Registration opens in fall 2026.

Please note that hotel registration is not included in conference registration; lodging must be booked separately.

Our 2026 conference hotel is the Hilton Salt Lake City Center. Address: 255 S W Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Schedule will be available starting in fall 2026.

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for helping make this conference possible. Please show your appreciation by attending sponsored events. RNA organizers also encourage you to avoid scheduling meetings during official programming and to use the dedicated breaks built into each day for networking and one-on-one conversations.

Click here to browse sponsorship options.

Have a sponsorship idea that you don’t see here? We want to hear from you!

Email Wendy Gustofson to build a sponsorship package that best meets your needs.

Sponsorship Policy

RNA welcomes groups that would like to promote a new product, service or other useful tool for journalists. RNA reserves the right to refuse any form of sponsorship deemed inappropriate. In addition, all sponsorship placements are left solely to the discretion of RNA. All advertising and sponsorships are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

The inclusion of sponsor messages, materials, or presentations does not imply endorsement by the Religion News Association, and all opinions expressed are those of the sponsoring organization.

Scholarship applications for the 2027 conference will open in late 2026.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering! Please fill out our interest form here.

Thank you for your interest in donating to our silent auction! Proceeds go directly towards our annual scholarship fund. Please sign up to donate an item here.

If you are dropping off a physical donation in-person, please bring it to the registration desk between Thursday morning and Saturday lunch.

Your contribution helps sustain the work of religion journalists across the country, and it’s a fun way to get involved with the conference! Popular auction items in the past have included one-on-one mentoring, signed books, artwork, and more.

Religion News Association is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law. Please consult your tax advisor for more information. RNA’s EIN is 54-1486927. RNA’s principal address is in Alexandria, Virginia.

Raffle details for 2027 to be announced.

Q: Who can attend?

A: Anyone is welcome to attend RNA’s conference. You do not have to be a member to attend, but we encourage you to join and receive great member discounts.

Q: Am I required to stay in the RNA hotel block?

A: No, but if you reserve hotel rooms outside the RNA block, the conference registration fee increases to offset the fees RNA must pay if the block isn’t filled. Registration prices may change if the hotel block is filled.

Q: Is there a shuttle to the hotel?

There is not a shuttle from Salt Lake City International Airport to the hotel. There are public transit options on the Green Line (approx. 30 minutes). Taking a car from the airport to the hotel would take approx. 15 minutes; we suggest coordinating with fellow attendees if you prefer a ride-share option.

Q: Do you offer conference scholarships?

A: Yes; our scholarship application cycle will open in late 2026.

Q: How can I become a sponsor or exhibitor at the conference?

A: Contact Wendy Gustofson.

Q: Will there be a mother’s room available at the conference?

A: Yes; room name TBD.

Q: Will I have time to set up a meeting with my editor, outlet, team member, etc.?

Yes, we will have break time built into every day of the conference for this purpose.

RNA strives to create a robust community that lifts up religion reporters and fosters collegiality. In this way, we seek to undergird RNA’s mission to equip journalists throughout the world with the tools and resources they need to cover religion with balance, accuracy and insight.

To help us achieve these goals, all members, board members, event attendees, staff and guests are required to abide by a code of conduct that includes but is not limited to, the following:

HARASSMENT
RNA requires a respectful discourse at all times and will not tolerate harassment in person or online. The following examples of harassment are intended to be guidelines and are not exclusive when determining whether there as been a violation of this policy:

Verbal harassment: includes, but is not limited to, speech that directly ridicules a person’s national origin, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, body, disability or appearance, including epithets, slurs and negative stereotyping.

Nonverbal harassment: includes, but is not limited to, the distribution or display of any written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility toward an individual or group because of national origin, race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, appearance, disability, sexual identity, martial status or protected status.

Sexual harassment: Verbal sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, innuendos, jokes or “kidding” of a sexual nature, sexual propositions, lewd remarks and threats; and requests for any type of sexual favor (including repeated, unwelcome requests for dates). Nonverbal sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the distribution or display of any written or graphic material that is sexually suggestive or shows hostility toward an individual or group because of sex; suggestive or insulting sounds and gestures; leering; stalking, or written or digital personal communication with inappropriate content. Physical sexual harassment includes unwelcome physical contact, some of which is criminal in nature, including touching, tickling, pinching, patting, brushing up against, hugging, cornering, kissing, fondling, and forced sexual intercourse or assault.

This code of conduct seeks to protect individuals from hate speech or harassment. Criticism of a country’s policies, an institution, or a philosophy is considered an important part of political and religious dialogue.

REPORTING
Individuals who suffer, witness or suspect criminal conducts are urged to contact law enforcement immediately. At RNA events, individuals should also report instances of suspected criminal activity or other harassment to any of the following officials: RNA staff members, RNA board members, and special event designees. Out comes of incident reviews will be shared with affected parties and could include 1) verbal warning 2) exclusion from online and in-person events 3) permanent or temporary expulsion from membership. Members may submit reinstatement appeals for temporary expulsion outcomes in writing to the RNA board for consideration at the next regularly scheduled board meeting.

Since 1949, RNA has worked to increase excellence in religion reporting through its annual conference, annual contests, mentoring and beat resources. We envision a global community of journalists who elevate religious literacy in the news media. We encourage robust debate and candid discussion while expecting members to respect one another’s dignity in word and action.

Adopted on Sept. 3, 2020

Immediate Area (Walkable from the hotel)

• Temple Square — Salt Lake City’s iconic religious and historic center, with gardens, architecture, and visitor exhibits. Website

• Utah State Capitol — Stunning capitol building with panoramic mountain and city views. Website

• Book Wall Mural — Beloved downtown photo spot celebrating literature and Utah authors. Website

• City Creek Center — Open-air shopping and dining complex directly downtown. Website

• Eccles Theater — Modern performing arts venue hosting Broadway tours, concerts, and comedy. Website

Nearby (Short Drive / Half-Day)

• Liberty Park — Large urban park with walking trails, ponds, and spring greenery in April. Website

• Red Butte Garden — Botanical garden and foothill hiking area near the University of Utah. Website

• Natural History Museum of Utah — Excellent museum on dinosaurs, Indigenous history, geology, and the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. Website

• Great Salt Lake State Park — Quick trip for surreal lake views, birding, and floating in the famously salty water. Website

• Snowbird / Little Cottonwood Canyon — Dramatic mountain scenery and spring skiing less than an hour away. Website

Longer Trips / Add-On Adventures

• Park City — Historic mountain town with skiing, galleries, restaurants, and Sundance vibes about 35 minutes away. Website

• Bonneville Salt Flats — Vast white salt desert famous for land-speed records and surreal photos. Website

• Moab — Utah’s red-rock adventure hub and gateway to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. Great for extending a Utah trip by several days. Website

• Antelope Island State Park — Scenic island in the Great Salt Lake known for bison, hiking, and sunsets. Website

• Zion National Park — One of the country’s most famous national parks, with towering canyon hikes and dramatic desert scenery. Website