About IHA’s 25th Annual Virtual Health Literacy Conference

The 25th Annual IHA Health Literacy Conference is the largest virtual conference dedicated to health literacy, bringing professionals together each May to learn, connect, and share practical solutions. This milestone year focuses on moving the field from vision to action, highlighting real-world strategies across three themed days:

  • Supporting People – Improve how individuals and communities understand and use health information through inclusive communication and community partnership.
  • Strengthening the Workforce – Build skills through training, leadership development, and collaboration across the health literacy workforce.
  • Transforming Systems – Embed health literacy into policies, operations, and technologies to create lasting organizational change.

Join a community working to turn health literacy principles into meaningful change.

Registration is Now Open!

Please Note: Free registration closes on May 11, 2026 at 12:00 PM PT / 3:00 PM ET. We encourage attendees to register before the deadline to ensure access to the conference platform and sessions.

Free Registration Includes:

  • Live plenary sessions with leading health literacy experts
  • Live sessions, including lectures, panel discussions, roundtable discussions, and lightning talks
  • On-demand session access
  • Poster Hall featuring digital posters in research and community projects
  • Networking opportunities

Enhance Your Experience with Optional Add-Ons

  • Registration for Preconference, Workshops, and Continuing Education add-ons will close on May 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
View Full Details

New for 2026: A Deeper Conference Experience

This year, the IHA Health Literacy Conference expands the experience with two new opportunities that connect communication, leadership, and policy.

CLP logo

ClearMark Awards – Center for Plain Language
Free with conference registration
May 13, 2026 | 1:15–2:45 p.m. PT | Live virtual
See real examples of outstanding plain language in action. The ClearMark Awards highlight organizations that set the standard for clear communication and give attendees practical ideas they can apply in their own work. Learn more and view the agenda here.

Health Literacy Policy Preconference
Additional $50 registration
May 11, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PT | Live virtual
Presented by USHLA in collaboration with IHA, this optional preconference explores how policy and organizational decisions shape health literacy across systems, with practical strategies for advocacy and systems change.

Together, these additions give attendees a broader view of what it takes to advance health literacy, including strong communication, organizational leadership, and policy and systems change.

Important Dates

Late March 2026

Agenda Release & Registration Launch

May 11–14, 2026

Conference Dates

Conference Tracks

All sessions, including presentations, workshops, lightning talks, and posters, align with one or more of the following tracks:

Clear, accessible communication strategies across healthcare, public health, education,
and digital environments.

The role of health literacy in prevention, population health, emergency preparedness, and health promotion.

Teaching, learning, and training approaches that support health literacy across academic, professional, and community settings.

How language access, cultural humility, lived experience, and identity shape understanding, trust, and engagement.

Integrating health literacy into leadership practices, policies, workflows, and organizational culture.

Community-centered approaches, co-creation, and partnerships that elevate lived experience and shared decision-making.

Ethical considerations in health communication, technology, research, equity, and decision-making.

Early-Career Track

The Early-Career Track helps students and emerging professionals easily identify sessions designed for:

  • Foundational health literacy knowledge and skills
  • Practical guidance for applying health literacy in real-world settings
  • Career navigation, professional development, and early-career perspectives

Early-Career Track sessions are open to all attendees and are intended to support learning and growth regardless of experience level.

Who Should Attend

Organization Types Include:

  • Government and public health
  • Healthcare systems, clinics, insurers, and life sciences
  • Media, marketing, and communications
  • Academic institutions
  • Nonprofit and community-based organizations
  • Human resources, benefits, and workplace wellness

Professional Roles Include:

  • Executive and organizational leaders
  • Healthcare clinicians and providers
  • Faculty, students, and early-career professionals
  • Health and patient educators
  • Community, social service, and mental health professionals
  • Communication and media professionals

Whether you influence policy, deliver care, educate others, or engage communities, this conference offers practical learning and meaningful connections to support your work.

What to Expect

  • A mix of live and on-demand learning opportunities
  • Poster presentations showcasing research, programs, and innovative practices
  • Interactive networking opportunities, including meet-the-speaker and speed networking
  • Interactive workshops focused on practical tools and emerging ideas
  • A welcoming, interdisciplinary space focused on learning, connection, and impact
  • Continuing Education will be offered for eligible conference sessions. Click here to learn more.

Why Attend?

The 2026 Health Literacy Conference offers an opportunity to:

  • Gain practical strategies you can apply immediately
  • Learn from diverse perspectives across disciplines and sectors
  • Connect with peers who share a commitment to health literacy
  • Explore how health literacy can drive change at individual, community, and system levels
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