The 2026 North American Hostel Association Annual Conference is Coming to Montreal
When is the North American Hostel Association Annual Conference Being Held
From April 28-30, 2026, the North American Hostel Association (NAHA) will be hosting its annual conference in Quebec City, Canada. The event is open to the public, inviting anyone to attend the three-day NAHA Conference for a weekend of networking, learning about hostels, and sharing industry information. From panels and guest speakers to post-conference parties and award ceremonies, the 2026 NAHA Conference is poised to be the biggest one to date.
Tickets will be sold until the event. NAHA members receive special pricing. M Montreal Hostel is hosting the conference, although there are several other hostels offering discount codes for conference attendees, including Samesun Montreal, Saintlo Montreal, and Saintlo Ottawa.
As with NAHA membership, the annual NAHA Conference has grown considerably in scale since its inception. Planning and putting on such an event takes several months of preparation and requires the work of dozens of NAHA members and volunteers. NAHA is a major asset to the hostel industry, and its annual conference has become a major focus for the organization as they look to build membership and maintain strong ties within the community.
“Pretty much once the 2025 Conference ended, we started planning this one,” says J. Griggs, President of NAHA and co-owner of Bunk & Brew Hostel in Bend, Oregon. Griggs emphasized how important it is to put on a successful conference, since these annual meetups play a key role in building the sustainability of hostels in North America by bringing people in the industry together in one place and providing one-of-a-kind access to information and networking.
“This is one thing we know we need to do right,” says Griggs. “This is where people (in the industry) put a face to a name, a face to a phone call. This is the time of year when we get to know who is in the family.”
What to Expect at the Conference
Griggs, who took the torch from NAHA-founder Jim Kennett as president of the organization, helped oversee and orchestrate the previous two NAHA conferences. While the annual conference has grown in scale, the goal remains the same: to educate industry members and to establish strong networks within the hostel community.
“I want (attendees) to rely on the network. I want them to remember that any problem they’ve had, there’s probably another hostel that’s been there,” says Griggs. “Attendees should come to be educated, and come to be social. We want to make sure that there are opportunities at these conferences to break off and connect with people with common interests.”
Conference attendees can expect a weekend packed with special-guest speakers, industry-driven panels, social hours, and opportunities to enjoy the small-city charm of Quebec City. Following the conference, there will be a post-conference trip, which includes maple farm tours, walking tours, and outdoor activities in Montreal and Quebec City. Following the post-conference trip, there will be a post-post conference, which Griggs says, ‘has no agenda’, but is designed for attendees with time to stick around and build networks with other industry members while exploring the city.
How to get Tickets to the Conference
More information about the conference program and lodging information can be found on the NAHA website. NAHA members get special pricing, and each additional attendee requires a separate ticket purchase. Get your tickets early and save!
