Who Is Attending ISTELive 26

ISTELive 26 draws more than 20,000 educators, administrators, and EdTech professionals to Orlando each year — making it the single largest gathering of education technology practitioners in North America. The attendee base spans every level of the education system, from individual classroom teachers to district superintendents and university faculty.

The audience breakdown reflects the conference's practitioner-first identity:

• ~60–65% classroom teachers and instructional staff (K-12 and higher ed)
• ~15–20% school and district administrators and technology coordinators
• ~10–15% EdTech company representatives, founders, and product teams
• ~5–10% researchers, consultants, and education policy professionals

International representation is consistently strong, with educators regularly attending from Latin America, Canada, Asia-Pacific, and Europe — adding a global dimension to conversations about AI, equity, and digital learning.

Want to know exactly who's exhibiting and attending?Lensmor tracks verified attendee and exhibitor data for ISTELive and 1,000+ other trade shows — including company profiles, booth assignments, and decision-maker contacts.

Explore ISTELive 26 attendee and exhibitor intelligence on Lensmor →

‍

Confirmed Speakers / Key Sessions at ISTELive

ISTELive 26 features a curated set of keynote speakers known as "Featured Voices," alongside a broader program of concurrent sessions, preconference institutes, and the Instructional Leaders' Exchange.

Confirmed Featured Voices and keynote speakers for ISTELive 26 include:

• (Speaker names and bios to be inserted once confirmed on the official program page at conference.iste.org)

Key session tracks at ISTELive 26:

• AI & Emerging Technologies — Practical classroom applications of generative AI, AI literacy frameworks, and responsible AI use in education
• Digital Equity & Access — Closing the technology gap across under-resourced schools and communities
• Curriculum & Instructional Design — Integrating technology into standards-aligned, pedagogically sound curriculum
• Leadership & Policy — Strategic technology planning, district-wide implementation, and education policy
• Student Agency & Creativity — Tools and approaches that center student voice, maker learning, and project-based design
• Assessment & Data — Using technology to design better assessments and make sense of student performance data

The Preconference Institutes on June 27–28 offer full-day deep dives into specific topics and require separate registration. The Instructional Leaders' Exchange on June 28 is designed specifically for administrators and education leaders.

‍

Full Agenda & Featured Events

ISTELive 26 runs across five days — with virtual content and badge pickup beginning June 27 and the main conference program running June 28 through July 1 in Orlando. The schedule is structured to balance large-format inspiration with small-group depth, giving attendees multiple ways to engage depending on their role and goals.

Saturday, June 27 — Pre-Conference Kickoff (Virtual + On-Site)

• Badge pickup begins on-site (12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.)
• Virtual content sessions available (12 p.m. – 4 p.m.)
• Designed for early arrivals and remote participants who want to engage before the in-person program begins

Sunday, June 28 — Content Day + Opening Mainstage

• Registration open (7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
• Preconference Institutes (8 a.m. – 1 p.m.) — full-day deep dives requiring separate registration
• Instructional Leaders' Exchange — dedicated programming for administrators and district leaders
• Concurrent sessions begin (11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)
• Opening Mainstage (3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) — the official conference kickoff featuring Featured Voices keynote presentations
• Welcome Reception (4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.)

Monday, June 29 — Full Conference Day 1

• Concurrent sessions run throughout the day (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
• Solutions Hub (Expo Hall) opens (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) — first full day of exhibitor access
• Innovation Arcade and Creators Fiesta activations open on the expo floor
• Lunch break (11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, June 30 — Full Conference Day 2

• Tuesday Mainstage (8:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.) — second keynote session with Featured Voices
• Solutions Hub open (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
• Concurrent sessions (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
• Lunch break (12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m.)

Wednesday, July 1 — Full Conference Day 3 + Closing Mainstage

• Concurrent sessions (8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
• Solutions Hub open (8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
• Closing Mainstage (1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.) — final keynote and conference close

Virtual Attendance Track

For educators who cannot travel to Orlando, ISTELive 26 offers a parallel virtual program that includes:

• Interactive virtual sessions beginning June 27
• Livestreamed mainstage presentations from Orlando
• Streamed concurrent sessions from the in-person program

The virtual track makes ISTELive accessible to international attendees and educators in under-resourced districts who cannot cover travel costs.

Featured Experiences on the Expo Floor

Beyond the standard booth-and-demo format, ISTELive's Solutions Hub includes two signature interactive experiences:

• Innovation Arcade — A hands-on space where attendees can test emerging EdTech tools in a low-pressure, exploratory environment. Designed for educators who want to evaluate new products before committing to a full vendor conversation.
• Creators Fiesta — A maker-focused area celebrating creativity, student agency, and project-based learning. Showcases tools and approaches that support creation over consumption in the classroom.

The full session catalog — including session descriptions, speaker bios, and room assignments — is searchable at conference.iste.org once the program is published.

‍

Sponsors and Exhibitors at ISTELive

The Solutions Hub is ISTELive's exhibition space, hosting hundreds of EdTech vendors, publishers, and technology providers. It is one of the most targeted EdTech buying environments in North America — the attendees are educators and district decision-makers who are actively evaluating and purchasing educational technology.

Major categories of vendors at ISTELive's Solutions Hub:

• Learning Management Systems (LMS) and student information platforms
• AI-powered instructional tools and adaptive learning platforms
• Assessment and data analytics platforms
• Devices and hardware — including classroom technology, peripherals, and maker tools
• Digital content and curriculum publishers
• Accessibility and assistive technology providers
• Professional development platforms and services
• Cybersecurity and EdTech infrastructure solutions for districts

A Free Expo-Only Pass is available for educators who wish to explore the Solutions Hub without registering for the full conference. This makes the expo accessible to teachers and district staff who cannot attend the full event.

Lensmor provides real-time exhibitor intelligence for ISTELive, including company profiles, product categories, and booth locations. Access the full exhibitor list →

‍

Why You Should Attend ISTELive

ISTELive occupies a unique position in the education technology landscape. It is the conference where practitioners and vendors meet on genuinely equal terms, and where the most active community of technology-using educators comes together to share what is actually working in classrooms.

The strongest reasons to attend:

• Depth of professional development — ISTELive is not a trade show with a few sessions attached. The program features hundreds of concurrent sessions, full-day institutes, and structured peer learning experiences across every major area of EdTech.
• The practitioner community — The attendee base is predominantly educators. Conversations in hallways, sessions, and the expo floor are grounded in real classroom experience, not sales cycles.
• AI and emerging technology focus — ISTELive 26 arrives at a moment when AI has become a daily reality in many classrooms. The conference offers one of the most substantive professional learning environments for educators navigating this shift.
• The Solutions Hub — With hundreds of vendors in one place and an audience of active buyers, the expo floor is genuinely useful — particularly for district technology coordinators and administrators in active procurement cycles.
• Co-location with ASCD Annual Conference — The combined event brings together technology and pedagogy in a way that few other conferences can match. Attendees benefit from programming that addresses both the tools and the instructional design principles that make those tools effective.
• Continuing education credit — Attendance qualifies for professional development credit, making it easier to justify the investment to school and district leadership.

‍

Travel & Logistics

Venue: ISTELive 26 is held in Orlando, Florida. The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is the typical host venue for events of this scale in Orlando — confirm the specific venue address on the official conference site at iste.org/conference.

Getting to Orlando:

• Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the primary airport, served by most major US carriers and many international routes
• The convention center is accessible by rideshare, rental car, and the I-Ride Trolley along International Drive
• Direct flights are available from most major US cities, and international connections through MCO are well-served

Hotels: ISTELive offers a conference housing block with discounted rates at hotels near the convention center. Book through the official conference housing portal (iste.org/2026/attend/housing.php) to access conference rates. The I-Drive corridor has a wide range of hotel options at different price points.

Scholarship opportunities: ISTE offers conference scholarships for educators from under-resourced schools and districts. Applications are typically open in the early part of the calendar year — check iste.org/2026/attend/scholarships.php for current availability.

Weather in late June/early July: Orlando in late June is hot and humid, with temperatures frequently reaching 90–95°F (32–35°C). Afternoon thunderstorms are common and typically pass quickly. The convention center is heavily air-conditioned — a light layer for indoor sessions is recommended.

‍

Registration & Ticket Pricing

Registration for ISTELive 26 is open now at conference.iste.org/2026/registration/register/. Multiple registration tiers are available to accommodate different roles, budgets, and levels of participation — from full-conference access to a free expo-only pass.

Registration Tiers

• Full Conference Pass — For educators, administrators, and EdTech professionals. Includes all sessions, mainstages, expo access, and networking events.
• Expo-Only Pass (Free) — For educators exploring the Solutions Hub. Includes Solutions Hub access only — no session attendance.
• Virtual Pass — For remote attendees globally. Includes livestreamed mainstages and virtual concurrent sessions.
• Preconference Institutes — An add-on for deep-dive learners. Full-day workshops on June 27–28; separate registration required.
• Group Registration — For teams of educators or district staff. Discounted rates available for groups registering together.

‍

Pricing Notes:

• Super Early Bird pricing was available for registrations made in late 2025 — the lowest available rate tier.
• ISTE/ASCD members receive a meaningful discount on full conference registration. Membership also unlocks additional benefits including access to ISTE U courses, expert webinar series, and VIP experiences at the conference.
• Group rates are available for teams registering together — contact ISTE directly for group pricing details.
• Current pricing tiers and deadlines are listed at conference.iste.org/2026/registration.

Scholarship Opportunities

ISTE offers conference scholarships for educators from under-resourced schools and districts. Applications typically open in the early part of the calendar year. Check current availability and apply at iste.org/2026/attend/scholarships.php.

Professional Development Credit

Attendance at ISTELive 26 qualifies for continuing education credit. Specific credit types and amounts vary by state and institution — full details are available at iste.org/2026/program/earning_credit.php.

‍

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the official dates and location for ISTELive 26?

‍ISTELive 26 runs from June 28 through July 1, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. Badge pickup and pre-conference virtual content are available from June 27.

2. How many people attend ISTELive?

‍ISTELive typically draws more than 20,000 educators and EdTech professionals. Attendees come from across the US and internationally, representing K-12 schools, higher education, and EdTech companies.

3. What is the Solutions Hub?

‍The Solutions Hub is ISTELive's exhibition floor, where EdTech vendors, publishers, and technology providers demonstrate their products to educators and district buyers. A Free Expo-Only Pass allows educators to access the Solutions Hub without a full conference registration.

4. Is there professional development credit available for attending ISTELive?

‍Yes. ISTE offers opportunities to earn continuing education credits for conference attendance. Specific credit types and amounts vary — check iste.org/2026/program/earning_credit.php for current information.

5. What is the Instructional Leaders' Exchange?

‍The Instructional Leaders' Exchange is a dedicated program within ISTELive designed for school principals, administrators, and district leaders. It focuses on technology leadership, strategic planning, and education innovation from a leadership perspective, rather than classroom implementation.

6. Can I attend ISTELive virtually?

‍Yes. ISTELive 26 offers a virtual attendance track that includes interactive virtual sessions beginning June 27, livestreamed mainstage presentations, and streamed concurrent sessions from the in-person program in Orlando. Virtual registration is available at conference.iste.org/2026/registration/register/.

7. What are the Innovation Arcade and Creators Fiesta?

‍Both are featured interactive experiences within the Solutions Hub expo floor. The Innovation Arcade is a hands-on space for testing emerging EdTech tools in a low-pressure environment. The Creators Fiesta is a maker-focused area celebrating student creativity, project-based learning, and tools that prioritize creation over passive consumption.

8. How should I prepare for the Solutions Hub as an EdTech buyer?

‍The Solutions Hub features hundreds of vendors, which can make it difficult to use your time efficiently. Tools like Lensmor help you research exhibitors before arriving — you can filter by industry, company size, and product category to build a target list. Prioritizing vendors relevant to your current procurement cycle and scheduling briefings in advance will make your time on the floor significantly more productive.