What's New > Are You Ready for the 2026 Conference in Nashville?
posted on Dec 17, 2025
The National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE) is bringing its 2026 Annual Conference to the heart of "Music City." Scheduled for January 7–10, 2026, the event will be hosted at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University.
This year’s theme, "Harmonizing Voices: Building Cultures of Belonging and Excellence," sets the stage for a collaborative exploration of modern kinesiology.
Key Conference Details
- Location: Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, 2555 West End Ave, Nashville, TN.
- Focus Areas: The program features four main strands: New Horizons in Kinesiology, Mental Health and Burnout, Cohesion and Belonging, and Leadership and Administration.
- Noteworthy Lecturers: Highlights include the Delphine Hanna Lecture by Justin Haegele, the Amy Morris Homans Lecture by Jody Langdon, and the Praxis Lecture by Samuel Hodge.
Preparing for Your Trip
- Travel Tips: Nashville International Airport (BNA) is approximately 11 miles from the hotel. While there is no hotel shuttle, ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are readily available from the airport's Ground Transportation Center.
- What to Pack: Nashville in January can be chilly. Attendees are encouraged to bring layers, university gear for sessions, and business casual attire for daily events. Don't forget an outfit for the Awards Banquet on Wednesday night, and—optional but recommended—cowboy boots for potential line dancing.
- Conference Logistics: Use the Whova app to coordinate ride-sharing and stay updated on session schedules.
Experience "Music City"
Beyond the academic sessions, take advantage of the conference's prime location:
- Social Outing: Join fellow attendees for a Nashville Predators vs. New York Islanders hockey game on Thursday, January 8th.
- Nearby Attractions: The hotel is steps away from Centennial Park, home to the famous Parthenon replica, and a short distance from the vibrant nightlife of Broadway and Music Row.
Once again, we will use an online platform called Whova for our event. You can download the Whova Mobile App or access it from the Web Platform on a desktop.
- View the event agenda and plan your personal schedule
- Access to documents and slides shared by organizers or speakers
- Find who else is attending this event and reach out to people ahead of time
- Plan social activities, such as a morning run, coffee hours, or meet-ups, with your fellow attendees. You can even post job openings.
- Receive updates from the organizers, such as last-minute session changes.
For registration questions or specific program details, contact Lindsey Nanney, the 2026 Conference Planner, at nanneyl@uncw.edu.