The Definitive UFO Conference Schedule & UAP Events Calendar
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About the Conference Calendar
Welcome to the most comprehensive, up-to-date directory of UFO conferences, UAP symposiums, and anomalous phenomena gatherings worldwide. As the field of UAP research transitions into a serious scientific discipline, the demand for high-quality, data-driven events has never been higher.
Whether you are looking for a grassroots UFO fair, a high-level UAP symposium featuring declassified data analysis, or a regional workshop or conference, our event calendar is the most complete list of UAP events available on the internet. We track everything from international congresses to virtual webinars to ensure you never miss a breakthrough presentation.
Our Conference Classification System
Whether you are looking for a grassroots UFO fair, a high-level UAP symposium featuring declassified data analysis, or a regional workshop or conference, our event calendar is the most complete list of UAP events available on the internet. We track everything from international congresses to virtual webinars to ensure you never miss a breakthrough presentation.
There are an enormous variety of events in the UAP/UFO world ranging from serious science-based conferences and colloquiums to fun, family-oriented UFO festivals and fairs. In order to allow quick access to the class of events of interest to the reader, we have introduced a simple taxonomy to allow grouping of like events:
UAP Symposiums – Serious research and academic based gatherings likely to include scientists, government officials, members of academia and congressional whistleblowers. Examples include The Sol Foundation Annual Conference, The Society for UAP Studies Annual Conference and the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies Conference.
UAP Educational Offerings – Since 2025 we have noted that good quality educational offerings from research-oriented organizations and individuals have become a part of the UAP ecosystem. In this classification, we offer a curated list of UAP focused educational offerings. Examples include The Society for UAP Studies – UAP Studies Seminar Series and The Human Institute’s – Investigating NHI Series.
UFO Conferences – A large and popular segment, this grouping is widely varied in event quality ranging from Contact in the Desert, a high-end event featuring some scientists and governments officials that is categorized as both a UFO Conference and a UAP Symposium to local events with greater focus on more speculative topics. This grouping generally draws speakers that fall into the categories of UFO researchers, podcasters, and authors.
UFO Festivals and Fairs – light, UFO themed entertainment, frequently held in towns where a significant historical UFO sighting event occurred. Examples include Roswell, NM, Kecksburg PA, and McMinnville, OR.
Are you hosting a UAP event?
Hosts of UAP/UFO conferences, symposiums, festivals and educational offerings, welcome! We’re happy to add your event to our schedule, the most complete UFO conference schedule on the internet. Fill out the form below and we’ll let you know when your event has been added!
UFO / UAP Conferences FAQ
What are the biggest UFO conferences in 2026?
Two of the largest UFO conferences include Contact in the Desert held near Palm Springs, CA at the end of May and the MUFON International Symposium, held in the Cincinnati, OH area in August.
Contact in the Desert is billed as the “world’s largest UFO/UAP conference”. It features prominent speakers (e.g., Dr. Jacques Vallée, George Knapp), panels, intensives, and a large community vibe. This is widely regarded as the biggest dedicated UFO event.
The MUFON International Symposium is the flagship annual event of the Mutual UFO Network, focusing on scientific study of UAP with researchers, investigators, and societal implications. It draws a strong dedicated following and includes live streams and is also one of the largest events
If you prefer a much more science focused event, the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) Annual Conference in July is billed as “the premier UAP event in 2026,” with a scientific and policy focus. This attracts scientists, engineers, and national security experts.
Are these conferences vetted for scientific accuracy?
You are in luck. One of the key benefits of the UAP News Center’s Conference listings is that we carefully categorize each event in the conference listing so that you can easily separate the serious from the merely fun.
If you are interested only in serious scientific study of the topic, seek out events that are in the UAP Symposiums category.
Read about our conference categories above or read our categorization FAQ here.
UFO conference tips for first-time attendees
People are generally friendly and happy to help. Remember, you have a common interest with everyone that is at this event, don’t be afraid to ask for help or to chat.
Look at the schedule in advance and know what you want to attend as there can be multiple talks going on at the same time. Some events can be crowded and in large event centers. Use the provided handouts and online materials to have some idea of where you need to go for your next talk or event.
Scientific UAP research conferences vs UFO festivals
There are a variety of options available on the UFO / UAP events schedule from the very serious to the just plain fun. There is also some crossover between the four types of events here on the schedule. Read about the four categories of UFO / UAP events above.
You will see some event with two categorizations. Some UFO festivals will have a panel of speakers on the topic. In this case, you will see the event listed as both a festival and a UFO Conference.
Likewise, some UFO Conferences, most notably Contact in the Desert, are beginning to attract the scientists, whistleblowers, and government insiders that qualify them for the UAP symposium category as well as the UFO Conferences category.
Do some UAP conferences stream online live?
We’ve got you covered on this one. Purely virtual events are marked “Virtual” in the location field.
When you click to see the page for an event, look for the Live or Virtual Event field. If you see the value Virtual or Both, you’re in luck, you can take in the event virtually.
Finally, some events will make their content available online after the end of the show either for free or for a fee. Keep an eye out for that option.
Best UFO conferences to attend for beginners
There are a few ways to tackle this. One is to find something close to where you live.
Another is to try attending a conference virtually for your first go around.
Third, is to try a simple approach like attending a UFO festival or fair that has experts giving talks as well. you can enjoy the fair, and ease into the conference scene by experiencing a few talks at a festival.
That said, the best conference for you is the one that suits your interests. If you are a scientist, academician or researcher, the UAP Symposium category is clearly for you. The Sol Foundation, Society for UAP Studies and Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies are your best bet.
