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The 2026 Conference
The national gathering for leaders strengthening civic life in America
Join civic leaders, funders, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders for NCoC’s annual convening exploring the ideas, data, and collaborations shaping the future of civic health in the United States.
Why Lexington, KY
For the first time, NCoC will host its annual conference in Lexington, Kentucky. Named a national model for strengthening American democracy by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Lexington boasts an active and engaged citizenry that models that spirit of participation and community connection that has been at the heart of NCoC’s work for the last 80 years.
Lexington is also a city where NCoC has forged rich partnerships. For the conference, we will collaborate with leading place-based civic organization CivicLex and our longstanding partners at the University of Kentucky. And we recently announced that we will be expanding the American Conversation Project in Knight cities across the country, of which Lexington is one.
THE 2025 CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE
300+
attendees
27
volunteers
28+
states/countries represented
Past conferences have included attendees from organizations, companies, and academic institutions such as AmeriCorps, C-SPAN, Carnegie Mellon, Center for Democracy Innovation, CF Leads, Gates Foundation, Institute for Citizens & Scholars, Knight Foundation, Markup, MIT, Mott Foundation, National Institute for Civil Discourse, New Profit, Northeastern, NPR, Omidyar Network, UN Foundation, US Census Bureau, US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in addition to elected officials and authors.
Why Attend?
In a critical year for our democracy — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and another opportunity to choose our leaders — NCoC will convene experts and practitioners to explore what it takes to build civic infrastructure with intention and sustained action.
The national convening for civic health leaders, NCoC’s conference reflects the culmination of 80 years of measuring, strengthening, and investing in civic life — all anchored by the belief that democracy requires active citizenship.
This Conference Is For
- Civic health leaders
- Government leaders and/or policymakers
- Philanthropic leaders and funders
- Researchers and data experts
- Nonprofit and public sector leaders
- Journalists
What to Expect
- Keynotes and fireside chats with civic leaders from across the country
- Collaborative problem-solving and workshops led by thought leading attendees
- Civic salon
- Cross-sector networking
- Actionable tools and resources you can bring home