I have a canvas in my office with the phrase “Be Bold, Brave, & Brilliant” on it. While this may only be a step above Live, Laugh, Love in terms of cliched office décor, I love it. It reminds me to speak confidently and push against the status quo with fresh ideas, but to do so with intention and forethought. As I sit here thinking about the 2026 OLC Innovate conference, I am reminded that at the heart of innovation are individuals who recognize when a change is needed. These individuals fearlessly push boundaries for the collective good. Innovators are bold. They are brave. They are brilliant.

This year’s conference theme is “Future in Focus: Vision, Innovation, and Global Impact for a New Era.” A glance at the conference program promises that attendees will look at what the future of digital education may hold when we come together virtually March 3-5. Innovators see the many emerging disruptors to education. At a time when workloads and resources may be growing at disproportionate rates and each day brings significant changes, the world of education may feel unsteady. While some educators may choose to ignore these disruptors and focus on the tried, true, and traditional in these times, Innovators sense the critical mass of this moment. We see the fissure separating past views of education from the inevitable future. How do we balance the rise of artificial intelligence, the changing perceptions of education’s value, and shifts to how education is organized and delivered? Education is changing, and Innovators bravely challenge how to retain the best of teaching and learning while stepping boldly into a new era.

The program for Innovate 2026 reflects Innovators’ desire to courageously transform the future of education. Our trailblazing presenters are ready to share their research and experiences in interactive sessions. If you’ve never attended a virtual OLC conference, you are truly in for a treat! This conference is not some passive webinar. Innovators value dynamic connections and collaborations. You will engage with presenters and fellow attendees in workshops and discussions where we forge the digital future together. Have that chat panel open! Innovators are active learners and crave opportunities to share, question, and connect. Together, we will ponder the challenges and questions which impede learning. In these interactions, insights will ignite, and inspiration will catalyze into creative blueprints for future change. Innovators are shaping the future of education, and the surge of momentum when we come together is both brilliant and unstoppable.

As you review this year’s conference program, note how each session is set to empower learning in new ways. This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Tricia Bertram Gallant, will address attendees on The Opposite of Cheating: Teaching for Integrity in an AI-Driven Online World on the first day of the conference. Throughout the conference, there are design sprints where attendees can explore future-ready frameworks that transcend traditional academic calendars and challenge us to evolve institutional approaches to learning design. In numerous sessions, attendees will explore how to leverage AI in ways which empower students to succeed: Tested tutoring interventions. Fresh approaches to student orientations. OERs which expand educational access. Wellness resources for students AND educators! From K-12 to higher education to workforce development and learning, there are Innovators ready to share their perspectives and collectively craft inventive models of learning for the future. Simply put, it’s going to be a FANTASTIC opportunity to learn and connect with other digital learning professionals.

Conference Chair Jennifer Wurch recently asked, “What does innovation in digital learning actually require of us right now, at this moment?” I think it requires boldness. It requires bravery. It requires brilliance. As an Innovator, how would you answer this question? I hope you will join us for the 2026 Innovate conference and share your thoughts with us. Together, we can bring the future into focus and create an impactful new era of education.