We are thrilled to share that the Athlete Activism Summit is back! Our 2026 Athlete Activism Summit will be taking place June 4 – 7 in Poconos, Pennsylvania. The Summit is an annual gathering for college students, athletes, coaches, and administrators from across the country to learn and discuss ways to create a more welcoming environment in sports. Over four days, participants take part in workshops, keynote speeches, and panel discussions led by Athlete Ally staff and guest speakers. These sessions focus on education, leadership development, team building, and communication skills to equip emerging athlete leaders with the necessary tools to make positive changes on their team and campus.
Our location will be an camp setting in the Poconos! You can expect cabin accommodations, a plethora of outdoor activities, campfires and more!
Register now!
Our Summit includes:
- Engaging main stage sessions with panels with pro-athletes, student athletes, and activists
- Interactive breakout sessions to connect in smaller groups
- Social and Play components to bring out our competitive spirits & have some fun
- An energetic weekend to connect with fellow students and athletic staff to learn about how to make your campus more inclusion
- All meals upon arrival to Summit
Details below:
- Who is Athlete Ally?
- Athlete Ally believes that everyone should have equal access, opportunity, and experience in sports — regardless of your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Our mission is to help every athlete act as an ally and ensure every LGBTQIA+ person is welcome and safe in sports.
- How much does it cost?
- We have worked to reduce costs for joining us at the Summit as much as possible this year. The cost for this year’s Summit is $250, which includes your event ticket, shared Cabin accommodations at the Summit Camp location, shuttle transportation to/from EWR airport and the Summit, and all meals.
- Attendees are responsible for their own travel accommodations to the event.
- When is the Summit & what is the best way to get there?
- Arrive: Thursday, June 4th
- Depart: Sunday, June 7th
- Driving: Carpooling is highly recommended if you live within 4 hours of the Summit (Poconos area in Pennsylvania). Plan on arriving no earlier than 12:00 PM on Thursday, June 4th and departing no earlier than 12:00 PM ET on Sunday, June 7th.
- Flying or Taking the Train/Bus: Shuttles to the Summit will take approximately 2 hours
- Arrive at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) no later than 5:00 PM ET. Shuttles will take attendees from the airport to the Summit site. Shuttle times will be announced soon.
- Depart: The EARLIEST you can book a flight or train ticket out of EWR is 12:00 PM ET. If flights are booked before 12:00 PM ET we cannot guarantee you will make your flight. Shuttles will start departing from the Summit to EWR at 10:00 AM ET.
- *Please note that we will not be able to directly coordinate transfers from any other locations.
- Who should attend?
- We welcome any college student, athlete, coach, or administrator who is committed to making their community more welcoming and inclusive to attend. The discussion topics will cater to how participants can build connection and belonging on their team and among their peers and how they can remain authentic and safe while doing so. If you are a staff member, we kindly request that you register yourself and at least two students to attend as our Summit is primarily for current athletes.
- There is no minimum or maximum amount of tickets that need to be secured by an individual school to attend the Summit. Group tickets can be purchased at check out.
- What can I expect?
- This year’s Summit is unique compared to prior year’s events. This year, we’re going to Camp! Upon arriving at the Poconos, you’ll be shown to your shared Camp Cabin. On the opening night, we will kick off the weekend with an informal Opening Ceremonies event on Thursday evening to meet other attendees. Friday and Saturday will include a series of breakouts, main stage keynotes and panel discussions. We’ll conclude Saturday with a social gathering. Throughout the weekend, you’ll have the opportunity to take advantage of Camp activities, such as the pool, lake, ropes course, fitness centers and more. On Sunday, we’ll have informal morning programming, before we all depart the Poconos. The full event schedule will be announced in the weeks ahead on our website. Check out our teaser video for a better understanding of what to expect!
- How do I register?
- Please visit our event page to secure your ticket and review our FAQs!
- Do you offer financial assistance?
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- We understand the financial constraints that people may be facing in today’s climate, so we’ve tried to reduce the cost of access to this year’s Summit. We do have limited registration support available to reduce barriers to attendance (we cannot provide assistance for travel to and from the Summit). If you are seeking financial support, please email us directly at summitinfo@athleteally.org. You do not need to share personal details beyond what you’re comfortable sharing. Our team will review requests confidentially and be in touch within five business days after the close of registration.
For questions, please reach out to us at summitinfo@athleteally.org.
If you’re an alum or can’t attend personally but still want to support the Summit, please consider donating to sponsor a student’s participation in the Summit!
Interested in sponsoring the Summit? Reach out to summitinfo@athleteally.org – we’d love to hear from you!