WAA OAK 2026: The First Round(s)

Connect on a personal level with other conference attendees on August 11 and August 13.

Registration available in Conference Time Email Newsletters as well as in your WAA OAK 2026 Registration Confirmation email!

Congratulations to the recipients of the Emeritus, Leadership, Mentoring, and Vanguard Award Nominees, who will be honored at the WAA Annual Conference!

WAA OAK 2026: Performing Arts Challenge
Wednesday, September 9 | 12pm - 1:30pm

With WAA OAK’s call to Circle Up, this new event calls us to come together to attack, address, and overcome challenges facing our sector. The Performing Arts Challenge is an interactive arts salon featuring multiple roundtables with a host that facilitates discussions around a question that gets to the heart of an issue they face.

WAA OAK 2026: Excursions
Tuesday, September 8

Field Trips in the Bay! Find out the scope of all the ways to connect in-person on Day One of WAA OAK!

WAA OAK 2026: Venue Vino Vici
Monday, September 7

Sign up for the Venue Vino Vici in the Bay Area will open the week of July 20! Tour venues, connect with colleagues, before getting to work at WAA OAK 2026.

WAA OAK 2026: Music and Migration with Del Sol Quartet

Saturday, September 12

Conclude your stay in the Bay Area with 2026 Juried Showcase ensemble, Del Sol Quartet with a performance part of their Music and Migration series at Angel Island and drinks with colleagues at The Battery SF!

WAA OAK 2026: Before The Circle

Connect with your colleagues before the Conference kicks off around our three thematic circles all at 11am PT:

• Beyond the Circle | Tuesday, July 7

• Youth & Family | Wednesday, July 8

• Arts & Entertainment | Thursday, July 9

WAA OAK 2026: Programming Reveal

Find out all about the 12 showcases, 9 pitches, and the full professional development program at this year’s conference!

Early Bird registration is now open!

Kicking off the Conference is renowned Oakland native W. Kamau Bell. With his mantra, “Who’s With Me?”, and celebrated work across stages, screens, and streets advocating for justice and lifting up connection and community, we can’t think of a better way to root the week.

Join us in Oakland, September 8 - 11, 2026!

Online registration required
June 5, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm PT

A brief webinar for those exhibiting at this year's conference. This specialized webinar is about the timeline for utilizing decorator services, WAA exhibitor restrictions and guidelines, as well as information on drayage and materials handling.
Register for the Zoom now!

Recorded Friday, March 20
A brief informational webinar about exhibiting at this year's conference! Including the exhibitor's agreement, schedule, and meeting space options.

Applications are NOW OPEN for Discovery and Peer Learning

This fall, we tried something new! A salon series to reflect about the state of the field to connect us and understand the current ground we’re standing on. Our conversations revealed a field at an inflection point, grappling with fundamental questions about risk, sustainability, and what it means to build an authentic performing arts ecosystem, not only beyond WAA, but nationally.

Applications are NOW OPEN for WAA OAK 2026!

We're doing what the performing arts community does best: gathering close, sharing resources, and building collective solutions together. Whether you're an artist ready to showcase your work, a producer wanting to provide more opportunities onsite, or an industry professional with insights to share, this is your moment!

6-10:30pm, September 2 at The Novo

7:30-10:30pm, September 3 at USC

7-10pm, September 4 at Grand Performances

U.S. artists on the rise and ready to tour internationally. Catch some of their showcase performances at the WAA conference in LA!

TICKETS: Varying Prices
September 2 - 5
Registration open 8am - 6pm (Sept 2 - 4)
Registration open 8am - 12pm (Sept 5)

JW Marriott at LA Live

900 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Last Change to Register is Onsite in LA!

TICKETS: $75
Thursday, September 4
Doors open at 12pm

JW Marriott at LA Live
Platinum Ballroom

900 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Register by August 22

TICKETS: $95 members, $295 nonmembers

6-10:30pm, September 2 at The Novo

7:30-10:30pm, September 3 at USC

7-10pm, September 4 at Grand Performances

Register by August 22

TICKETS: $17.71 + Conference Registration
Tuesday, September 2
Doors open at 12pm

JW Marriott at LA Live
900 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Registration Closed