FNCE 2026: a first-timer's guide

By the DieticiansWorldwide.com editorial team · 18 October 2026 · Events & trade shows

What is FNCE?

FNCE is the annual conference of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the US professional body for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs). The Academy describes it as "the world's largest meeting of food and nutrition experts", attended by RDNs, NDTRs, researchers, policymakers, health care providers and industry leaders, and its FAQ puts attendance at "more than 7,000" (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, FNCE). For background on the Academy itself, see our profile of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The meeting combines four things: an education programme of sessions, workshops, short "Learning Lounge" talks and research posters; an expo hall of exhibiting companies; a busy social calendar run by the Academy's dietetic practice groups (DPGs) and member interest groups (MIGs); and a career fair. That mix is what makes it valuable, and also what makes a first visit overwhelming.

All dates and prices in this guide were checked against the Academy's FNCE pages and documents on 18 October 2026, six days before the 2026 meeting opens. Programmes change, so confirm details in the official app before you travel.

FNCE 2026 at a glance

• Dates: Saturday 24 to Tuesday 27 October 2026.
• Venue: Henry B. González Convention Center, 900 E Market St, San Antonio, Texas, with some events at the two co-headquarters hotels, the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk and the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter.
• Expo hall: Sunday 25 and Monday 26 October, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Tuesday 27 October, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Central time), in Hall BC.
• Getting around: the Academy says all FNCE hotels are within nine blocks of the convention centre, with ADA-accessible shuttles from Saturday to Tuesday.
• App: the FNCE 2026 app, released in October, carries the full programme, handouts, maps and session evaluations.
• Badges: must be worn at all times inside the convention centre (FNCE frequently asked questions).

The FAQ also lists future meetings: 23 to 26 October 2027 in Washington, DC; 21 to 24 October 2028 in San Francisco; 27 to 30 October 2029 in New Orleans; 12 to 15 October 2030 in Indianapolis; and 25 to 28 October 2031 in Boston. If you cannot make San Antonio, it is not too early to plan for 2027. Our nutrition events calendar lists FNCE alongside the other major congresses and trade shows.

Registration and what it costs

The Academy's 2026 registration flyer sets out three ticket types: full conference, a one-and-a-half-day pass (Saturday and Sunday) and a one-day pass (Sunday, Monday or Tuesday). Early rates applied until 2 September; standard rates apply now (FNCE 2026 registration flyer, PDF).

A few details on the flyer matter for first-timers:

• The "joining member" rate is for people who are not yet Academy members but qualify for certain membership categories; it bundles membership at a discounted price into the registration.
• Guests cannot attend education sessions or earn CPE credit; the guest fee covers the keynote sessions and the expo hall.
• Group registration gives 10% off for five or more people registering together, if they all hold the same membership type, all buy full-conference admission and pay in one card transaction.
• Cancellation with a refund (less a $50 processing fee) closed on 9 September 2026; after that, refunds are considered case by case for documented extenuating circumstances.

If you are not yet in the profession and are wondering whether FNCE is for you, our guide on how to become a dietitian explains the credential the meeting is built around.

How many CPEUs can you earn at FNCE?

For RDNs and NDTRs, continuing professional education units (CPEUs) are a large part of FNCE's value. The Academy's CPE page, written for FNCE 2025 in Nashville, explains how it works (FNCE CPE information):

• Live sessions are recorded as a single entry in your Commission on Dietetic Registration activity log (activity type 170/172), at 1 CPEU per hour. At FNCE 2025, the maximum for live sessions was 19.5 CPEUs, not counting add-on workshops.
• Poster sessions are a separate single entry (activity type 180/181), at 1 CPEU per hour of viewing, with a maximum of 15 CPEUs at FNCE 2025.
• On-demand recordings are logged session by session (activity type 740/741); the Academy said about 85 CPEUs would be available through FNCE On-Demand for 2025.

Those numbers matter because of how recertification works. The Commission on Dietetic Registration's Professional Development Portfolio guide says registered dietitians must complete and record "at least 75 CPEUs" per five-year cycle, and dietetic technicians at least 50, including 1 CPEU in ethics or health equity, and that the learning plan "must be completed before accessing" the activity log (CDR, Professional Development Portfolio guide). CDR has since renumbered some activity types: its current definitions list live learning under 172/173, posters under 181/182 ("logged as a single entry based on the completion date of the event") and self-paced enduring material, such as recorded presentations, under 741 (CDR, CPE activity type definitions). Use the codes shown in your portal when you log FNCE 2026.

The 2026 flyer says session recordings can "boost your CPE hours by up to 50 (based on your Professional Development Portfolio Plan)", remain available until 31 May 2029, and are open to in-person attendees only after their badge pickup is verified. Check the 2026 CPE page in the app for this year's maximums. The page also lists sessions approved for CDR's ethics and health equity requirements, and continuing education accepted by other bodies, including diabetes care and education credentialing and eating disorder certification.

Sessions worth attending

The 2026 day-at-a-glance shows how wide the programme runs. Saturday is for pre-FNCE workshops, Foundation symposia and the opening session, Nutrition in the Age of Misinformation, from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by the Welcome Party. Sunday to Tuesday morning are packed with parallel sessions, and Monday opens with the Mission in Motion session, Visions of 2035: The Future of Food and Nutrition. The meeting ends with a closing session on Tuesday (FNCE 2026 Day-at-a-Glance, PDF).

Rather than recommend individual speakers, here is how to choose:

1. Start with your Professional Development Portfolio. Pick sessions that close gaps in your learning plan, because those are the CPEUs that count most for you.
2. Cover one hot topic properly. GLP-1 medicines appear in several 2026 sessions, from a fireside chat on clinical hot topics to fuelling athletes on GLP-1 therapy. Protein has its own session on current evidence and the risks of overconsumption, a useful counterweight to the new US guidance; our summary of the Dietary Guidelines 2025–2030 sets out what changed.
3. Choose one session outside your field. The 2026 programme runs from kidney stones and paediatric malnutrition to AI in practice, food policy and foodservice technology.
4. Go to the posters. They count for CPEUs, the researchers are usually standing beside them, and they are where new findings appear first.
5. Use the recordings to resolve clashes. With parallel tracks, you will miss sessions you want; the recordings bundle exists for exactly that.

Sessions on consumer protection and supplement safety are relevant if you advise patients on products; our guide to third-party tested supplements is a good primer before you walk the expo floor.

The expo: how to use it

The Academy describes an expo of "hundreds of booths", where you can learn about new products and services, discuss job opportunities, collect education materials for clients and sample food and drink. A few tips:

• Go with a list. Note the exhibitors you want to see from the app's floor plan, and visit them first, before the aisles get busy.
• Separate learning from marketing. Exhibitor materials are promotional. The Academy reviews first-time exhibitors and requires claims to be accurate, evidence-based and compliant with FDA and FTC rules, but it states that participation "does not imply Academy endorsement" (FNCE information for exhibitors).
• Visit the Center for Career Opportunities if you are job-hunting, or looking for internships and graduate programmes. Our nutrition jobs hub covers roles outside FNCE.
• Pace yourself. Expo hours are long, the hall is large, and sessions run at the same time.

Is FNCE worth attending?

It depends on what you want from it. The case for going in person rests on three things you cannot get from a recording: the people, the expo and the serendipity of conversations you did not plan. The case against is cost: registration plus flights, hotel and meals adds up fast.

A simple way to decide:

• Go in person if you are early in your career and want to build a network, are job-hunting, want to present research, run a business that sells to dietitians, or are active in a DPG or MIG.
• Choose recordings if your main aim is CPEUs, your budget is tight, or travel is difficult. For 2025, the Academy priced the post-FNCE recordings bundle, sold to people who did not attend, at $699 for members and $799 for non-members, compared with $49 to $99 for members who added recordings to an in-person registration. Check the 2026 prices on the registration page.
• Make the case to your employer. The Academy publishes a four-step guide to gaining employer support: build a sample agenda, list your top three reasons with the benefits for your workplace, send a formal request with the total cost, and attach its employer flyer (FNCE, gaining employer support).

For small brands: is exhibiting worth it?

Exhibitors pay for access to a concentrated audience of nutrition professionals. The Academy's 2026 exhibitor prospectus quotes its own survey results: 94% of attendees visit the expo to discover new products and services, 63% are decision-makers or recommenders of product purchases, and 84% of 2025 exhibitors were highly satisfied with attendee engagement. Booth space starts at $3,500 for a regular 10 ft by 10 ft inline booth and $3,900 for a premium one, before furniture, carpet, utilities, travel and samples (FNCE 2026 exhibitor prospectus, PDF).

For a small brand, the return depends on preparation more than booth size:

1. Know what dietitians want. The same prospectus says attendees value sampling and face-to-face conversations most. Bring evidence, not slogans.
2. Clear the first-time review early. You may be asked for samples, packaging, Nutrition or Supplement Facts labels and claim substantiation.
3. Book meetings beforehand with the practices, retailers and distributors you want to reach.
4. Follow up within a week, while names are fresh.
5. Consider cheaper options. The Member Product Marketplace offers discounted space for Academy members who own a product or business.

If dietitians are not your main buyers, a trade show may suit you better. Our guides to SupplySide Global 2026, Natural Products Expo West 2027, Vitafoods Europe 2027 and Gulfood 2027 cover the main supplement and food shows.

Networking for first-timers

• The First-Timers Reception. The 2026 FNCE site lists a First-Timers Reception among its special events. In 2025 the Academy ran it as an invitation-only event on the Saturday, emailing first-time attendees an invitation to RSVP in September, so check your inbox and the app.
• The Welcome Party follows the opening keynote on Saturday and is open to all attendees.
• DPG and MIG events. The practice groups host networking, social and learning events; most require registration, but the Networking Social at the DPG/MIG Showcase is free and open to all.
• Students have their own lounge from Saturday to Tuesday, free headshots by sign-up, and a supervised practice programme fair on Sunday 25 October from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for dietetic internships and graduate programmes (FNCE for students).

Bring a short introduction, a way to share your contact details, and a few questions you genuinely want answered. Our directory of nutrition and dietetics associations is useful if you meet people from other countries' professional bodies.

Saving money

• Register early next time. The 2026 gap between early and standard member rates was $100 for full registration.
• Students: student hosts who work two 2-hour shifts are randomly selected to receive a reduced student member registration of $50, and the Academy Foundation offers $170 stipends to student members enrolled for the autumn semester.
• Practitioners: the Foundation also offers stipends to RDNs who have held the credential for five years or more, awarded first come, first served. For 2026, a separate scheme from Visit San Antonio offered $200 off ($100 for students) to 20 people with financial need, with applications in May (FNCE financial support).
• Go as a group of five or more for 10% off, if you all meet the criteria on the flyer.
• Use the one-day or weekend passes if you only need part of the programme.
• Stay within walking distance; all official hotels are within nine blocks of the venue.

Plan the rest of the trip with our travel desk, and if you are travelling from abroad, our United States country guide explains how the dietetics profession is organised there. The Academy's housing and travel page for 2025 said it could not provide visa invitation letters, only an information letter template, so apply for a visa early. If you are flying within the United States, REAL ID enforcement began on 7 May 2025; you need a REAL ID-compliant licence or another accepted document such as a passport (TSA, REAL ID).

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