2026 APA Annual Convention

Symposia (60 minutes) - CE-Eligible

• Symposia are focused sessions in which multiple speakers present information related to a unifying topic that is viewed as a significant common theme, issue, or question. 

• Generally includes a review of data but may also include discussions of contrasting viewpoints or other innovative strategies for engaging the audience. 

• Should include two to three brief presentations of research, practice, or educational content. 

• May also include a very brief introduction to the topic by an expert who can set context and offer background for why the session topic is important. This expert could be the symposium chair or an additional speaker. May also include discussants who have expertise in the topic at hand and can briefly draw a unifying theme across the presentations. Participants should prepare presentations in advance so that the discussant, if there is one, can effectively draw linkages across the presentations.

Flash Talks (60 minutes)

• Flash talk sessions feature four to six fast-paced, brief reports on hot topics, with individuals presenting for no more than five minutes each on various research, educational, or practice topics. 

• Should provide an interactive experience for the audience, and organizers should allocate time (e.g., 10 minutes for every three presentations) to support audience engagement. Interactive experiences could include posing questions that require audience participation or organizing the flash talks around a particular theme that offers an opportunity for audience and speaker integration and discussion. 

• Groups of four to six authors may propose a flash talk on a specific theme. Individual flash talk submissions are not accepted.

Skill-Building Sessions (60 minutes) - CE-Eligible

• Skill-Building sessions offer practical experience to help participants increase their understanding and skills in a particular area of current interest in the field of psychology. 

• Activities and discussions should be woven into the session plan to help attendees truly apply learnings to their work. 

• Session topics might include (but are not limited to) demonstrations of various methodologies, interviews, therapeutic or assessment techniques, statistical methods, or scientific approaches. 

Poster Presentations

• APA Divisions encourage poster submissions to share the newest research findings, cutting edge ideas, innovations, and advances in the profession: https://convention.apa.org/proposals/division-posters