GPN & ARE-ON Joint Conference 2026
This joint Annual Conference between GPN & ARE-ON is being hosted in Rogers, Arkansas, this year.
Join us in Rogers, Arkansas, for the GPN (Great Plains Network) & ARE-ON Joint Conference 2026 — a strategic partnership bringing together two of the region's leading research and education networking organizations into a single, high-impact three-day event.
This page contains everything you need to plan your attendance. Please read the sections below carefully to select the right registration ticket, book your hotel room at our negotiated rate, and explore sponsorship opportunities. Additional mini-events including workshops and tours will be added as separate ticketed events at a later date.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This conference is designed for faculty, staff, and employees of institutions that are direct members of ARE-ON or the Great Plains Network (GPN). We especially encourage attendance from those working in IT leadership, networking and infrastructure, cybersecurity, research computing, and grant administration — but all employees of member institutions are welcome.
Employees of ARE-ON and GPN member institutions are entitled to complimentary registration. If you are unsure whether your institution is a member, please check with your IT department or reach out to our conference organizer before registering.
Not a member of ARE-ON or GPN? Non-member tickets are available for purchase, and we'd love to have you join us.
Organizations interested in showcasing their products and services to this audience are encouraged to review our Sponsor Packet before registering, as sponsorship packages include exhibit floor presence and additional benefits beyond a standard attendee ticket.
Not sure whether this conference is right for you or your team? Reach out to our conference organizer, Michelle Stewart, at gpnconference@greatplains.net, and she'll be happy to help.
REGISTRATION
Please select the ticket that best reflects your relationship with GPN and ARE-ON:
If you are an employee of a GPN or ARE-ON member institution, select the Joint Conference 2026 — Member Registration ticket. This ticket covers the full conference experience beginning with the Monday Opening Night Reception on June 22 through the close of the conference on Wednesday, June 24.
If you are attending the GPN Annual Meeting committee meetings on Monday, June 22 only, select the GPN Annual Meeting Day Registration (6/22) ticket. If you plan to attend the full conference Tuesday and Wednesday as well, you must register for this ticket in addition to the Joint Conference 2026 — Member Registration ticket.
If you are not affiliated with a GPN or ARE-ON member institution, select the Joint Conference 2026 — Non-Member Registration ticket for full conference access.
Not sure which ticket applies to you? Contact Michelle Stewart at gpnconference@greatplains.net before registering.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM & SCHEDULE
This conference will consist of the following:
Monday, June 22, 2026 - Day 1 - GPN Annual Meeting Day (for GPN & ARE-ON Members wishing to participate in GPN committee meetings) located at Northwest Arkansas Community College Building from 11:30 am - 5:30 pm. NOTE: This is the only day meetings are at a different location other than the hotel.
Monday, June 22, 2026 - Day 1 - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Opening Night Reception at the Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas Hotel and Convention Center (For ALL GPN, ARE-ON and Sponsors/Vendors)
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - Day 2 - Main Day conference with full day of keynotes, breakout sessions along with a full day exhibit hall (For ALL GPN, ARE-ON and Sponsors/Vendors) located at the Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas Hotel and Convention Center Meeting Rooms from 7:00 am - 6:30 pm. There will be a networking reception to close out the meeting day from 5:00 - 6:30 pm along with GPN's B.E.E.R.Net gathering that night from 8:00 - 10:30 pm.
Day 3 - Wednesday, June 24, 2026 will continue our program of meetings, breakout sessions and workshops from 7:00 am - 3:00 pm and a morning of the full sponsor exhibit hall (ends at lunch time)(For ALL GPN, ARE-ON and Sponsors/Vendors) along with afternoon workshops that end at 5:00 pm.
SCHEDULE
GPN & ARE-ON Joint Conference 2026 Annual Meeting Schedule (Initially available after 4/1, with session details after 5/1:
https://gpnareonjointconference2026.sched.com/
Additional ticketed mini-events — including workshops and tours scheduled throughout the conference — will be listed as separate Eventbrite events at a later date. Keep an eye on the schedule page above for updates as these are added.
Please see the schedule for more details!
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
We have negotiated a hotel block of rooms at the Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas Hotel and Convention Center where the joint conference will be hosted. The negotiated rate is $159/night and available until 5/23/26.
Access Hotel block booking link: HERE
SPONSORSHIPS
GPN & ARE-ON are offering multiple Sponsor Opportunities along with Exhibitor spots to showcase organization, products, and services to high‐level decision makers. These opportunities are available on a first-come, first-served basis until the deadline of May 1, 2026. If you would like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please download the Sponsor Packet HERE.
Any other questions, please reach out to organizer Michelle Stewart at gpnconference@greatplains.net.
We look forward to seeing you in June 2026 in Rogers, AR!
This joint Annual Conference between GPN & ARE-ON is being hosted in Rogers, Arkansas, this year.
Join us in Rogers, Arkansas, for the GPN (Great Plains Network) & ARE-ON Joint Conference 2026 — a strategic partnership bringing together two of the region's leading research and education networking organizations into a single, high-impact three-day event.
This page contains everything you need to plan your attendance. Please read the sections below carefully to select the right registration ticket, book your hotel room at our negotiated rate, and explore sponsorship opportunities. Additional mini-events including workshops and tours will be added as separate ticketed events at a later date.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This conference is designed for faculty, staff, and employees of institutions that are direct members of ARE-ON or the Great Plains Network (GPN). We especially encourage attendance from those working in IT leadership, networking and infrastructure, cybersecurity, research computing, and grant administration — but all employees of member institutions are welcome.
Employees of ARE-ON and GPN member institutions are entitled to complimentary registration. If you are unsure whether your institution is a member, please check with your IT department or reach out to our conference organizer before registering.
Not a member of ARE-ON or GPN? Non-member tickets are available for purchase, and we'd love to have you join us.
Organizations interested in showcasing their products and services to this audience are encouraged to review our Sponsor Packet before registering, as sponsorship packages include exhibit floor presence and additional benefits beyond a standard attendee ticket.
Not sure whether this conference is right for you or your team? Reach out to our conference organizer, Michelle Stewart, at gpnconference@greatplains.net, and she'll be happy to help.
REGISTRATION
Please select the ticket that best reflects your relationship with GPN and ARE-ON:
If you are an employee of a GPN or ARE-ON member institution, select the Joint Conference 2026 — Member Registration ticket. This ticket covers the full conference experience beginning with the Monday Opening Night Reception on June 22 through the close of the conference on Wednesday, June 24.
If you are attending the GPN Annual Meeting committee meetings on Monday, June 22 only, select the GPN Annual Meeting Day Registration (6/22) ticket. If you plan to attend the full conference Tuesday and Wednesday as well, you must register for this ticket in addition to the Joint Conference 2026 — Member Registration ticket.
If you are not affiliated with a GPN or ARE-ON member institution, select the Joint Conference 2026 — Non-Member Registration ticket for full conference access.
Not sure which ticket applies to you? Contact Michelle Stewart at gpnconference@greatplains.net before registering.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM & SCHEDULE
This conference will consist of the following:
Monday, June 22, 2026 - Day 1 - GPN Annual Meeting Day (for GPN & ARE-ON Members wishing to participate in GPN committee meetings) located at Northwest Arkansas Community College Building from 11:30 am - 5:30 pm. NOTE: This is the only day meetings are at a different location other than the hotel.
Monday, June 22, 2026 - Day 1 - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Opening Night Reception at the Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas Hotel and Convention Center (For ALL GPN, ARE-ON and Sponsors/Vendors)
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - Day 2 - Main Day conference with full day of keynotes, breakout sessions along with a full day exhibit hall (For ALL GPN, ARE-ON and Sponsors/Vendors) located at the Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas Hotel and Convention Center Meeting Rooms from 7:00 am - 6:30 pm. There will be a networking reception to close out the meeting day from 5:00 - 6:30 pm along with GPN's B.E.E.R.Net gathering that night from 8:00 - 10:30 pm.
Day 3 - Wednesday, June 24, 2026 will continue our program of meetings, breakout sessions and workshops from 7:00 am - 3:00 pm and a morning of the full sponsor exhibit hall (ends at lunch time)(For ALL GPN, ARE-ON and Sponsors/Vendors) along with afternoon workshops that end at 5:00 pm.
SCHEDULE
GPN & ARE-ON Joint Conference 2026 Annual Meeting Schedule (Initially available after 4/1, with session details after 5/1:
https://gpnareonjointconference2026.sched.com/
Additional ticketed mini-events — including workshops and tours scheduled throughout the conference — will be listed as separate Eventbrite events at a later date. Keep an eye on the schedule page above for updates as these are added.
Please see the schedule for more details!
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
We have negotiated a hotel block of rooms at the Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas Hotel and Convention Center where the joint conference will be hosted. The negotiated rate is $159/night and available until 5/23/26.
Access Hotel block booking link: HERE
SPONSORSHIPS
GPN & ARE-ON are offering multiple Sponsor Opportunities along with Exhibitor spots to showcase organization, products, and services to high‐level decision makers. These opportunities are available on a first-come, first-served basis until the deadline of May 1, 2026. If you would like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please download the Sponsor Packet HERE.
Any other questions, please reach out to organizer Michelle Stewart at gpnconference@greatplains.net.
We look forward to seeing you in June 2026 in Rogers, AR!
Good to know
Highlights
- 2 days 5 hours
- In person
Refund Policy
Location
Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas - Hotel, Spa & Convention Center
3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway
Rogers, AR 72758
How do you want to get there?
