Announcements Events NER Regional Conference

2026 Conference Statement

by Shannon Laine

Dear NER Community,

We are delighted to announce that the 2026 NER Conference will be on March 26-28, 2026 at the Sheraton Harborside in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Since the conclusion of the April 2025 NER conference in Portland, the NER Conference Committee has worked closely with a hotel scout to secure a location for the 2026 conference. Priorities identified from past conference feedback led us to consider location and access, cost, areas that promote inclusivity and that encourage our membership to travel to a multitude of places around the region. Additionally, the committee gathered spring break dates from each school in the region, noting pertinent religious holidays and potential college finals weeks, and considering primary school April vacation weeks, ultimately identifying two prospective weeks for the NER conference. 

The search for a conference venue was exhaustive and conducted with great care, thanks in part to the dedicated work of the NER conference committee. Many of the preferred sites were unavailable for our possible dates, while other sites presented cost-related barriers, accessibility concerns, or oppressive histories. Additional venues, though considered, could not accommodate the projected size and needs of our membership (i.e. ballroom, jam space, and breakout rooms for concurrent sessions). With these challenges in mind, the Sheraton Harborside in Portsmouth, New Hampshire emerged as the only viable option, even though its proximity to Portland, ME (NER 2025) was of concern. Despite not being our first choice, the Sheraton did fit our size, accessibility, and other important considerations, including its location in Portsmouth’s welcoming, vibrant, and progressive downtown community. After thoughtful deliberation, the conference committee determined that the Sheraton Harborside would offer the best option for NER in 2026, given that the alternatives were a remote conference or no conference at all.

Despite our best efforts in considering our region’s needs for conference and responding proactively to feedback we’ve received in the past, we have been made aware of recent federal government activity at the Pease International Tradeport to relocate immigrant detainees from Massachusetts and other New England States to other areas in the country. These federal activities are pervasive and unpredictable, and bring with them very real and serious concerns. Just this past week, Georgia’s Hyundai plant was raided and almost 500 South Korean employees were detained. The administration has named Boston and Chicago as some of its next focal points. Countless cities and communities around our country are grappling with these issues, and transportation hubs are being forced to comply everywhere. 

The NER Executive Board and Conference Committee prioritize the opportunity for our community to gather. This includes investing in the comfort, safety, and access for our members to attend the 2026 NER Conference at the Sheraton Harborside. As a result, we are actively building a plan to promote the welfare of conference attendees, and ensure that our relationships withstand the challenges we face.

As of the writing of this statement, the Conference Committee has:

      • Met to reflect on next steps, including asking for your input and support
      • Connected with regional and national leadership within the American Music Therapy Association to engage in conversations regarding how other regions are approaching these concerns
      • Planning town hall-style dialogues over the course of the fall for members to provide input and suggestions to the Conference Committee regarding the 2026 conference

Action steps that you can take:

NER is a close-knit and truly special community. This is at the heart of how the committee has approached our 2026 conference, and what led to identifying the theme: The Power of Community. However, we can’t do this without each and every one of you. As Helen Keller once said: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” The power of NER comes from that community, the commitments, engagement, and voice of each and every one of you. We look forward to engaging in this work together this fall and winter, culminating in our gathering next spring.

Our sincere hope every year is that our spring conferences provide a safe, meaningful, and creatively enriching opportunity for all who attend. We have worked so that our community can come together to connect, learn, and celebrate the amazing people and work taking place in our region, and we look forward to the growth and improvements that will continue to take place.

Stay tuned for a follow-up email with details and we hope to see you in Portsmouth in 2026.

NER Conference Committee