The team at the Eppley Center is still riding a post-conference high after an incredible few days surrounded by engaging speakers, endless inspiration, and—true to the theme—plenty of fun at this year’s National Conference on the Value of Play!
Held at Indiana University’s Indiana Memorial Union April 28-30, 2026, more than 250 attendees from across the nation—and world—joined together in scholarship and community to explore this year’s theme, "Play & _____!" “Play &” invited attendees to fill-in-the-blank with their “Play &” whether that was Play & Inclusion, Play & Creativity, Play & Wellness—the possibilities were endless! Highlights included award addresses by honorees Daniel Hatcher (Service Award) and Dr. Peter Gray (Research Award); a keynote address by author, speaker, and Primal Play Method© founder Darryl Edwards; and the Play Hub, a central gathering space that blended interactive play activities, community building, and sponsor exhibits to foster networking and hands-on engagement.
The team at the Eppley Center’s US Play Coalition would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who joined us in April – stay tuned to our socials across Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to learn more about next year’s event!