDX airport, we recommend utilizing Portland’s MAX Light Rail. Take the Red Line to the Convention Center Station, located directly in front of the Oregon Convention Center (see this map, with the Airport and Convention Center stations marked). Rideshare or taxi service will also be available.
FREE Hop Card Available: NFA Convention attendees will receive a FREE Hop Card (good for use on bus, light rail, or street car) courtesy of Travel Portland. This will be available to pick up at registration. You can use this card for unlimited trips through the end of the day Monday, August 10; simply scan your card as you enter the train or bus. We encourage you to explore Portland during and after the convention! Please note: because these won't be available until registration opens on Wednesday, Aug. 5, all trips from the airport upon arrival will need to be paid for separately. Fare is $2.80.
Check-in & Badge Pick-Up: The NFA Registration Desk is located in Prefunction A (Level 1) of the Oregon Convention Center. You may check in and pick up your convention badge any time the Registration Desk is open.
Need to take care of something else? The Registration Desk can also assist with convention-related purchases and transactions, including membership renewals, convention registration, and event tickets. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, cash, and checks. Tap-to-Pay is also available for convenient payment using a compatible credit/debit card or mobile device.
NFA Registration Desk Hours
Wednesday, Aug. 5: 9am - 9pm
Thursday, Aug. 6 - Saturday, Aug. 8: 8am - 6pm
Sunday, Aug. 9: 8am - 3pm
Exhibitor Badge Pick-Up: On Wednesday, the Registration Desk will be open 7:00–9:00 a.m. exclusively for exhibitors to pick up their individual badges before move-in. All booth personnel must pick up their badges before entering the Exhibit Hall. Entry to the Exhibit Hall will not be permitted without a badge.
Badges: Convention guests are required to wear their badge at all times when entering a convention event. If you enter a convention event without a visible badge, you will be stopped by security or an NFA volunteer and asked to present your badge. If you lose your badge, the registration desk can print you a new one for a cost of $25.
Instrument Security Room: A secure room for 24-hour instrument storage is located in the Oregon Convention Center, Room G131–132 (Level 1). Instrument pick-up/drop-off is available: Wednesday from 3pm-10:30pm; Thursday-Sunday from 7am to 9pm. All instruments must be picked up by 9pm on Sunday, August 9. This complimentary service is available for any registered convention attendee. |
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During the Convention
Schedule Changes: The NFA Convention features over 200 events! With a convention this large, schedule changes are inevitable. Please check the Guidebook app or this webpage (scroll to the Addenda section) throughout the convention for schedule changes. The NFA staff will be publishing real-time schedule updates to both of these places as frequently as possible while we are in Portland. Food Trucks: Grab lunch, enjoy the sun, and experience this beloved Portland tradition! Food trucks will be parked at the North Plaza (Oregon Convention Center, outside the Oregon Ballroom Lobby) Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11am-2pm. Travel Portland: Our friends at Travel Portland will be on-site to help you with all things Portland! Visit their desk (near NFA Registration, OCC Lower Level 1) August 6th and 7th from 8:30am - 5:30pm. Show-Your-Badge Discounts: NFA attendees will receive generous discounts from local businesses and restaurants! View the complete list of offers here. Adidas, Columbia, Nike Employee Store Access: NFA Convention attendees will have access to the following employee stores (featuring discounted merchandise) for the duration of the convention. Please read each flyer carefully, as each store has different requirements for entry. Printing: The OCC offers quick, self-serve complimentary cloud-based printing and copying (black and white, 8.5 x 11” paper only). There are business centers located within both the Hyatt Regency and Doubletree by Hilton hotels that can assist you with basic documents and print jobs. The NFA cannot print documents for you. Please do not ask NFA staff to print anything for you.
If you are in need of more advanced printing capability, there are several businesses located nearby: - Office Depot (323 SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97214)
- FedEx Print & Ship (1605 NE 7th Ave, Portland, OR 97232)
- Minute Man Press (1308 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97201)
Exhibit Hall: We're thrilled to welcome over 60 exhibitors to the convention this year! Take a moment to meet these businesses, and plan to visit them all during the following Exhibit Hall Hours: - Thursday, Aug. 6: 10am - 5:30pm
- Dedicated Exhibit Hall Hour: 3:30 – 4:30pm
- Friday, Aug. 7: 10am - 5:30pm
- Dedicated Exhibit Hall Hour: 3:30 – 4:30pm
- Saturday, Aug. 8: 10am - 5:30pm
- Dedicated Exhibit Hall Hour: 3:30 – 4:30pm
- Sunday, Aug. 9: 10am - 3pm
- Dedicated Exhibit Hall Hour: 11am-12pm
Sales Tax: Note that Oregon is a no sales tax state, so your exhibit hall purchases will be tax free! WIFI Access: Free WiFi is available in the Oregon Convention Center. Join the OCC Free WiFi network from your device, and it will connect to the internet automatically. Accessibility: Accessibility information for our venue, the hotels, and the city of Portland is available here. The Guidebook app, which includes a complete convention schedule, is screen reader compatible and available for free download here. Bulletin Board: Individual attendees who wish to place a single item for sale may do so by placing a notice on the bulletin board near NFA registration. Hashtag & Social Media: Use #NFA2026 and tag @nfaflute in your posts, and we might feature you on our social media stories! |
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Special Events
Welcome Orientation: Whether a first-time attendee, visiting from overseas, or a convention regular, come and find out how to make the most of your convention experience. Hosted by 2026 Assistant Program Chair Ana Paola Rincones and 2027 Assistant Program Chair Meret Bitticks. Thursday, August 6, 11–11:50 a.m., Room A107–109.
Myrna Brown Dine-Around: Thursday, Aug. 6, 5:45pm - 7:30. The group will meet at the NFA Registration desk at the Oregon Convention Center. The deadline to RSVP for this event has passed. Those wishing to attend who have not RSVP'd should contact the coordinator, Christopher Lee, via this form.
Evening Events: After the evening gala concerts have ended, join us in the Hyatt Lobby for Irish Night (Thursday), Venezuelan Night (Friday), and Brazilian Night (Saturday)! Learn more here.
Affinity Groups: Affinity groups offer a space to connect with other convention guests over shared backgrounds and interests. All are welcome! Unless otherwise noted, all events will take place in Oregon Convention Center Room B117. View the schedule here.
Gala Awards Reception: The NFA Annual Gala Awards Reception honors this year’s Achievement Award Recipients: Steven P. Finley and Matthias Ziegler, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Joanna Bassett, receiving the Distinguished Service Awards. The celebration will include hors-d'oeuvres, a Pacific Northwest themed buffet, and a cash bar. Saturday, 5:30-7:30pm, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Deschutes Ballroom. Limited tickets available - available at the registration desk while supplies last.
View other social events and meetups here. |
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Code of Conduct
To ensure that all participants in the NFA convention have a positive and collaborative experience, the NFA expects that community members will:- Be considerate and respectful to all community members.
- Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, abusive, or harassing behavior, materials, and speech.
- Speak up if they observe anything at an event that conflicts with this Code of Conduct.
Possible consequences of violation of the code of conduct include removal from the convention or notification to the authorities.
If you are being harassed or feel uncomfortable, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact the Executive Director at jclarke@nfaonline.org or another member of the NFA staff or Board of Directors immediately. If you would like to submit an anonymous report, please do so at nfaonline.org/comments. |
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Rules & Policies
The first two rows of each convention room are designated priority seating for attendees with disabilities. Please consider refraining from using these rows, and if you are seated in this area, please be prepared to offer your seat if another attendee requires it.
Please be courteous to the performers and those around you when taking photographs at concerts or presentations. Ensure that your camera’s flash and any associated sounds (e.g., from a cell phone) are turned off.
Audio and video recording of convention concerts and presentations is discouraged, unless the person recording:- will not block the view of any person in the audience, create noise, or otherwise interrupt, disturb, disrupt, or delay the performance or presentation being recorded;
- will not use said recording for any copyright infringing or other illegal purpose or for any purpose that would be detrimental to the NFA.
Please silence all electronic devices before performances or presentations.
In accordance with NFA policy, refrain from applause at all competition events.
Rehearsals will take place in the performance halls between events. Please do not disturb them. Doors will open 15 minutes prior to the event.
Please refrain from practicing in hotel rooms after 9 p.m.
Please observe policies as a courtesy to all the performers and attendees. |
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