2026 College Conference

Name: 2026 College Conference
Start: 2026-01-02
End: 2026-01-05
Location: Montreat Conference Center

January 2–5, 2026 Young Adults

This event is hosted by Montreat Conference Center

Workshop Leader Proposals and Exhibitor Applications are now open!

strain

(noun)

an inherited or inherent character, quality, or disposition
a passage of verbal or musical expression
the pervading note or tone of an utterance or a course of action or conduct

(verb)

to exert to the utmost
to pull against resistance

What does joy have to do with being a person of faith? What about the times when finding joy feels really hard? Join us for the 2026 College Conference at Montreat as we explore these questions and more.

College Conference @ Montreat invites college-aged young adults to spend three days in the mountains of Western North Carolina nurturing their faith and connecting with others as they engage in worship, recreation, and critical conversations. This conference welcomes all to know and experience God’s word more fully, regardless of each person’s religious affiliation, area of study, or where they might be on their spiritual journey.

Sign-up to be notified by email when new information about the 2026 College Conference at Montreat is available.

Rates & Registration

All-inclusive Rate (limited availability)

Conference Registration
Conference Center housing
Galax Dining Room meals

$303

Conference Registration Only

$181

Conference Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are available. Please contact Hope Barker at hopeb@montreat.org for an application.

Additional Housing

Click this link to go to a list of other housing in the area. The list includes rental houses in Montreat, area camp and retreat center housing, and hotels located in Black Mountain. Be aware that not all properties listed are available year round.

Meals/Food for Commuters

The Huckleberry in Montreat will be open and is an option for coffee and lunch Tuesday-Saturday.

Please check out the Black Mountain Chamber of Commerce as well as our Business Patrons for a list of restaurants in Black Mountain.

A large Ingles grocery store is located about 3 miles away in Black Mountain for any participants wishing to cook.

Before You Register

We will offer online registration to request your conference spaces and housing. Housing requests will be processed in the order that we receive them until our facilities are full. After registering online, participants MUST either mail a check within 10 days of registering or provide credit card information when contacted by the conference registrar.

Attention Group Leaders: Here are a few things you will need to know before you register online...
• Basic contact information for your church, campus ministry, etc.
• A head count. How many students and chaperones do you have? (Please note that the special comprehensive rate is available to all college students and the first two adults in your group. Additional adults will be charged an extra $100.)
• If possible, the number of female students, male students, female chaperones, male chaperones, and/or couple chaperones. This is helpful to us when placing you in our housing.
• Any special needs your group may have.

Need to Make Changes?

If your group is already registered and you need to make changes, please select "Group Additions/Cancelations" on the registration form.

Refund Policy

Before December 1, 2025, your fee(s) will be refunded less the $50 per person non-refundable deposit. After December 1, 2025, no refunds will be issued.

Questions?

Contact our conference registrar, Hope Barker, at hopeb@montreat.org or 828-419-9828.

Tentative Schedule

This is a very tentative schedule. There will be an updated schedule posted in the Fall.

Friday, January 2
3:00-7:00 pm	Conference Registration/Check-In
3:00 pm	Housing Check-In (if staying in Conference Center housing)
5:30-6:30 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm	Opening Worship
	Additional Activities Following Worship
Saturday, January 3
7:30-8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Morning Gathering and Keynote
10:30 am	Critical Conversation Groups
12:00-1:00 pm	Lunch
2:00-3:15 pm	Workshop I
3:30 pm	Afternoon Options
5:30-6:30 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm	Worship
	Additional Activities Following Worship
Sunday, January 4
7:30-8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Morning Gathering and Keynote
10:30 am	Critical Conversation Groups
12:00 pm	Lunch
2:00	Workshop II
3:30-4:45 pm	Worship with Communion
5:30-6:30 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm	Montreat Moments
Monday, January 5
7:30-8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Closing Worship

Workshop Leader Proposal and Exhibitor Application

Workshop Leaders

College Conference is seeking workshop leaders to facilitate sessions on January 3 and 4. The initial deadline to submit proposals is October 9, so our event team can look at them during their planning meeting that weekend. Forms received after that date will be considered on a case by case basis.

Selected workshop leaders have their conference registration fee waived, but are asked to provide their own room and board. In an effort to offset some of those costs, workshop leaders who aren't also exhibitors will receive a $100 stipend.

Workshop Leader Proposal

Exhibitors

Thank you for your interest in sharing your organization with College Conference attendees! Please fill out this form by November 1 and we'll get back to you by November 8 to confirm your spot.

Exhibitor Application

A few more details:

While there's not a separate exhibitor fee, exhibitors are asked to cover their own conference registration, room and board, and travel.
Exhibitors who are also accepted as Workshop Leaders are not eligible for the workshop leader stipend.
We don't expect you to staff your table every minute of the event, but recommend high-traffic times like during registration and before and after keynotes and worships.

With questions about workshops or exhibiting, contact Allison Wehrung at allisonw@montreat.org.