23 Aug 2025
Missoula, Mont. (August 22, 2025) — During its annual conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) announced it selected Madison, Wisconsin, as the host for its 2026 conference. That event will help kick off the organization's centennial celebration.
The dates for the event are Aug. 22-24, 2026. The conference will be held at the downtown Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center while guests will stay at the Embassy Suites Downtown Madison or the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace.
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome OWAA attendees to Wisconsin's capital city and gateway to the state's outdoors," said Ellie Westman Chin, Destination Madison's president and CEO. "Next year, conference attendees will experience the urban outdoors of our downtown core, where great food and drink are close, and fishing, boating, biking and hiking are never far. We know OWAA members will walk away with an appreciation for our city and a passion for our outdoor offerings."
Pre- and post-tours will allow attendees to discover and cover outdoor experiences throughout the state of Wisconsin.
OWAA's conference brings together nearly 250 attendees, two thirds of whom are world-class, vetted outdoor media. Attending media include writers, photographers, bloggers, podcasters, videographers and more, who come together from a broad spectrum of outdoor specialties to learn, connect and discover all outdoor offerings of the local hosts.
“Kicking off OWAA's 100th anniversary in Madison, WI, offers a meaningful and exciting way for us to reconnect with our Midwestern roots,” said OWAA President Colleen Miniuk. “This vibrant city, with its outdoor traditions and natural beauty, provides the ideal place for us to honor a rich legacy of storytelling, conservation, mentorship, partnership, and adventure—and to spark bold new directions for the future of outdoor communications.”
OWAA is open to individual professional media, conservation organizations, brands and service providers that are focused on outdoor communication. Their annual conference gives attendees a chance to network with other professionals, build career relationships and help improve their skills. Sessions are geared toward general business, newsmakers and craft improvement in multiple genres of outdoor communication including:
The dates for the event are Aug. 22-24, 2026. The conference will be held at the downtown Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center while guests will stay at the Embassy Suites Downtown Madison or the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace.
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome OWAA attendees to Wisconsin's capital city and gateway to the state's outdoors," said Ellie Westman Chin, Destination Madison's president and CEO. "Next year, conference attendees will experience the urban outdoors of our downtown core, where great food and drink are close, and fishing, boating, biking and hiking are never far. We know OWAA members will walk away with an appreciation for our city and a passion for our outdoor offerings."
Pre- and post-tours will allow attendees to discover and cover outdoor experiences throughout the state of Wisconsin.
OWAA's conference brings together nearly 250 attendees, two thirds of whom are world-class, vetted outdoor media. Attending media include writers, photographers, bloggers, podcasters, videographers and more, who come together from a broad spectrum of outdoor specialties to learn, connect and discover all outdoor offerings of the local hosts.
“Kicking off OWAA's 100th anniversary in Madison, WI, offers a meaningful and exciting way for us to reconnect with our Midwestern roots,” said OWAA President Colleen Miniuk. “This vibrant city, with its outdoor traditions and natural beauty, provides the ideal place for us to honor a rich legacy of storytelling, conservation, mentorship, partnership, and adventure—and to spark bold new directions for the future of outdoor communications.”
OWAA is open to individual professional media, conservation organizations, brands and service providers that are focused on outdoor communication. Their annual conference gives attendees a chance to network with other professionals, build career relationships and help improve their skills. Sessions are geared toward general business, newsmakers and craft improvement in multiple genres of outdoor communication including:
- Photography
- Videography
- Podcasting
- Writing and editing
- Digital and social media, and more
About OWAA
Recognized as “The Voice of the Outdoors,” OWAA is the nation's largest organization of professional outdoor journalists. Its membership includes writers, photographers, videographers, radio and TV personalities, digital storytellers and artists. Formed in 1927, the nonprofit association's mission is to improve the professional skills and opportunities of its members, set the highest ethical and communications standards, encourage public enjoyment and conservation of natural resources, and mentor the next generation of professional outdoor communicators. https://owaa.org
For more information, contact:
Chez Chesak
Executive Director, OWAA
chez@owaa.org
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