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IRE 2026

June 18-21, 2026

Join IRE & NICAR for our annual investigative journalism conference - in National Harbor, Maryland (just outside of D.C.!).

The IRE Conference is packed with all things investigative, data, storytelling, public records, networking, old friends and new, and so much more! All packed into three and a half days of take-home tips, hands-on training, and more new friends than you can count.

Please remember, you must be a current IRE member through July 1, 2026, to attend the conference.

Expired members must renew their membership before registering for the conference. Not an IRE member? You can apply online.

Early bird registration for the conference ends May 4, 2026!

Please email us with any questions or comments: conference@ire.org.

Register here

Registration Fees

Professional (general)*, Academic, Associate and Retiree

  • Early bird: $325 (Early bird registration ends May 4, 2026)
  • Regular: $425
  • On-site: $525

Professional (early-career) members

  • Early bird: $150 (Early bird registration ends May 4, 2026)
  • Regular and on-site: $250

Professional (general) members who work as full-time freelancers or Professional (general) members who are currently unemployed

  • Early bird: $150 (Early bird registration ends May 4, 2026)
    • Fill out this form to request discount code
  • Regular and on-site: $250

Student

  • Flat rate: $100

Conference hotel

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
201 W Waterfront St
Oxon Hill, MD

Note: The Gaylord is a cashless property.

The IRE discounted rate is $258/night + *resort fee of $22/night (+taxes).

*The resort fee includes the following: $10 daily credit for dry cleaning, two bottles of water per room per day, access to the pool and fitness center, a coupon book with savings of over $100, transportation on the National Harbor Circulator Bus to a number of locations throughout National Harbor (including the MGM Casino), a daily newspaper located at the marketplace called Key Provisions.

The cut-off for the IRE rate is May 25, or when the room block fills up, whichever comes first. 

You can book your room here: https://book.passkey.com/go/IRandEANNUALCONFERENCE2026

Hotel parking

  • Self-park: $46/day
  • Valet: $70/day

Airports (distance from hotel)

  • Reagan National Airport (DCA) - 8 miles
  • Dulles Airport (IAD) - 35 miles
  • Baltimore  Washington Airport (BWI) - 39 miles

Metro (subway) from Reagan National Airport to the hotel

Airline discounts

Delta Airlines: To book online, click here to use the discount, or call Delta, 1-800-328-1111, Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET, and refer to Meeting Event Code NY488.

Southwest Airlines: To use the NICAR discount, book your travel using this link.

United Airlines: To book online, visit this link and use Offer Code ZRNT948853, or call United Meetings Reservation Desk, 800-426-1122, Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

Fellowships & Scholarships

Applications are now open. Apply by April 7.

Early-bird registration ends May 4. If you register for the conference and receive a fellowship, your conference registration will be refunded.

IRE26 fellowships are available for the following communities:

  • All journalists
  • Journalists, students and educators of color
  • LGBTQ+ journalists
  • Illinois journalism students and early-career journalists (five years post-college graduation)
  • Journalism students in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma or Louisiana (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville students are not eligible)
  • Journalists working to shine a light on the environment and find better ways to preserve it.

For attending the conference in-person, the fellowship includes:

  • One-year IRE membership/renewal ($25-75 value)
  • Complimentary conference registration ($100-325 value)
  • Four hotel nights
  • Travel stipend (up to $500)

All recipients are required to meet IRE’s membership standards: Someone substantially engaged in news gathering, presentation or production; a student pursuing a degree or someone engaged full-time in research or teaching in the field of journalism.

IRE hopes to notify you about the status of your application within 10 business days after the deadline.

Questions? Contact fellowships@ire.org

Wednesday, June 17

3 - 6:30 pm: Pick up your badge or register on-site 

Thursday, June 18

7:30 am - 5 pm: Pick up your badge or register on-site
8 - 8:45 am: Welcome to IRE26! First-timers welcome & networking
9 am - 7 pm: Check out all the great exhibitors & recruiters
9 am - 12:30 pm: Programming begins - hands-on data classes, panels, networking and more!
12:30 - 2:30 pm: Lunch on your own
2:30 - 5:45 pm: Programming cont'd - hands-on data classes, panels, networking and more!
6 - 7:15 pm: Welcome Reception

Friday, June 19

7:45 - 8:50 am: Mentorship program meet-n-greet breakfast (invitation only)
8 am - 5 pm: Pick up your badge or register on-site
9 am - 7 pm: Check out all the great exhibitors & recruiters
9 am - 12:30 pm: Programming begins - hands-on data classes, panels, networking and more!
12:30 - 2:30 pm: Lunch on your own
2:30 - 5:45 pm: Programming cont'd - hands-on data classes, panels, networking and more!

Saturday, June 20

8:00 am - 2 pm: Pick up your badge or register on-site
9 am - 3 pm: Check out all the great exhibitors & recruiters
9 am - 12:30 pm: Programming begins - hands-on data classes, panels and more! 
12:30 - 2:30 pm: IRE Awards Luncheon (Addt'l fee - $100)
2:30 - 5:45 pm: Programming cont'd - hands-on data classes, panels and more!

Sunday, June 21

9 am - 12:30 pm: Programming begins - hands-on data classes, panels and more! 

IRE Principles (Code of Conduct)

Investigative Reporters & Editors is committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of race, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, appearance or religion.

IRE supports vigorous debate and welcomes disagreement, while maintaining a civil and respectful community. Discriminatory or harassing behavior is not permitted.

IRE may take any action it deems appropriate to deal with those who violate our principles, including exclusion from our events, forums, listservs and the organization itself.

The IRE Principles apply to all events and meetings that IRE holds, including entirely virtual ones. Members agree to follow these principles throughout all communications related to the conference and meetings.

This Code of Conduct covers all participants in IRE events and meetings and is in effect the entire time from the beginning until the end of our events and meetings.

If you feel threatened or in immediate jeopardy during an IRE event, call 911 or contact building security.

How to report a complaint

During in-person conferences, we will publicize a contact email that you can use to make a report. In addition, we will make staff and IRE board members easily identifiable, with badges that identify themselves as such, so you know whom to contact if you want to report an issue in person.

During any IRE event or meeting, concerns can be brought to the attention of IRE staff, board members or the meeting organizer in person or a concern can be reported in writing as explained below.

At any time during the year, including conferences and meetings, if you see or experience any violation of this Code — and if your complaint does not involve the IRE Executive Director or IRE Board President — you may click here to file a complaint using our secure online form. Your submission will be forwarded automatically to the Board President and Executive Director. You can expect to hear from the Executive Director, who has discretion to handle all Code of Conduct complaints.

If your complaint involves the Board President, do not fill out this form. Instead, please email your complaint directly to the Executive Director: executivedirector@ire.org.

If your complaint involves the Executive Director, do not fill out this form. Instead, please email your complaint directly to the Board President: president@ire.org.

If your complaint involves both the Board President and the Executive Director, do not fill out this form. Instead, please email your complaint directly to the Board Vice President: vicepresident@ire.org.

Share your ideas through this Google Form.

Please contact Chris Vachon at Chris@ire.org if you are interested in learning more about how to support the IRE26 Conference. 

For more information about exhibitor and recruiter booths, please contact Chris Vachon at Chris@ire.org.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be sent via email to logistics@ire.org. All cancellations must be in writing. There is a $50 processing fee for all cancellations until June 2, 2026. After that date, requests for refunds will be considered case by case. Membership fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Attending From Outside the U.S.

If you require a U.S. visa to attend IRE 2026, you may request a confirmation of registration document only after you have registered and paid in full for the conference.

Please email your request to logistics@ire.org, include your complete name, passport number, mailing address and any other details your country of residence requires for your visa application. IRE is not able to contact or intervene with any embassy or consulate office abroad on your behalf. Please allow 48-72 business hours for letters to be processed and emailed to you.

If your visa application is not approved to attend IRE 2026, please email logistics@ire.org prior to the start of the conference and your registration fee will be refunded in full. Membership fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Recording Notice

All IRE events are subject to being photographed, video/audio-recorded, screen captured and/or live-streamed. Attendees, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors may be captured via these formats. All conference sessions, materials and activities are subject to recording by IRE and may be reproduced in part or whole, and distributed or used in any way consistent with IRE’s mission.

Questions?

For questions about registration or general conference questions, please contact logistics@ire.org.

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