We are delighted to welcome you to the 32nd annual Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Accelerate Conference. This year’s theme, “Illuminate the Future: Envisioning our Next Era of Digital Learning,” invites educators, researchers, and learning professionals from across higher education, K-12, and workforce development to explore bold ideas shaping the next generation of digital learning.

Join us November 16–19, 2026, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida, for an inspiring gathering of leaders and innovators committed to advancing online, blended, and digital education.

As institutions and organizations continue their path towards highly effective and transformative experiences for their learners, OLC Accelerate 2026 provides a space for the digital learning community to come together to imagine, innovate, and grow. This year’s program brings together leading voices from across education and workforce development to share research, explore emerging practices, and improve the learner experience through collaboration. Participants will examine the opportunities and challenges shaping digital education today through five distinct program tracks: Innovative and Effective Digital Learning Design; Leadership, Partnerships, and Organizational Strategy; Learner Success, Engagement, and Empowerment; Professional Development, Quality Assurance, and Support; and Community Engagement.

Accelerate is known for its dynamic and highly interactive program. In addition to traditional education sessions and panels, presenters can share their knowledge and skills through session types such as: Conversation Not Presentation sessions; Discovery Sessions; Gamified Sessions; Express Sessions; Engagement Activities; and Hands-on Workshops, each designed to spark dialogue, encourage experimentation, and foster meaningful collaboration. The conference also features immersive experiences such as the AI Exploration Zone, where attendees can explore emerging generative AI tools and consider their implications for teaching, learning, and workforce development.

While technology continues to transform education, the heart of this conference remains the people who design, teach, research, and support learning every day. Many sessions this year highlight human-centered approaches to digital learning, focusing on how thoughtful design, learner-centered practices, and strong communities can create meaningful learning experiences for students and educators alike.

The OLC Accelerate experience is made possible by the dedication and expertise of our global community of volunteers. Our steering committee, proposal reviewers, track chairs, session facilitators, and field guides represent institutions and organizations from around the world. Together, they help shape a program created by and for professionals working in the online and digital learning space. Their continued work throughout 2026 ensures that this conference reflects the collective knowledge, creativity, and commitment of our OLC Community and attendees.

This year’s program aims to light the way for the digital learning community during a time of both disruption and opportunity. Attendees will gain insight into the outstanding work being led by educators, researchers, and practitioners. Through research presentations, collaborative discussions, and hands-on learning opportunities, participants will explore strategies for designing engaging digital experiences, supporting learner success, and leading meaningful institutional change.

Returning to the familiar setting of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, OLC Accelerate 2026 offers a vibrant environment for connection and collaboration. Throughout the conference, attendees will have opportunities to engage with peers, discover emerging technologies, share their work, and build partnerships that will extend far beyond the conference itself.

For those presenting, OLC provides a range of presenter services and support resources to help make sessions engaging, accessible, and impactful. The conference also offers valuable leadership opportunities for volunteers and presenters alike—creating pathways for professional growth and continued involvement in the OLC community.

Our Call for Proposals opened March 17th, and we encourage educators, researchers, and practitioners to submit proposals that highlight innovative practices, emerging research, and creative approaches to digital learning. The full conference program will be announced later this summer.

It is an honor to help convene this extraordinary community of educators, researchers, and innovators. OLC Accelerate has long been a place where new ideas take shape, partnerships begin, and the future of digital learning is imagined together.

We look forward to welcoming you to Orlando and to the conversations, collaborations, and discoveries that await at OLC Accelerate 2026.

Join us in Orlando and be part of the #OLCAccelerate experience.