Frequently Asked Questions

Registration will open on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The link to register will be available on the FNCE^® home page.

Henry B González Convention Center
900 E Market St
San Antonio, TX 78205

Some events may take place at the Co-Headquarter (HQ) hotels, Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk and San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, and that will be noted on the website.

Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk
600 E. Market St.
San Antonio, TX 78205

San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter
101 Bowie St.
San Antonio, TX 78205

Registration for FNCE^® 2026 opens on June 10.

All FNCE^® hotels are within walking distance, nine blocks or less of the Henry B González Convention Center. ADA Accessibility shuttles will be provided beginning on Saturday, October 24 and running through Tuesday, October 27.

Yes, review the FNCE^® Code of Conduct.

The conference and education schedule will be available in May. Check back later for more updates.

Yes, badges must be worn at all times while inside the Henry B González Convention Center.

The FNCE^® 2026 conference app will be available for download on Apple and Android devices in October. The app will include the full program, handouts, maps, evaluations and more

• Sunday, October 25: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Central time)
• Monday, October 26: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Central time)
• Tuesday, October 27: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Central time)

The Expo is in Hall BC at the Henry B González Convention Center.

Yes! We will kick off FNCE^® with a Welcome Party on Saturday, October 24 immediately following the Opening Keynote. All FNCE attendees are invited. The Academy’s Dietetic Practice Groups (DPGs) and Member Interest Groups (MIGs) host several events where attendees can network, socialize, and learn about the groups. Registration is required for these events. Additionally, the Networking Social at the DPG/MIG Showcase is free and open to all FNCE^® attendees. More info coming soon.

The Academy is committed to ensuring FNCE^® is as accessible as possible and strives to remove barriers that would exclude people from participating. Here are some of the accessibility considerations at FNCE^®:

• Required accessibility needs question included on FNCE^® registration to ensure all needs are captured.
• Complimentary ADA-accessible shuttle between FNCE^® hotels and convention center during peak hours.
• All FNCE^® hotels are contractually bound to offer full ADA-compliant rooms if requested during booking, at no additional charge.
• Live AI-enabled voice-to-text captioning on screen for the hearing impaired during educational sessions.
• Stage lift and/or ramp for speakers and moderators, if requested.
• Color and contrast compliance for visual assets (digital and print).
• Restrooms: All public restrooms in the facility are ADA accessible. Family restrooms and Lactation rooms are also located throughout the facility.
• Parking: There are ADA accessible parking spots located in the on-site parking garages. Standard parking rates apply.
• General Session Seating: The General Session and Breakout Rooms offer seating areas designated for people using wheelchairs.
• Sensory Accessibility: Light: Common areas at the Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center are lit with accent lighting and natural light. All Meeting Rooms and Exhibition Halls have high-efficiency LED lighting. The Ballroom and Meeting Rooms' lighting can be dimmed. Lighting in the Ballroom and Exhibition Halls can have color lighting applied. Digital displays throughout the building show various graphics, which may include quick movements or bright colors. Sound: The sound levels at the convention center vary depending on the types and number of events in the building at once.
• Tranquility Room: A tranquility room for meditation/prayer will be made available during FNCE^® hours. It will be made for all attendees who want to pray, meditate, or just find a quiet space during the hustle and bustle of FNCE^®. Feel free to stop by anytime during the conference.
• Mobility: The following company provides mobility wheelchairs and scooter rentals in San Antonio:
  • Tom's Wheelchairs
    118 Broadway #540
    San Antonio, Texas
    Phone: (210) 223-7878
    Contact: Tommy Galan

Children under the age of 16 are not permitted in educational sessions or the Expo Hall. Children and young adults over the age of 16 must be registered as guests and always wear a badge while in the convention center and at hotel-based events and be accompanied by a registered FNCE^® attendee. Strollers and roller carts are not allowed in the Expo Hall or education session rooms.

Expo Hall Attendees

Infants 12 months and younger will be allowed in the Expo Hall during show hours only and must always be carried in arms or a front baby carrier (where the baby is affixed to the front registered FNCE^® attendee . Everyone not eligible to be an Academy member, or ages 16 and older, must be registered as a guest for the conference, wear the official badge and if under 18, be accompanied by a registered FNCE^® attendee. You may be asked to step out of the room if your child is being disruptive.

Exhibitors

Exhibitor booth staff must be registered as such and be 18 years of age or older, no exceptions. Anyone in violation of these rules will have their booth closed and will not be provided with a refund.

Childcare is not available at the convention center; however, your hotel concierge may be able to assist you.

Yes! We will have lactation lounges at all FNCE^® venues, Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center, Grand Hyatt San Antonio Riverwalk, and San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, equipped with refrigerators for daily milk storage.

San Antonio, a city where rich history, diverse cultures and modern attractions blend seamlessly to create a unique and welcoming experience for all.

As the seventh-largest city in the nation and the second largest in Texas, San Antonio is deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), setting a standard as a vibrant mosaic of cultures and identities within the United States.

This commitment is vividly lived out daily, with both residents and visitors experiencing a city that celebrates diverse identities and fosters an environment of authenticity, safety, and camaraderie.

FNCE^® provides a plethora of CPE through various formats such as educational sessions, workshops, posters and session recordings. Earning power is dependent on individual learning plans, but here is a breakdown of activities:

• Up to a minimum of 15 CPEUs: Educational Sessions (live lecture/seminars)
• Up to 15 CPEUs: Research Posters
• Up to approximately 80 CPEUs: FNCE^® On-Demand (session recordings)

*The exhibit hallfoes not offer CPE hours.

Get detailed information on how to log CPE from FNCE^®.

All sessions, beginning with Opening Session, are open to registered FNCE^® attendees and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Events outside of standard FNCE^® times, such as pre-FNCE^® workshops, excursions and DPG/MIG events, require pre-registration. Attendees are responsible for tracking which sessions and events they attended and submit accordingly in their activity logs.

FNCE^® does not offer a live-stream or virtual attendance option. However, all sessions (with the exception of keynotes) are recorded and available for on-demand viewing.

FNCE^® attendees may purchase the full conference recording package during registration. This package is an exclusive offer for registered attendees. Instructions to access recordings are emailed approximately four weeks after FNCE^®, and recordings are eligible for CPE credit through May 31, 2029.

If you're unable to attend in person, we encourage you to explore other Academy CPE opportunities.

Yes. You can modify your registration using the link in your confirmation email or by returning to the main registration page and logging in. Click through the form until you reach the recording package option, then proceed to the end of the form to submit payment.

Posters will be displayed in the Expo Hall on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of the conference. Poster presenters will be available to answer questions during their scheduled presentation time, which can be found on the app and on the FNCE^® website. Posters will also be available for viewing in the app throughout the conference.

Yes. FNCE^® 2026 will offer ethics and health equity-related sessions, and they will be posted on our CPE web page upon approval.

You can easily update your registration by clicking the modify link in your confirmation email or by logging back into the main registration page.

To add specific items, simply navigate through the registration form pages until you reach the desired section. Be sure to continue to the final page to submit any additional payments and finalize your changes.

The online registration form automatically assigns a rate based on your Academy membership status. First, be sure you have entered your Academy member number and email address associated with your membership correctly on the first page of the registration form. If this does not work, please reach out to membership@eatright.org to verify membership status.

Guest badges are available as an add-on to a FNCE ® registration and cannot be purchased a-la-carte. Guests must be registered using their own unique email address.

Guests must be 16 years of age or older and may not be current Academy members or eligible for Academy membership. Guest fees include three keynote sessions (Opening and Closing Sessions, Mission in Motion), and Expo for three days. A name badge is required for admittance to the above activities. Guests cannot attend educational sessions or earn CPE.

Meals are not provided by the conference so you will want to plan accordingly. Exhibiting companies often give away complimentary samples on the trade show floor, and there may be some sponsored snack breaks. If you're looking for other food options, check out the San Antonio dining and nightlife guide.

Yes! There are multiple stipend and grant opportunities for FNCE^® attendees.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation awards stipends to offset the cost of in-person FNCE^® 2026 attendance. Students and dietetic interns enrolled for the Fall 2026 semester, as well as practicing dietitians who have maintained their RDN credential for five years or more, are eligible to apply. Academy membership is required for all applicants.

• The applications for both student and practitioner stipends are available within the Foundation's electronic application portal on June 10.
• The deadline for students and dietetic interns to apply for a Foundation Student Stipend is 10 a.m. Central Time on Friday, September 4.
• Foundation Practitioner Stipends will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Please check the application portal for updates regarding he availability of stipends.

The FNCE^® registration cancelation deadline is Wednesday, September 9, 2026. There is a link to cancel in the confirmation email you received. You also can return to the main registration page, log in and cancel.

Up until on or before Wednesday, September 9, 2026, cancellations can be done by modifying your registration through your confirmation email. Registrations, workshops, and excursions will be refunded, less a $50 processing fee. All other add-ons will not be refunded, and Academy Foundation or Academy Political Action Committee (ANDPAC) events will be considered donations. Refunds will only be refunded back to the original form of payment or as a credit for future FNCE^® registrations.

After September 9, the Academy will review cancellation refund requests on a case-by-case basis for extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances include severe weather events which disrupt the ability to travel, unexpected health issues or injuries with a medical note, family emergencies due to death or critical illness, and legal restrictions like jury duty or passport/visa issues. Supporting documentation is required for all extenuating circumstances to be considered for refunds after the deadline.

Refund requests received after the Cancellation Deadline of September 9, 2026, are not guaranteed and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

No refund requests will be accepted, regardless of reason, one week after FNCE^®, November 3, 2026.

While we are not authorized to provide an invitation letter, we do have an information letter template available.

Join the FNCE^® 2026 Student Host Program and enjoy a special reduced student member registration rate of $50 for volunteering onsite for four to six hours.

As a Student Host, you'll have the unique opportunity to network with peers behind the scenes, engage with Academy staff and meet leaders in the profession — all while participating at the 2026 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo^®.

Applications open to student members starting June 10.

There are lots of opportunities for students at FNCE^®! Make sure to visit the Students at FNCE^® page for all the latest updates on student opportunities and programming. More opportunities get added closer to the conference, so check back soon. While at the conference, make sure to swing by the Student Lounge and find out what’s going on that day.

Yes, we will have on-site registration available at the Henry B González Convention Center. The online registration form will remain open until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, so you can register online as well.

Registration will be located at the Henry B González Convention Center on the 1st floor facing Market Street

• Friday, October 23: noon – 5 p.m. (Central time)
• Saturday, October 24: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Central time)
• Sunday, October 25: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Central time)
• Monday, October 26: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Central time)
• Tuesday, October 27: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Central time)

Registration category determines admission to FNCE^® events. Badges are required for admittance to all FNCE^® events. If lost, badges can be reprinted in the Registration area for a fee of $50.

The Call for Sessions and Workshops will open September 1 and close mid-November 2026. The Call for Poster Abstracts will open January 1 and close February 16, 2027.

More information will be posted online closer to that time. In the meantime, you can learn more about Session and Workshop proposals and get more details about Poster Abstract submissions.

Each fall, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics sponsors the world's largest meeting of food and nutrition experts — more than 7,000 registered dietitians, nutrition science researchers, policymakers, health care providers and industry leaders attend. The annual meeting addresses key issues affecting the health of all Americans.

• October 23-26, 2027 in Washington, D.C.
• October 21-24, 2028 in San Francisco
• October 27-30, 2029 in New Orleans
• October 12-15, 2030 in Indianapolis
• October 25-28, 2031 in Boston