NMEA 2026
Invited Speakers
Evening Events Blue Tech
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Sponsorship Exhibitors

Registration for the 2026 conference will open April 1, 2026

CONFERENCE DATES

  • Saturday, July 11: Sea Grant Educators Meeting, Board Dinner

  • Sunday July 12: NMEA Board Meeting, Opening Reception

  • Monday July 13: Plenary Session, Concurrent Sessions, Poster Session, Exhibit Hall Open, Evening Event at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

  • Tuesday, July 14: Plenary Session, Concurrent Sessions, Student Day at NMEA, Exhibits, Stegner presentation, NMEA 50th Anniversary Banquet and Auction

  • Wednesday, July 15: Plenary Session, Concurrent Sessions, Awards and Business Meeting, Share-a-thon, Evening Maryland Crab Feast Riverboat Cruise (ticketed)

  • Thursday, July 16: Full and half-day field trips, Blue Technology Workshop

CONFERENCE LOCATION

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, Cambridge, MD

  • Membership is not required for conference registration, but NMEA members get discounted rates. Membership expired? Renew today!

  • Non-member registration includes a 1-year professional membership

Full Conference

Full Conference Registration

  • Full access to all plenary and concurrent sessions

  • Includes breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and evening events from Sunday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon

  • Access to exhibit hall and poster session

  • Recorded presentations and networking available during and after the conference on our conference app Whova

  • Priceless opportunities to network and see friends and colleagues from around the world!

  • Note: Field trips, Wednesday evening event, t-shirt and program are not included but can be added during registration.

SUPER FULL REGISTRATION

Don’t miss out on anything! The SUPER FULL REGISTRATION rate includes everything listed above PLUS the Wednesday evening event, conference T-shirt and program! Does not include field trips so don't forget to add one for the extended conference experience.

Single Day

  • Full access to all plenary and concurrent sessions on registered day

  • Includes breakfast and networking lunch on registered day

  • Access to exhibit hall

  • Recorded presentations and networking available during and after the conference on Whova

  • Priceless opportunities to network and see friends and colleagues from around the world!

  • Note: Evening events and field trips are not included but can be added during registration.

Virtual

Can’t make it to Cambridge to join us in person? Register for our virtual conference and join us remotely! 

Please note that we are NOT live streaming any part of this year’s conference. All keynotes will be recorded and uploaded and presenters will be encouraged to upload materials from their presentations. Participants will have the opportunity to participate virtually 2 ways:

  • Asynchronous Presentation submission and Whova networking, or Whova networking only access available

Student Day at NMEA

Student Day at NMEA will be on Tuesday, July 14 and does not include evening events. Three registration types are available:

  • Student Day in-person (full-time students 18 and over; includes breakfast and lunch on student day)

  • Student Asynchronous Presentation submission and Whova networking (13 and over with parent permission)

  • Student Whova networking only access (13 and over with parent permission)

If you have any questions, contact the conference committee, nmea2026@marine-ed.org.