Conference

Conference 2026: Collaboration Powering Innovation

The 2026  OAA Conference took place in the Waterloo Region—home to the world’s biggest tech companies, from Apple to Google. Here in Ontario’s Silicon Valley, the opportunities and challenges posed by AI, automation, and energy modelling grab the headlines, while meaningful collaboration quietly powers creative decision-making relative to architectural quality, practice, and problem-solving.

This year’s Conference which took place on May 13-15, 2026  explored how collaboration thrives in the Grand Valley, with its mid-sized cities and architectural gems, as well as across the province. The climate crisis, housing shortages, and anxieties around economies and supply chains mean the need for collaboration and innovation has never been more valued.

To achieve a resilient, adaptive, and functional built environment, the profession must examine the tools for better co-creating with project team collaborators, clients, citizens, and municipalities. The OAA’s flagship event brought experts and delegates to the heart of Canadian tech innovation for three days of experiential local learning, professional development, and celebration. 

Conference ConEd sessions took place at Bingemans Conference Centre and events and various venues in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. See the Location Overview map for details.

Conference Highlights and photo galleries are now available!

The OAA would like to thank our generous sponsors for supporting the 2026 OAA Annual Conference. 

The OAA Conference is an annual event, traditionally held in May. It has previously been held in Toronto in "even" years (e.g. 2024, 2026) and in other cities on "odd" years (e.g. 2025, 2027). The Conference program includes a variety of Continuing Education sessions, experiential learning, and special events.

Members of Ontario's architecture profession attend the yearly Conference to help fulfil their Continuing Education requirements. It also serves as a networking opportunity to connect with colleagues and leaders in the design community. Conference events and seminars are also open to members of the public. If you are interested in learning more about the architectural profession and topics that affect the design community, be sure to attend.