We are excited to welcome you back for ISSA Conference 2026, a landmark gathering for the early childhood field.

This year, we unite around a shared and urgent focus: advancing integrated early childhood systems that place every child’s wellbeing at the centre by strengthening coordinated action across sectors, disciplines, and services.

• Strand 1 – How integration is governed - STRUCTURE
• Strand 2 – How integration is financed and measured RESOURCES
• Strand 3 – How integration is co-constructed and sustained relationally RELATIONSHIPS

Learn more about the theme and strands here, as well as about the highly interactive “hackathon” format that this year’s conference will offer, and the initial program outline. Keynote speakers will be announced soon, as will pre-conference and social events and site visits, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

ISSA Conference 2026 is co-hosted by ISSA and the Learning for Well-Being Institute, in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation, APEI, the OECD WISE Centre, and Act for Early Years. The conference will take place in Lisbon on October 22–23, with pre-conference events on October 21.