Upcoming Positive Psychology Conferences (2021 + 2022)

In this article, we have compiled all the upcoming positive psychology conferences and included those we know about for 2021.

If you’re interested in speaking or presenting at any of these, we have also included the official pages for each event.

These links will include the guidelines for submissions, symposia, schedules, and more information on the conferences themselves as they become available.

NOTE: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these conferences have been swapped to a virtual or blended format. Others may have been rescheduled. At the time of updating this article, we have attempted to account for these changes, but be sure to follow the links and check these conferences’ availability and format before registering.

If you have no plans to present research or host a workshop, these positive psychology conferences are still very much worth attending. Whether it’s simply for a chance to interact with other therapists, coaches, or positive psychology enthusiasts, they are often global gatherings of professionals from a diversity of sectors.

Here is a brief overview of what you can expect from each of the conferences, and we will continue updating this page as more events are announced.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our 3 Positive Psychology Exercises for free. These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

Australasian Well-being in Education Conference

Date: August 19-21, 2021
Location: Ravenswood School for Girls, Sydney, Australia
Format: TBA (may be held online or via dual-delivery — in-person and online).
Price: TBA

Description: Flourishing in a Changed World is the theme of this year’s PESA Australasian Well-being in Education Conference.

The Positive Education in Schools Association (PESA) hosts this conference every year, and their members share an interest in evidence-based approaches to supporting young people and flourishing within communities.

Past conferences have attracted close to 1000 delegates from more than 300 schools around Australia and beyond, as well as famous speakers such as Kathy Freeman.

Specific details of the conference program have yet to be published, but you can keep an eye out for these by visiting PESA’s official webpage.

2021 ResilienceCon™

Date: April 11-13, 2021
Format: Virtual
Price: $457 for regular registration ($297 for students); $556 for deluxe package.

Description: Drs. Kalei Kanuha, Melissa Merrick, and Maury Nation are this year’s keynote speakers at the well-known ResilienceCon in Nashville, Tennessee.

The global event will showcase interview-based sessions on issues like self-care, resilience in society, minimization of gender-based harm, and post-traumatic growth. Several breakout sessions will be held throughout this virtual conference, giving you the opportunity to ask questions to the speakers and virtually meet members of the research center.

As is the case every year, academics, students, psychology practitioners, educators, social workers, criminologists, sociologists, as well as those in prevention, public health, or related fields are welcome!

Register or visit the official website.

26th Annual Wisconsin Symposium on Emotion

Date: April 14, 2021
Format: Virtual
Price: Free

Description: The theme of this year’s Annual Wisconsin Symposium on Emotion is Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health. The symposium will cover a fascinating range of topics, including the neurobiology of emotions to the role of somatic signals as influencers of stress.

For many years, the Annual Wisconsin Symposium on Emotion has attracted students and leading scientists to discuss topics like resilience from the perspectives of psychiatry, health, and the brain.

Register or visit the official website.

Wellbeing At Work Virtual Summits 2021-2022

Date: April 27-29, 2021
Location: Asia

Date: May 18-20, 2021
Location: Europe

Date: September 14-16, 2021
Location: Australia/New Zealand

Date: October 19-21, 2021
Location: Canada

Date: November 9-11, 2021
Location: UK

Date: November 16-18, 2021
Location: South Africa

Date: February 21-23, 2022
Location: Middle East

Format: Virtual

Price: Varies with the venue; all prices are given in local currencies.

Description: Delivered by the organization, Future of Work Insights, these three-day virtual summits will provide advice, inspiration, and strategic direction from employers and academic experts around the globe. Typically, these events are attended by business leaders and HR practitioners.

The focus of each summit centers around strategies to design and implement workplace mental health programs that have the dual benefit of enhancing productivity and strengthening employee wellbeing.

Positive Schools 2021-2022

Date: TBA (Queensland, 2021); TBA (Western Australia, 2021), May 19-20 (Western Australia, 2022); May 26-27 (Queensland, 2022), June 2-3 (Sydney), June 9-10 (Melbourne)
Location: TBA
Price: $550 (Early Bird Rate), and $570 thereafter.

Description: Each event kicks off with a Wednesday pre-conference workshop (check whether you need separate tickets) on Putting Values Into Action. Days 1 and 2 feature talks from psychologists and industry leaders on a range of issues, so attendees can expect to learn about staff wellbeing, post-stress emotional wellbeing, mindfulness in education, and preparing students for a VUCA world.

Register or visit the conference page for more information.

2021 Positive Business Conference: A Virtual Conference

Date: May 13-14, 2021
Format: Virtual
Price: $249 for conference attendees; $195 for faculty staff and students

Description: Leaders, co-workers, and psychology experts will be able to take part in important conversations about how to build positive businesses this May at the University of Michigan’s popular annual event.

The conference schedule has already been posted, and features workshops and main stage sessions focused on themes like human connection, corporate activism, innovation, business sustainability, positive leadership, and positive performance.

Featured speakers, including some notable industry names, can be found on the Speakers Page.

Visit the Positive Business Conference site.

Fourth Polish Society of Positive Psychology Conference

Date: June, 2022
Location: Bydgoszcz, Poland
Format: TBA
Price: TBA

Description: This Polish Society of Positive Psychology will be about Contemporary Challenges for Positive Psychology.

Special guests at the 2022 event, which looks at recent developments in the field, include leading motivation expert Professor Robert Vallerand and emotional intelligence researcher Dr. Moïra Mikolajczak.

You can visit the official site for more information as the event draws closer.

Employee Wellbeing Congress 2021

Date: September 30th, 2021
Location: London, UK
Format: In-person
Price: TBA
Audience: For HR staff and wellbeing practitioners in large UK organizations of 500+ staff.

Description: The first speakers are already confirmed for this British event on Positive Organizations, and attendees will be able to hear case studies of mental health strategies, workforce wellbeing initiatives, and more in action.

Open only to participants who meet the above criteria, the program offers a combination of great networking opportunities, presentations, and speeches. The agenda is full of plenary presentations on our business environment, the role of the government and employers in societal health, and other vital issues influencing HR decisions today.

Find out more on the official website.

Workplace Wellness Festival

Date: June 22-23, 2021
Location: ICC, Sydney, Australia
Format: Virtual
Price: $95

Description: Over 200 speakers have been confirmed to date for the third Workplace Wellness Festival, including many names from the business and academic worlds alike.

The conference days start and end with a plenary and include virtual roundtables, expos, and more across the two days. The themes of the conference will center around six different conference tracks ranging from employee health to financial wellness.

You’ll hear case studies on wellness initiatives, learn strengths-based methodologies for organizational change, and be able to participate in discussions on important positive organizational issues like mental health, culture, and work/life balance.

You can learn more by visiting the conference website.

10th European Conference on Positive Psychology 2022

Date: June 29 – July 2, 2022
Location: Harpa, Reykjavik, Iceland
Format: In-person
Price: ISK 122,500 (On-site registration) and ISK 92,500 (Early registration)

Description: Registration is now open for the 10th ECPP, which will be held in Harpa, Reykjavik. With keynote speakers like Drs. Richard Davidson, Felicia Huppert, Richard Ryan, and many more. The theme of the 2022 conference is “Creating a world we want to live in.”

Over the three main days, expect to hear from some of the world’s leading experts on positive psychology and public health, workplace wellbeing, education and society, and the global economy. Likewise, the event will cover three positive psychology focal areas: applied research, theory and basic research, and practice.

Visit their website here.

11th Biennial International Meaning Conference (IMEC) 2021

Date: August 6-8, 2021
Format: Virtual
Price: TBA

Description: This year’s focus is From Vulnerability to Resilience & Well-being: Advances in Existential & Positive Psychology with a particular focus on the impact of the pandemic.

If you’re a practitioner or researcher interested in wellbeing factors like cultural differences, indigenous psychology, responsibility, and positive and negative emotions, this conference features a wealth of talks and paper sessions, as well as pre-conference workshops and banquets.

Keynote speakers include Dr. Blaine Fowlers, talking on virtue and flourishing, Dr. Darcia Narvaez, Dr. Robert Emmons, and more.

Find out more here.

18th Annual ISQOLS Conference

Date: August 23-27, 2021
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Price: $50 for Early Bird Non-members (available until May 15th); $75 for regular registration. Learn about further concessions available on the website.

Description: Happiness, quality of life, and wellbeing will underpin discussions and events at this year’s International Society for Quality of Life Studies Conference, which will be the 18th annual event of its kind.

Quality-of-life and adaptation in a virulent world is the overarching theme. Attendees are invited to debate some interesting questions around challenges and opportunities for wellbeing research in light of the pandemic and strategies for examining quality-of-life, wellbeing, and happiness.

Visit the ISQOLS Website.

3rd Positive Psychology in Practice Conference

Date: June 24-25, 2021
Format: Virtual
Price: €299 for a two-day standard registration; €195 for two-day student registration

Description: This two-day event will include workshops and speeches on positive psychology research methodology, clinical and mental health settings, education, interventions, coaching, and social change, as well as a host of other topics.

It will also be relevant for a wide practitioner audience, with educators, wellness practitioners, organizational leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, and NGO ambassadors all welcome – a great networking opportunity.

Visit the website to learn more.

Happiness and Its Causes 2021

Date: November 15-16, 2021
Location: Cockle Bay Rooms, ICC, Sydney, Australia
Format: In-person
Price: $927.50 for a 4-day ticket, $547.50 for a 2-day ticket (not including GST)

Description: Since 2006, Happiness & Its Causes conferences have brought delegates from around the world together to explore the drivers of a happy and fulfilling life. These delegates come from the fields of psychology, science, education, business and the arts.c

With past speakers including many famous scientists and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, attendees can look forward to an inspiring event.

Taking place over two days, the conference will address the latest in fields like connection, mindfulness, coping, altruism, and flourishing.

Register now or visit the conference website for more information and to sign up for conference updates.

International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) 7th World Congress on Positive Psychology

Date: July 15-18, 2021
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Format: Virtual
Price: See website for different price packages. Register before May 1st to take advantage of Super Early registration discounts.

Description: Organized by the IPPA, the 7th Congress anniversary theme is Wellbeing for All. Thus, its focus will be inclusive positive psychology – a science encompassing all perspectives and aiming for collective happiness. Upward of 100 speakers are expected to attend, with post-congress workshops, a scientific poster gallery, and 1500+ global delegates

Register now, or learn more at the official website for the IPPA event.

Happiness@Work Live 7th Annual International Conference

Date: November 25, 2021
Format: Virtual (in an immersive 3D environment)
Price: TBA

Description: This conference attracts scholars and business leaders from around the world to explore the drivers of happiness at work. This year, great thought-leaders, including leading happiness researcher Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, will be brought together in an immersive 3D environment to share their views on upcoming changes to company cultures.

Learn more at the official website for the Happiness@Work event.

12th International Summit on Aging & Gerontology

Date: November 24-25, 2021
Location: London, UK
Format: Webinar
Price: TBA

Description: This conference brings together experts from around the world who specialize in the science of healthy aging. The event covers a range of topics such as the delivery of aging care services, the science of life extension, and the evolution of aging.

Keep an eye out for updates about this year’s virtual summit on the ConferenceSeries website.

On Aging by the American Society on Aging (ASA)

Date: April 11-14, 2022
Location: New Orleans, LA
Format: In-person
Price: TBA (Early Bird Registration opens October 1st, 2021)

Description: The focus of On Aging’s multidisciplinary conference centers around the ASA’s five priority areas of justice and equity, innovation and social impact, health and well-being, economic security, and ageism and culture.

The 2022 theme of On Aging is advancing economic security, and the event is expected to attract hundreds of experts and exhibitors from around the United States.

You can stay up to date and learn more at ASA’s official website.

Undoing Aging 2022

Date: May 26-28, 2022
Location: The Radialsystem, Berlin
Format: In-person
Price: €200 – €850 for Early Bird Registration (see Eventbrite for different price packages)

Description: Jointly hosted by the Forever Healthy Foundation and SENS Research Foundation, the Undoing Aging conference addresses the science of cellular and molecular repair as a result of aging.

This event brings together scientists and startups from around the globe who are pioneers in their fields and leading the charge toward maintaining and restoring health in old age.

You can learn more and register at the official conference website.

Conference on Environmental Psychology 2021

Date: November 18-19, 2021
Location: Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN University), Norway
Format: In-person
Price: TBA

Description: The Conference on Environmental Psychology (CEP) is an annual conference hosted by the Norwegian Network for Environmental Psychology and the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN University).

This event aims to promote research within environmental psychology and related disciplines and facilitate networking across disciplines and industries. Topics covered at the conference include the psychological aspects of resource management and crises, place identity, and architectural psychology, just to name a few.

You can learn more and register at the official conference website.

38th Annual Association for Play Therapy (APT) International Conference

Date: October 12-17, 2021
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Format: In-person
Price: $125 for members ($25 early bird); $225 for non-members ($125 early bird); $65 for students ($15 early bird). Register by September 10th to take advantage of discounted early bird rates.

Description: The APT is a national professional society established in 1982 to advance play therapy practice, instruction, supervision, and research. The annual conference serves as a valuable opportunity to connect with fellow play therapists, browse exhibits featuring play therapy tools, toys, and books, and learn about the latest findings in this space.

Highlights of this year’s event include over 75 planned educational workshops worth up to 37 hours of continuing education credits. Topics of talks include play therapy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, humanistic play therapy theories, and intersectionality in play therapy and therapist supervision.

You can stay up to date and learn more at the APT’s official website.

Do you know of any other positive psychology conferences that haven’t been listed above?

Please leave a comment!

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