Upcoming Conferences
The Zoological Association of America hosts two conferences each year to bring together zoological professionals from across the United States for engaging, high-impact gatherings centered on advancing animal well-being and professional excellence.
Our conferences provide unmatched opportunities for networking, collaboration, and continued learning,
all with a shared commitment to elevate the care and safety of the animals we serve.
Beyond the scheduled workshops, meetings and town halls, ZAA conferences also offer exciting activities and adventures in each city - a curated conference experience designed to build connection and make lasting memories.
We can't wait to see you.
2026 ZAA Annual Conference
Registration is open!
New Orleans, LA
November 9-13, 2026
Reservation cut-off date for hotel discounted rate: October 26, 2026.
Attendee Registration is Now Open!
Exhibitor Registration is Now Open!
Volunteer in New Orleans!
We're looking for volunteers to help from Sunday, November 8 through Friday, November 13 at the Sheraton New Orleans. It's a great way to meet colleagues, get a behind-the-scenes look at the conference, and earn some great rewards along the way.
The more hours you volunteer, the more you earn:
Any shift: your official volunteer ID
A conference t-shirt at the special volunteer price
12 hours: 10% off your conference admission
20 hours: 25% off your conference admission
30 hours: FREE conference admission!
Conference T-Shirt
The official t-shirt of the 2026 ZAA Annual Conference brings the spirit of New Orleans to Stay Wild. A giraffe in an ornate Mardi Gras mask takes center stage on the back, framed by a radiant sunburst arch and trailing strands of purple and green beads — rendered in bold chartreuse and violet on a rich peacock-teal tee. The ZAA logo appears on the left chest.
Whether you're wearing it to sessions, on the exhibit hall floor, or long after you've headed home, it's a keepsake from a conference in one of the most colorful cities in the country. Available in adult sizes; order early, as quantities are limited.
Purchase your conference t-shirt when you register and pick it up at the conference.
Already registered? No problem! Simply email us at [email protected] to add a t-shirt to your registration while supplies last.
OUR SPONSORS
Presenter Sponsor
Diamond Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Conference Promotion Sponsor
2027 ZAA Professional Development Symposium
Ft. Worth, TX
February 25-27, 2027
The ZAA Professional Development Symposium is designed for keepers, lead keepers, supervisors, and mid-level staff: the people doing the hands-on work of animal care every day. It’s practical, small-group training you can bring back to your facility and put to work right away.
You’ll spend two days in workshops led by experienced professionals, with time to ask questions, compare notes with peers, and work through real situations from your own facility. Then we’ll head to the Fort Worth Zoo for a half day, where you’ll see these practices at work.
Workshops include:
Nutrition
Animal Training
Safety and Security
Government Affairs
Storytelling and Development
2027 ZAA Annual Conference
Pittsburgh, PA
September 27 - October 1, 2027
2028 ZAA Professional Development Symposium
Moorpark, CA
The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College
February 2028, Dates TBA
2028 ZAA Annual Conference
Gulf Breeze, Fl
Dates TBA