Events
NCEL 2026 National Forum
July 23 - 25, 2026
Join us for NCEL’s 2026 National Forum
Topics include affordability, data centers & energy, disaster response, and housing & transportation.
NCEL will host its annual National Forum in Chicago, Illinois, from Thursday, July 23, to Saturday, July 25, 2026. All Forum sessions will take place at The Fairmont Millennium Park Hotel in Chicago, IL. Travel and hotel expenses are covered up to $1,500 via reimbursements.
About the National Forum
NCEL’s National Forum is known for leaving legislators with actionable solutions for them to bring back to their states. The Forum will feature sessions on affordability, data centers, disaster response and resilience, housing, transportation, biodiversity, and more, with over 200 state legislators from across the country in attendance.
Attendees will walk away with a set of policy options and be able to connect and network with other legislators interested in working on similar issues. The actions of states are more crucial than ever in serving as a backstop for lasting environmental protections.
This event is limited to current state legislators.
Please note that you will be responsible for booking your lodging. You will receive a link to book your hotel room with NCEL’s discounted rate after registering. Reimbursements up to $1,500 are available for the hotel and flights. Please contact events@ncelenviro.org if prepurchasing the hotel and/or flight is a barrier to registration.
2026 Sponsorship Opportunities
NCEL is inviting environmentally conscious businesses and organizations to support the 2026 National Forum. The benefits of sponsorship include event signage, expo tabling, Forum attendance, session introductions, and more. View the resource linked below or contact NCEL Chief Partnership Officer Salvatore Messina for more information.
Forum FAQ
When does the conference begin and end?
The Forum will begin at 9:00 AM CT on Thursday, July 23. The event will conclude by 5:00 PM CT on Saturday, July 25.
We recommend arriving on July 22 and departing on July 25 if possible.
Where is the conference taking place?
Lodging and all Forum events will be at The Fairmont Millennium Park Hotel in Chicago, IL.
Who is allowed to attend?
Only state legislators currently holding office are invited to register. Attendees may also bring one spouse/partner by registering them with a guest ticket.
Staffers can attend on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Taylor Anderson if you are interested in having your staffer attend.
How much does registration cost and what does it cover?
$250 – In-person registration to the Forum, July 23 – July 25, 2026
In-person registration includes:
- Entrance to all plenary and breakout sessions.
- All Forum meals, including at least two breakfasts, two lunches, break snacks, and one dinner.
- Unlimited coffee and hot tea during the Forum.
- All conference materials, including a printed conference program and attendee list.
- Access to all session presentations and materials.
- Registration does not include lodging.
Please note that this year, we are asking attendees to book their own hotel. When possible, we also request that attendees cover lodging and travel from campaign or personal funds.
Hotel and flight reimbursements up to $1,500 per attendee will be available. Please contact events@ncelenviro.org with questions.
If pre-purchasing the hotel or flight is a barrier to registration, please contact events@ncelenviro.org so we can assist.
How do I reserve my hotel room?
NCEL has a room block at The Fairmont Millennium Park Hotel with a discounted rate. The reservation link will be available soon for you to book your hotel. Only rooms booked within NCEL’s room block will be eligible for reimbursements.
Are hotel and flight reimbursements available?
NCEL is offering hotel and flight reimbursements up to $1,500 per attendee. Please contact events@ncelenviro.org if you have any questions.
In case of an emergency or last-minute conflict, how do I cancel my registration?
If necessary, please contact events@ncelenviro.org with your cancellation.
NCEL is able to offer a full refund up to four weeks before the event and a 50% refund up to two weeks before the event.
With our hotel and meal counts finalized weeks before the event, we are unable to offer refunds for cancellations within two weeks.
Memories from the 2025 National Forum
Legislator Spotlights
I love the NCEL National Forum because it is full of substantive policy discussion on ways to move forward on protecting our environment and I get to learn from other state legislators who have been working on these issues.
Priya Sundareshan, Arizona State Senator
The NCEL National Forum continues to be one of my favorite events of the year because it is always a perfect mix of novel legislative ideas ready for implementation and networking with other legislators and professionals who care deeply about our environment.
Steve Yeager, State Assemblymember, Nevada
Of the different legislative conferences I attend, NCEL’s annual forum is always the most relevant and useful one. I appreciate the way NCEL connects policy discussions to model legislation and provides legislators with a wealth of resources for transforming ideas into bills that are the vehicle for implementing those ideas.
Nicole Lowen, State Representative, Hawaii
NCEL provides exactly the type of support I need to be an effective environmental legislator. Their topic briefing books, webinars, and working groups are great sources of information. The annual conference is a can’t-miss event. It’s an opportunity to meet legislators from other states and learn about the work that they are doing. Every session includes information about legislation introduced in various states that could be used or adapted to address the issues in the session.
Sheila Ruth, Maryland State Delegate
