2026 US Conference on HIV/AIDS
2026 U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS
Register to join us from September 17-20, 2026 in Anaheim, CA
Theme ~ United and Unbreakable: The HIV Movement at 45
The United States Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) is the nation’s largest convener of community, workforce and frontline service providers, government, policymakers, and healthcare industry across the HIV movement.
Check out the #2025USCHA vibe here!
A Milestone Year
We open the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS by honoring the 45 years , when the CDC first reported the emergence of AIDS – a moment that sparked a wave of activism, courage, and community power.
From the fear and stigma of the early crisis to today’s reality – where treatment allows people with HIV to thrive and prevention tools keep people HIV-free-we stand in a milestone year. It’s a moment to celebrate progress and to uplift the communities who have led, persisted, and carried one another forward.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of USCHA. Born as NMAC’s National Skills Building Conference, it has grown into a powerful community-driven response that has shaped three decades of the HIV movement. USCHA’s longevity in the movement is a testament to a community built by us for us.
Convening Our Movement
Themed “United and Unbreakable: The HIV Movement at 45, this year’s convening speaks directly to the lived realities of the communities most impacted by HIV. We have been the face of the epidemic. We have powered the grassroots engine of activism, education, and advocacy. We have pushed systems to deliver care, demanded access to lifesaving treatment and prevention and we have survived – and thrived – because we refused anything less.
But honoring progress is only half the story. This year’s theme calls us to reimagine and rebuild the systems that were never designed for us to flourish. It challenges us to create the equitable pathways to health and wellness we have always deserved.
As leaders who have stayed unapologetically rooted in the struggle for health equity, NMAC will infuse this year’s USCHA with powerful moments from HIV history – moments that shaped a movement and reshaped a nation.
Strengthening Structural and Systemic Excellence
“United and Unbreakable: The HIV Movement at 45” isn’t just a theme—it’s a call to strengthen the very systems that shape our future. As we honor decades of resilience led by communities of color, it aligns with NMAC’s fourth strategic priority—strengthening structural and system excellence through workforce training and organizational capacity building—pushes that legacy forward. It’s about equipping our workforce with the skills, leadership, and infrastructure needed to deliver equitable care, dismantle barriers, and build organizations that are as strong and unbreakable as the movement itself.
This year’s USCHA will put that commitment front and center. Our workshops, institutes, and plenaries are intentionally designed to sharpen skills, elevate leadership, and strengthen the organizations that anchor our communities. From hands-on workforce development sessions to capacity‑building institutes that tackle real‑world challenges, every learning space is crafted to equip participants with the tools to transform systems that were never built for us. This is how we honor 45 years of resilience—by preparing a stronger, smarter, and more unbreakable movement for the next 45.
What is USCHA?
Hosted by NMAC, #2026USCHA lands in Anaheim, CA from September 17–20, 2026, and it couldn’t come at a more urgent moment. In a shifting political landscape, showing up together matters. So what is USCHA?
- A powerhouse platform where frontline workers sharpen skills, build capacity, and exchange bold ideas.
- A growing table for our movement, bringing together the HIV community, the workforce, government, policymakers, and industry to drive us closer to ending the epidemic.
- A joyful family reunion, a safe and affirming space to celebrate one another—especially in uncertain times.
- A unique opportunity for sponsors and donors to invest in the work, connect with essential stakeholders, and stand with the communities leading the movement.
USCHA is where our collective strength becomes unstoppable.
USCHA Goals
- To continue building a table for the HIV movement that brings workforce, industry, government, and policymakers together to shape HIV programs and policies, and protect HIV funding
- To learn about the latest best practices, data, innovation to improve HIV programs and service delivery
- To offer sponsors and exhibitors a unified space to engage and build relationships with the HIV movement through information, messages and products.
- To create a space for the HIV community to reunite and celebrate, feel safe, be loved on, and carry that back to their communities across the country
History
The U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS has long been NMAC’s signature contribution to the HIV movement—a gathering place where our communities are seen, our voices are amplified, and our power is undeniable. What began in the early 1990s as the National Skills Building Conference, focused on strengthening the capacity of HIV community health workers, quickly evolved into something bigger. By 1997, NMAC transformed the meeting into USCHA, a national convening shaped by a coalition of HIV organizations, each bringing expertise across the issues our communities were navigating—housing, organizational development, burnout, and more. As protease inhibitors ushered in a new era of treatment, USCHA became a critical platform pushing for equitable access for communities of color and championing long‑term survival.
USCHA’s longevity mirrors the arc of the epidemic itself—from the first antiretroviral breakthroughs to today’s lifesaving biomedical innovations like long‑acting PrEP. Through every chapter, NMAC has ensured that USCHA remains not just a conference, but a vital part of HIV history: a space where community leadership is cultivated, systems are challenged, and the movement continues to evolve.
2026 USCHA Tracks and Agenda
Details coming soon.
Plenary Sessions & Special Events
Details coming soon.
Registration
Registration is now open. Please make sure to register by July 31, 2026 as the late registration rate for ALL categories is $925.
2026USCHA will be held in Anaheim, CA from September 17 to September 20, 2026
- Late Registration Deadline: July 31, 2026
- Early Bird Deadline:June 29, 2026
- Standard Deadline: July 31, 2026
Ask Your Organization to Send You to USCHA!
We understand you may have to convince your organization to let you attend USCHA. So, we’ve drafted a letter you can share with your supervisor or leadership team. You can download this Word doc and customize it for yourself.
At USCHA, you’ll expand your knowledge, strengthen your professional skills, and build powerful connections with leaders and advocates from across the country. Your organization—and the communities you serve—can directly benefit from the insights and tools you bring back.
2026 USCHA highlights:
- Join more than 2,000 health professionals, community leaders, advocates, and people living with HIV—along with peers, federal partners, funders, and community-based organizations—at the nation’s largest annual HIV convening focused on making real change.
- Explore expert-led sessions on health equity, policy, biomedical prevention, and strategies to end the HIV epidemic.
- Hear from influential keynote speakers driving innovation, advancing justice, and centering community voices.
- Participate in skill-building workshops that translate knowledge into action for your programs and services.
- Earn multiple continuing education units (CEUs) from the following accrediting agencies:
- National Association for Social Workers (NASW)
- National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC)
- George Mason University
- National Board of Public Health Examiners
- Discover resources, tools, and partnerships in the Exhibit Hall from nearly 100 organizations and companies to support your work beyond the conference.
Whether you’re on the front lines or shaping systems, USCHA is your opportunity to connect, learn, share and return empowered to do the work ahead.
Contact
For information, updates, and questions about NMAC’s 2026 US Conference on HIV/AIDS, please email Marketing@NMAC.org
