Convention Policies

By attending an American Psychological Association (APA) meeting and/or event, participant(s) acknowledge and assume the inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 and other communicable illnesses that may result from the actions, omissions, or negligence of other participants, visitors, vendors, presenters, or third parties. Participants agree not to attend any APA meeting or event if they feel ill for any reason, believe their attendance may jeopardize the health of others, or are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19; and further agree to cease participation immediately if such symptoms arise while onsite.

APA may adopt, modify, or discontinue health and safety protocols at any time, in its sole discretion, considering applicable laws, venue rules, and guidance from public health authorities.

Participants are expected to comply with all APA health and safety requirements, and failure to do so may result in denial or revocation of access to the APA meeting or event, forfeiture of registration or other fees, and/or restrictions on attendance at future APA meetings or events. Participants are responsible for reviewing APA communications and event materials for current health and safety requirements and updates.

Participants acknowledge that by attending an APA meeting or event, attendees release any and all claims against APA, its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, vendors, presenters, and speakers arising out of or relating to my attendance or participation. Attendees understand that attending any meeting or event involves inherent risks, and attendees assume full responsibility for their own safety and well-being.

APA is committed to promoting a safe and secure environment at its meetings and events and works in coordination with venue personnel to help safeguard all involved. Attendees are urged to promptly report any concerning, unsafe, or inappropriate conduct to APA staff so that appropriate action may be taken.

During APA networking or social events, alcoholic beverages may be available. APA expects participants to drink responsibly. APA and venue staff, including the meeting host and any co-sponsor, reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to request proof of age or other identification before serving alcoholic beverages, to refuse service of alcoholic beverages for any reason, and, if necessary, to require a participant to leave.

We look forward to gathering with you in Washington, DC, August 6–8, 2026. APA will offer a 50% refund on your All Access, in-person registration and/or preconvention CE Workshop registration if cancellation is received by June 24, 2026.

A refund will not be provided if your cancellation notice is received after June 24, 2026. However, you can still change your All Access registration to a Virtual registration by filling out this form.

This policy applies only to your APA 2026 All Access registration and does not apply to any other registrations made related to the convention, such as virtual registration fees, hotel accommodations, and transportation.

Virtual registration is non-refundable.

How do I cancel my in-person registration?
The deadline to cancel your All Access, in-person registration is June 24, 2026. A refund will not be provided if your cancellation notice is received after June 24, 2026. However, you can still change your All Access registration to virtual registration by filling out this form.
Can I cancel my preconvention CE Workshop registration?
APA will offer a 50% refund on your preconvention CE Workshop registration if cancellation is received by June 24, 2026. A refund will not be provided if your cancellation notice is received after June 24, 2026. Note: preconvention CE Workshops are exclusively available in-person.
Can I cancel my virtual registration?
No. The cancellation policy only applies to in-person, All Access registration and CE Workshop enrollment.
Can I change my in-person registration to a virtual registration?
Yes. To switch registration types, please select that option in the form or note it in your email request to meetings@apa.org. The currently published virtual attendee rate will be deducted from your refund.
When will my registration be processed, and when will my card be charged?
Registrations are processed automatically at the time of submission. If you need to cancel your registration, you are required to complete a cancellation request, which will be processed in accordance with the policy.
If I cancel my registration, when will I receive a refund?
Refunds for payments made by credit card will be processed immediately; however, it may take up to 30 days for the credited amount to be reflected in your account statement by your bank provider. Refunds for other payment types will be issued by the APA Accounts Receivable department as soon as invoices are finalized.
Will canceling my APA 2026 in-person registration also cancel my hotel reservations?
No. When you complete your request to cancel your convention registration, it will not impact your hotel reservations. Hotel reservations are governed under the terms and conditions of each hotel at the time of your booking; please refer to your onPeak confirmation email for key deadlines and hotel policies.
What else can I do to protect myself when making airline and hotel reservations?
Registrants are advised against making nonrefundable travel arrangements. Should you purchase nonrefundable airline tickets or make nonrefundable hotel reservations, you do so at your own risk.
What if I cancel my registration and then change my mind?
Unfortunately, you cannot reinstate your original registration after you cancel it. You will need to start a new registration at the current published attendee rate and provide new payment.
What happens if APA cancels the event?
APA reserves the right to cancel, alter, or reschedule the convention for any reason, including because APA determines in its sole discretion that the convention cannot be held as planned. APA also reserves the right to close registration when tickets are sold out or if local mandates impose restrictions. Should APA cancel the convention for any reason, your convention fees will be refunded.
Who can I contact for questions or concerns?
Please forward your questions or concerns to meetings@apa.org.

The American Psychological Association (APA) is committed to fostering a welcoming and collegial community at their virtual and in-person meetings and events. Individuals should exercise consideration and respect at all APA meetings and events, and social gatherings related to or in conjunction with APA functions, including receptions and dinners. The purpose of the code is to protect participants in APA-sponsored or co-sponsored events from harm. 

This policy applies to all APA event participants and APA staff. A non-exhaustive list includes meeting attendees, guests, vendors, exhibitors, sponsors, and presenters. 

Examples of unacceptable behavior include but are not limited to: 

Promoting or participating in harassment, bullying, discrimination, or intimidation on-site, online, and/or on social media. 
Physical, verbal, written, or other forms of abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, or other guest. 
A non-exhaustive list of examples of abuse includes verbal conduct related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, socioeconomic class or other protected categories under an anti-discrimination law; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations. 
Threatening or stalking in-person or online. 
Blocking, preventing, or otherwise restricting any registered attendee from accessing or participating in any APA sanctioned session(s), meeting(s), or event(s) held at the Convention Center or at any APA contracted hotel or venue, including, without limitation, by closing, locking, or otherwise securing the doors or points of ingress or egress to any meeting room or event space, except as may be required by applicable law, regulation, venue security protocol, or written APA policy.
Disrupting, disallowing or interfering with the participation by others. 
Share session access links, login credentials, or meeting codes with unregistered individuals.
Record, capture, or screenshot virtual sessions without prior written consent from APA.
Engage in disruptive or unprofessional conduct in virtual interactions, including chat, video, and messaging functions.

In addition, meeting attendees may not: 

Engage in conduct that could harm another’s privacy or professional reputation, including: 
Defamation. 
Criminal offenses. 
Conflict of Interest.
Post, display, or distribute fliers, signage, or other materials in any location without the prior written consent of APA. This restriction applies to all APA-contracted and APA-utilized spaces, including but not limited to meeting and session rooms, pre-function areas, restrooms, guest rooms, lobbies, corridors, escalators, elevators and elevator doors, and any hotel or convention center furniture and fixtures. If such materials are posted, APA may remove such messages and take steps to prevent such policy violations in the future. 
Record presentations without written consent of APA.
Promote or sell products/services, including those offered by speakers, vendors, industry partners, or consultants, except as approved to do so in APA-designated exhibit space (virtual or physical).
Deny access to sessions to others. All meetings held during APA conventions/events are open to all registered participants unless APA has authorized them to be designated as closed.

Meetings hosted by Affiliates (including divisions, state psychological associations, and other affiliated groups) that are intended to be closed must display APA-authorized signage (provided by the APA staff event planning team) indicating the meeting is private. Affiliate meetings that are closed without such signage must be held off official premises and outside of official Convention Center and APA contracted hotels.

Meetings hosted by APA—including board, committee, and governance meetings—may be open or closed at APA's discretion without signage. APA reserves the right not to share information about closed meetings in APA official agendas, including any event app.

If an individual engages in prohibited or otherwise unacceptable behavior at an APA meeting or event, APA may take any action it deems appropriate in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, immediate removal from the meeting or event without refund or restriction; prohibition of attendance at future APA events; referral of the matter to the APA Ethics Office or Ethics Committee; notification of the individual’s employer or relevant licensing or credentialing bodies; contact with event security or law enforcement authorities; and any other remedial or protective measures deemed necessary by APA. APA retains the discretion to take immediate action when warranted by the circumstances, to impose interim measures during the review or investigation of any report or complaint, and to initiate, continue, or complete such review or investigation after the conclusion of the meeting or event when appropriate.

Individuals who witness or experience inappropriate conduct should report such conduct onsite to the APA Staff. Any person submitting a written or oral complaint to APA about another’s conduct must act in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the action indicates a violation of this Policy. Any allegations that an individual makes that prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly false will be considered a serious offense by APA and in such cases, APA reserves the right to take actions it deems appropriate. Retaliation against an individual who has filed a complaint is strictly prohibited. 

APA will promptly investigate all reports of harassment, discrimination, and other misconduct. All investigations/actions will be handled as confidentially as practicable in accordance with applicable legal requirements with the guidance of APA’s General Counsel or their designee.

The APA Interim Policy on Generative AI for the Submission of Convention (meeting and event) Related Materials was developed to ensure transparency in the submission process. This policy, which may be updated to reflect technological advancements, is crucial for all presenters to understand. The current version of this policy will always be available on the convention/event website. 

NOTE: For this policy, AI refers to generative Large Language Model AI tools and does not include grammar-checking software, citation software, or plagiarism detectors. 

Generative AI Utilization: Generative AI models may assist presenters in creating APA convention/event presentations or materials but cannot compose the entire session content. The unique creative contributions and experiential insights of human experts are irreplaceable and integral to the unique offerings of APA. 
Quality Assurance Affirmation: By submitting your materials to APA, you affirm that you have read, understood, and are comporting with the policy. This includes but is not limited to ensuring that content produced by AI is accurate, such as cited publications and presenter resumes. Additionally, presenters are responsible for securing any necessary copyrights. 
AI Disclosure Requirement: Use of AI in material(s) development must be disclosed, detailing AI’s usage and extent of contribution, both on the presenters’ submission form (check the box yes in response to the question, “Was AI used in developing this submission? And if so, how?”), and appropriately cited (How to cite ChatGPT [apa.org]).
AI Output Documentation: Upon request from APA, presenters may need to provide the complete AI-generated content as supplementary documentation for review. Accordingly, presenters are encouraged to keep all AI supporting materials, so they are available upon request. Failure to provide such documentation, if asked, may preclude the content or presentation from being included at APA 2026 or other APA events. 
AI Live Translation: APA will be using a third-party tool to provide live translation during the conventions/events. The translations provided are for informational purposes only and may not be completely accurate. We do not accept any liability for errors or omissions in the translations.

As with all APA convention/event program content, if materials cited or other information included do not exist, APA will reject them. APA will then determine the next steps based on APA’s policies and procedures, the specific facts and circumstances, and the APA staff's professional judgment. 

By attending any APA meeting or event, participants consent to APA's use of their name, image, likeness, and voice in photographs, video recordings, and other media captured during the event, for APA's promotional, educational, and organizational purposes, without compensation or further notice.

APA holds the copyright to the official meeting program and all associated sessions. By agreeing to speak or present at this meeting, presenters agree to comply with the meetings and events recording and intellectual property policies. Audio and video equipment supplied by the association or venue is to be used only for the presentation of content and not for recording discussions, papers, or other presentations.

APA reserves the right to photograph, audio record, and/or video record any portion of the meeting, including sessions and events. Any other photography, filming, taping, recording, or reproduction of meeting content in any medium (including the use of tripod-based or fixed-position equipment) without prior written consent from the association is strictly prohibited. As an exception, non-flash photography and audio or video recording of a short portion of a session using hand-held devices for strictly personal, social, or noncommercial use are permitted, provided they are not disruptive to the session or participants and subject to the permission of the speaker or presenter.

The research findings, viewpoints, and comments expressed by presenters in session descriptions, presentations, or other meeting materials are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of the American Psychological Association (APA). Similarly, the content of videos, media, or other materials displayed during sessions or workshops reflects the perspectives of their creators and not those of APA.

This meeting may include sessions developed by APA divisions or affiliated organizations, each operating with its own governance and review processes. These sessions reflect the breadth and diversity of psychology’s many disciplines and perspectives. While APA provides overarching guidance regarding meeting structure and professional standards, individual contributors bear sole responsibility for the content of their presentations. APA does not endorse, review, or censor the personal, professional, or political views expressed in any presentation or associated materials.

Contextual Statement

As psychologists, we seek to embrace and practice the ethical principle of “respecting the dignity and worth of all people” and create a climate of civility, respect and inclusion throughout the APA community. We strive to accomplish this goal by interacting and communicating with others in a spirit of mutual respect and an openness to listen as well as to consider all points of view. While we may disagree on important issues, we debate and express our ideas in a collegial, civilized and professional manner. Corrective feedback will be provided constructively, respectfully and compassionately whenever members don’t behave civilly in order to maintain a comfortable, safe and professional environment in which to conduct the work of the Association. Finally, we understand that individuals from different cultures and groups may have varying customs and beliefs about what constitutes civil or uncivil behavior. We expect all to be respectful and mindful of these differences and norms.

Council Dialogue Principles

Think carefully before speaking
Differentiate and articulate facts from opinions
Focus on the common good
Disagree with others respectfully
Be open to others without hostility
Respect diverse views and groups
Offer a spirit of collegiality
Offer productive and corrective feedback to those who behave in demeaning, insulting, disrespectful,
and discriminatory ways
Create a welcoming environment for all
Focus corrective feedback on one’s best and most desirable behavior

Operational Definition of Counterproductive Dialogue Behavior

Interrupting and talking over others who have the floor
Overgeneralizing and offering dispositional character criticisms and attributions
Using language that is perceived as being aggressive, sarcastic, or demeaning
Speaking too often or for too long
Engaging in disrespectful non-verbal behaviors (e.g., eye rolling, loud sighs)
Offering false praise or disingenuous comments (e.g., “With all due respect, but .…”)

Selected References and Resources

Plante, T. G. (2017). Making APA civil again: The efforts and outcomes of the civility working group. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 48(6), 401–404. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000163

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2019/03/14/700897826/when-civility-is-used-as-a-cudgel-against-people-of-color

 https://delibdemjournal.org/article/976/galley/4777/view/

https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2018/11/16/when-calls-civility-are-attempts-silence-messenger-opinion