2026 APA QUAD STATE Conference

oct 28-30, 2026 | CHANGING CURRENTS

Get Ready to Ride the Wave of Change!

2026 APA Quad State Conference
Changing Currents: Shaping Tomorrow’s Communities is coming, and you’re invited to join the thinkers, doers, dreamers, and community‑builders who are redefining what’s possible.

The Kansas City Section of the American Planning Association is making waves, and you’re invited to be part of the momentum. In partnership with the APA Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska Chapters, we’re bringing a quad state conference to Kansas City for an energizing three‑day gathering of planners, visionaries, and community‑builders.

This conference will dive into the forces reshaping our neighborhoods, workplaces, and shared spaces. From bold new technologies to fresh approaches in sustainability, design, and civic engagement. Expect lively conversations, hands‑on sessions, spontaneous collaborations, and a few delightful surprises along the way.

Whether you’re a seasoned leader, an emerging innovator, or simply someone who cares about the future of your community; you’ll leave energized, inspired, and ready to make waves of your own.

📅 October 28–30, 2026
📍 The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center

🌟 Come for the ideas. Stay for the momentum. Leave with a vision.🌟
Let’s shape tomorrow, together.

Make waves by becoming a Sponsor

To create the best experience possible, we depend on sponsors to help us bring that vision to life. Being a sponsor for the 2026 Quad-State Conference is a valuable means to show support for the Planning profession.
 
Being a sponsor offers a range of benefits specially designed to promote your company or organization. As a sponsor, your organization will be recognized in front of private and public sector planners, engineers, landscape architects, community partners, as well as elected and appointed public officials.

If you are interested in learning more, please click the button below.

Our goal for the 2026 APA Quad State Conference is to "unconference" the conference. While we will still need to provide everything required to earn your CM credits, we want you to rethink how you attend and engage at these professional gatherings. We want to hear your stories, not lectures. We want a conversation amongst all participants, not just among panelists. We want engaging activities, not guided tours.

What could this look like in action?

It could be as simple as the composition of your session speakers. It could be inviting other design professionals into the conversation. It could even be how long the session is or how you set up the room!

Our aim is for planners to leave feeling energized and empowered to drive change in their lives and communities.

The Call for Sessions will be released on Monday, April 20, 2026. We will be holding a Pre-Submission Conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 to answer questions. Almost a month after the Pre-Submission Conference, all proposals are due on Monday, June 1, 2026. 

If you have any questions, please contact Gunnar Hand, Gunnar.Hand@kcmo.org and Najma Muhammad, Najma.Muhammad@opkansas.org.