2026 MPRA CONFERENCE & EXPO
• February 24-27, 2026 •
Wyndham Executive Center, Columbia, MO
Attention parks and recreation professionals! We’re thrilled to invite you to a week of education, networking, and fun at the 2026 MPRA Conference and Expo. With an incredible lineup of speakers and a schedule packed with exciting events and meetups, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss. Join us and be part of an inspiring experience that’s just around the corner!
IMPORTANT DATES
Delegate Registration Opens . . . . November 17, 2025
Early Bird Rates End . . . . . . . . . . . . January 14, 2026
Registration Deadline . . . . . . . . . . January 30, 2026
(No meal tickets will be available after this deadline)
EARLY BIRD PRICING
Full Delegate . . . . . Member - $395 Non-Member - $445
Tuesday Only . . . . . Member - $130 Non-Member - $180
Wednesday or Thursday Only . . . Member-$155 Non-Member-$205
Retiree Pass . . . . . . .Member - $155 Non-Member - $205
Dr. Gale Gorke
You can change the world and help others do the same. It is easier than you think. One person can make a difference…in fact, it is the only thing that ever has. Learn how to tap into your potential and find the motivation to make your dreams become a reality.
Join us for a dynamic opening keynote by Dr. Gale Gorke, speaker, trainer, and author. Gale has been a veteran educator in the public school system for nearly 40 years. She is the Executive Director of Kids Kan Inc., an organization specializing in staff development, activity selection, and program implementation.
Gale has served as an adjunct professor for several universities. She effectively models teaching that accommodates all students’ ability levels and reflects a keen awareness of child and adolescent development and brain-based learning principles. Gale’s enthusiasm for what she believes in is contagious, and she thinks the best way to learn is through play. The way you show up for the game is the way you show up for life.
Here’s your opportunity to present your business to nearly 400 parks and recreation professionals, including representatives from almost every municipal and county parks and recreation department in the state. You'll also connect with administrative staff from various sectors of public, therapeutic, and commercial recreation. By reserving your booth early, you’ll have the advantage of selecting the optimal space to enhance your visibility to attendees.
Show Date and Time:
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 • 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Set-Up:
Tuesday, February 24 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 25 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Tear Down:
Wednesday, February 25 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
***IMPORTANT DATES***
Exhibitor Registration Opens (Members Only) . . . November 3, 2025
Exhibitor Registration Opens (2025 Vendors) . . . November 10, 2025
Exhibitor Registration Opens For All . . . . . . . . . . . .November 17, 2025
Early Bird Rates End . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January 14, 2026
EARLY BIRD PRICING
Single Booth . . . .Member - $570 Non-Member - $670
Double Booth. . . Member - $1110 Non-Member - $1310
Triple Booth . . . . Member - $1650 Non-Member - $1950
Wyndham Executive Center
***SOLD OUT** More rooms will only become available if someone cancels their reservation.
2200 Interstate 70 Dr SW, Columbia, MO 65203
Click the link below to book or call (573) 445-8531
Rate: $124.00++
Room block deadline (or when block sells out): January 20, 2026
Comfort Suites University-Columbia
1010 W Business Loop, Columbia, MO 65202
Click the link below to book or call (573) 234-6884 and request rate code LMOREC
Rate: $199.00 + tax conference rate
Drury Inn & Suites Columbia Stadium Blvd.
**Very limited number of rooms still available.**
1000 Knipp St. Columbia, MO 65203
Click the link below to book or call (573) 445-8531
Rate: $175.00++
Room block deadline (or when block sells out): January 9, 2026
The MPRA Annual Conference & Expo offers students a fantastic opportunity to hone their public speaking skills, connect with potential employers, and network with peers from across the state.
IMPORTANT DATES
Student Registration Opens . . . . . October 1, 2025
Deadline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January 30, 2026
(No meal tickets will be available after this deadline)
The MPRA Awards Committee has spent the better part of a year scouring pages of award codes to provide a wider range of offerings for our deserving MPRA members. Under the "Award Nomination Forms," take a closer look at each award category and browse through the new award codes, which include the qualifications for each award. Let's recognize those who are deserving of an award.
IMPORTANT DATES
Awards and Hall of Fame Nominations Open . . . . . August 1, 2025
Award Nomination Deadline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deadline Extended! -- November 14, 2025