AFMTE 2026 National Educational Massage Conference

November 6-8, 2026

Kansas City, Missouri

The Alliance for Massage Therapy Education is pleased to host its 2026 Educational Conference in Kansas City, MO, the weekend of November 6-8th, 2026, at the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza.

We are thrilled to be returning to Kansas City! Join us to connect and reconnect with your community of colleagues, peers, mentors, and friends in the massage and bodywork education profession.

Theme Announcement

The theme of the 2026 Educational Conference, “Stronger Together: Elevating Massage Education Through Unity,” embodies our commitment to strengthening the massage therapy and bodywork education community through collaboration, support, and shared purpose.

By coming together, we can enhance educational standards, share best practices, and support one another in advancing the profession.

This conference aligns with our mission to be an independent voice, advocate, and resource for the massage therapy education community by offering opportunities to connect, collaborate, and grow.

Together, we strengthen the profession, elevate standards, and enhance the educational journey for every massage and bodywork educator.

Early Bird Pricing Now Through May 15, 2026

Through May 15, 2026, get 20% off the standard registration price of $500 by using early bird promo code EARLYBIRD2026.

Members: Find your special advanced pricing promo code in your members area to receive an additional 20% off the already-discounted member price of $400.

(If you’re not a member yet and are doing that math, members are saving $180 off the ticket price. Ready to join?)

We have reserved a block of rooms at the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza, the hotel where the conference is being held.

To take advantage of the discounted group rate, please use this link to book your accommodations.

Friday, Nov 6

2:00-5:00pm, Session:
Shari Aldrich, Teaching Resilience: Designing Educational Systems That Hold Students Through Real Life (3 CE)

5:00-6:30pm Vendor set-up and on-site registration

6:00-6:30pm Meet and greet

Saturday, Nov 7

8:00-8:45am Registration and breakfast

9:00-11:00am Keynote:
Laura Allen, Stronger Together: Working Out the Knots in Massage Education and Regulation

11:00am-12:00pm Coffee break

12:00-1:30pm AFMTE Business Luncheon

2:00-6:00pm Breakout sessions:

• Bruce Baltz and Nathan Nordstrom, The Creation of a CE Provider (4 CE), or
• Jeffrey Montoya, Using Health Care Competencies to Improve Massage Education (3 CE), or
• Anne Williams, Empowered Classroom Management: Strategies for Handling Challenging Student Behavior (3 CE)

3:15-3:45pm Break for vendor hall visit

Sunday, Nov 8

8:00-8:30am Registration and breakfast

8:30-11:30am Breakout sessions:

• Shari Aldrich, Vocational Education is Wealth Education, or
• Jeffrey Montoya, Increasing Diversity in Massage Education Through Strategic Partnerships, or
• Sheila Alexander, Bait Your Hook with Humor (2 CE)

12:00-1:30pm FSMTB Luncheon
Topic: Interstate Massage Compact

2:00-5:00pm Breakout sessions:

• James Waslaski, Combining Kinesthetic, Auditory, and Visual Learning Styles to Educate and Motivate All Types of Learners (3 CE), or
• Laura Allen, Collaboration in Massage Therapy Education: Building Effective Partnerships (3 CE), or
• Bruce Baltz and Nathan Nordstrom, Developing Your Continuing Education Program as a School (3 CE)

5:15-6:00pm Roundtable discussion
Topic: Collaboration Tools/Community