Annual Conference

The annual USBC Conference, called the National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening (NBCC), brings together a diverse set of clinical, community, advocacy, and research professionals who recognize the public health importance of breastfeeding as critical for reducing the burden of infant morbidity and mortality, childhood and adolescent overweight, obesity, and chronic disease, and maternal type 2 diabetes and maternal breast and ovarian cancers.

The convening is designed to develop and strengthen the leadership capacity of the public health workforce, including representatives from direct service organizations, breastfeeding coalitions, hospitals and healthcare facilities, health departments, research institutions, and federal agencies to effectively protect, promote, and support breastfeeding at the national, state, local, and community levels.

2026 Annual Conference

Rooted in Legacy Growing Towards Justice

Registration for the 2026 National Breastfeeding Conference and Convening is open! Reserve your seat today.

The Rooted in Legacy Growing Towards Justice 2026 National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening will take place in-person from Wednesday, June 3, through Friday, June 5, 2026, in Bethesda, Maryland. Download and review the official agenda for the conference.

For detailed registration pricing information and other questions about the 2026 Conference, visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

Conference Objectives & Continuing Education Units

1. Examine current national, state, and community strategies for protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding and advancing infant nutrition security across policy, health systems, and community settings.
2. Apply evidence-based approaches to strengthen continuity of care and expand breastfeeding support beyond clinical environments through community-driven and peer-led models.
3. Integrate strategies for advancing inclusive lactation initiatives, including Indigenous-led practices, culturally grounded programming, and coalition partnerships.
4. Implement emergency preparedness, public health communication, and early education strategies into comprehensive breastfeeding promotion efforts.

The USBC has applied for continuing education credits for the 2026 National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening, an effort that is jointly sponsored by the Perinatal Advisory Council: Leadership, Advocacy, and Consultation (PAC/LAC). Please indicate your interest in purchasing CEs at a later date during registration. As more information becomes available, you will be contacted with more details.

Marketing & Sponsorship Opportunities

We are excited to invite you to partner with us at the National Breastfeeding Conference and Convening through our marketing, sponsorship, a nd exhibitor opportunities. This is your chance to showcase your organization, connect with attendees, and support our mission in a meaningful way.

To join us, please complete the Marketing and Sponsorship Application Form. All submissions will be reviewed for alignment with the event and availability. Once approved, you will receive a confirmation email and invoice, due upon receipt, to secure your participation.

We look forward to collaborating with you to make this year’s event a success. For any questions about marketing, sponsorship, or exhibitor opportunities, please contact Kristen Clark at [email protected].

Pre-Conference Sessions

This year’s National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening will feature a webinar and two Pre-Conference Events aimed at enhancing your conference experience by providing additional education and opportunities to directly engage in federal policy advocacy efforts.

Note: Pre-conference events are offered concurrently. Participants are invited to choose the session that best aligns with their interests, as the two sessions cannot be attended simultaneously.

Pre-Conference Webinar – May 18, 2026
Framing, Storytelling, and Policy Asks: Engaging Congress on Infant Nutrition Security through Brea…

Explore how to position breastfeeding within federal policy conversations, develop clear and values-driven messaging, and navigate the practical steps of initiating congressional engagement. This webinar will also help prepare participants for the Advocacy Day Pre-Con event.

Pre-Conference Events – June 3, 2026
Advocacy Day at Capitol Hill

Join the USBC for a day of coordinated congressional engagement to advance federal policies that support breastfeeding and strengthen infant nutrition security. Meet with Members of Congress and congressional staff to elevate breastfeeding as a federal policy priority.

Cutting Through the Clutter: Effective Communications Strategies for Public Health Messaging

Strengthen your communication skills and learn how to break through today’s noisy, polarized information environment. This interactive workshop is designed for public health professionals, lactation advocates, and anyone who wants to communicate evidence-based information with clarity and confidence.

Awards Ceremony & Application

Each year, our conference awards recognize and celebrate individuals advancing breastfeeding and lactation support through leadership, advocacy, research, systems change, and community-based work. These honorees represent the heart of our field, people whose dedication, vision, and persistence make a lasting impact year after year.

Awardees are celebrated on the main stage at the USBC Conference, where their work is honored before colleagues, partners, and community members from across the country. It is a moment to publicly recognize those whose contributions shape and strengthen the First Food field.

2026 Award categories include:

Hamlin-Taylor Community Impact Leader Award: Honors Mona Lisa Hamlin and Emily Taylor and recognizes leaders who demonstrate meaningful community impact through their work to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding and human milk feeding for mothers and lactating parents.
Native Knowledge Award: Honors talented and dedicated individuals who identify as American Indian/Native American, Native Hawaiian, or Indigenous peoples of the United States, including Indigenous peoples from U.S. Territories. Native Knowledge Awardees use their Native knowledge, cultural teachings, and community-rooted leadership to advance the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding and human milk feeding in their communities. We recognize Indigenous communities in all states and territories and welcome applications that reflect the full breadth of Native knowledge and lived experience across all U.S. jurisdictions.
Cultural Changemaker Award: Celebrates leaders and members of cultural breastfeeding coalitions and community-based organizations who are actively protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding and human milk feeding in priority populations.

We are seeking nominations for individuals who:

Have demonstrated long-term commitment to breastfeeding advocacy or support
Are leading meaningful work at the community, state, or national level
Are advancing access and systems change
Have influenced policy, practice, research, or program development
Often do vital work that may be underrecognized or behind the scenes

We warmly encourage:

Self-nominations: if this describes your work, we want to hear from you!
Nominations of colleagues, mentors, partners, or community leaders whose contributions deserve recognition

If someone's work has made you pause and say, "This matters,"—this is the moment to lift them up! Apply for yourself or nominate an individual by filling out the 2026 NBCC Awards Application now. Additional details and helpful information can be found on the submission form's front page. This application window will close on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at midnight PT.

Accomodations

We are pleased to announce that we will be returning to the Hyatt Regency Bethesda. Reserve your room today for June 3-5,2026 to access the $235 (plus taxes)/night group rate.
In the event that the Hyatt is showing as sold out, there are additional properties in close proximity to the location of the conference, including the Hilton Garden Inn and the Residence Inn by Marriott.

National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening