About Conference

83rd Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference
Thursday, April 23 through Sunday, April 26, 2026
Hybrid Format: In Person at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL or Online

All Panels/Paper Sessions, Roundtables, Lightning Talks and Working Groups will Feature a Hybrid Format (for In-Person or Virtual Participation). Undergraduate Poster Sessions will be In Person Only.

Conference Program Co-Chairs:
Bethany Lacina, University of Rochester
Cecilia Hyunjung Mo, University of California-Berkeley

Sign up here to receive email communications about the conference.

Register Now for the Conference 

Registration is open for the 83rd Annual MPSA Conference! Reduced registration rates are available to MPSA members (see membership rates here) and to those who reserve a room at one of the official conference hotels. 

Attendees have the flexibility to change their registration status from in person to virtual (or vice versa) if plans change. In order to minimize any changes to the program, all sessions will be available in real time for those participating either in person or online and sessions will consist of individuals participating in person, online, or a mixture of both. 

To ensure you receive the best conference registration rate:  

1. Check to see if your membership is active through April 30, 2026 to get member pricing.  Log in to your account to check your membership status, or join the MPSA/renew your membership before registering for the conference. 
2. Book your hotel accommodations in an official MPSA hotel to receive the in-hotel registration rate. Unsure about the length of your stay? Book as many nights as you want in order to secure the reduced rate, and then drop any extra unneeded room nights prior to the cutoff date and after you secure your schedule and travel plans. For guests staying at the Palmer House Hilton and the Hilton Chicago, please be aware that the hotels require a $50 deposit for a room reservation in lieu of one night hold normally placed on a credit card (per stay, not per night). If you cancel your room reservation within 48 hours of arrival, you will be charged a cancelation fee equal to the cost of one room night plus tax. If you register for the conference at the lower in-hotel rate but are not a registered guest in an official conference hotel, you will be billed for the difference between the in-hotel and out-of-hotel rates. If more than one person is staying in the room, make sure everyone’s name is on the reservation or your conference registration rate will be adjusted.

You must be logged in to your MPSA account to register. If you do not have an account, or are unsure, click here. If you need to reset your password, click here. 

If you have another MPSA account associated with a different email address, contact mpsainfo@mpsanet.org to request the accounts be merged. Do not create a new account, as this will prevent you from accessing previously submitted proposals. 

View the Conference Program

The schedule for sessions at the 83rd Annual MPSA Conference is available here. The online program is searchable by participant name, session format, section and date/time. You must be logged in with your MPSA username and password to access the system.

Accept or Decline Your Conference Participation

Was your proposal accepted for the conference? Log in to your account as soon as possible to confirm or decline your participation. Use the same email address that your acceptance notification email message was sent to as your username. If you haven’t logged in before, click here to set your password. Do not create a new account, as this will prevent you from accessing previously submitted proposals. If you have another MPSA account associated with a different email address contact mpsainfo@mpsanet.org to request the accounts be merged.

Request a Letter of Invitation for the Conference  

If you need a letter of invitation for a Visa, log in to your MPSA account and click “Request a Letter of Invitation.” You will be prompted to complete your profile first, if you have not done so already. 

Offer to Serve as a Chair or Discussant

Please consider volunteering your expertise to demonstrate your support of your colleagues in the discipline. Professional-level members and submitters may volunteer to be a discussant or chair via the MPSA proposal system. Second-year graduate students may volunteer to serve as a discussant on undergraduate poster sessions (poster sessions are for in-person participation only, no virtual option is available). Click here to view a dynamic list of open roles and sign up to volunteer.  You must be logged in with your MPSA username and password to volunteer. All users must complete their profile before volunteering for a chair or discussant role. You will be prompted to complete your account profile if you have not done so already. Learn more about conference participation roles here.

A complimentary registration will be available for those who are attending the hybrid conference (either in person or online) and only participating as a discussant. 

In order to qualify for a complimentary registration: 

• You cannot be assigned to any author roles or have research listed on the program.
• You cannot be a participant on any roundtable outside of the MPSA Professional Development Section 63. 
• You must be placed in at least one discussant role. (While not required, fulfilling additional discussant or chair roles is greatly appreciated by your colleagues in the discipline looking for feedback on their research.)

Being added as a chair on a panel in addition to your discussant role(s) will not disqualify you from a complimentary registration. However, holding a chair role alone does not qualify you for a complimentary registration. We highly encourage you to volunteer for chair role(s) in addition to your service as a discussant. You must hold at least one discussant role to qualify.

If you are eligible to receive a complimentary registration, you will be emailed a link to register at no charge. 

If you receive a complimentary registration but no longer meet the above requirements, your complimentary registration will be revoked and you will be need to purchase a conference registration. 

Upload Your Paper to the Online Conference Program

Upload your research to the online conference program. Uploading your research early allows for those attending your session to come prepared with meaningful feedback. Instruction on how to upload your paper can be found here.

Access Research that has been Uploaded to the Program

Papers that have been uploaded for the conference are accessible through the online conference program. Follow the steps listed here to access and download papers from your sessions. If your session does not have a download button available when logged in, the author(s) have not yet uploaded their research to the session.

Register to Attend an MPSA 2026 Pre-Conference Workshop

Causal Inference Using R for Political Scientists

Text Analysis in the Age of Generative AI: Recent Insights and Innovations

The MPSA is hosting two research methods workshops on Wednesday, April 22 prior to the start of the 2026 MPSA Conference. These free workshops are open to all registered MPSA Conference attendees (in-person participation only). Limited space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information including how to register for a workshop, see the abstracts linked above. Please note that these workshops take place simultaneously, so we kindly ask that you RSVP for only one workshop of your choice.

Need a New Professional Headshot? Book Your Appointment for the Wiley Headshot Lounge

The Wiley Headshot Lounge will be held during the Annual Conference in the Exhibit Hall on the 4th Floor of the Palmer House Hilton on Friday, April 24. Timeslots are available in 30-minute increments (with up to 15 individual appointments each timeslot) from 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Headshot sessions are $20 and payment is required upon booking. Click here to reserve your time slot!

Arrive at the Headshot Lounge in the Exhibit Hall a few minutes prior to your designated appointment time and check in with staff. Immediately following your session, you will be emailed a link to a private gallery of your photos.

Time slots will sell out fast! Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to book your high-quality headshot session today and walk away from the Annual Conference with a new valuable career asset to use in a variety of ways, including on LinkedIn and your own professional website.

Optional touchups and special corrections are available, start at $35 per image and are organized with the photographer onsite on an as-requested basis.

View the List of Conference Exhibitors 

Plan to network with exhibitors at the conference who will be sharing information about their organizations, its books, products and services, and more! Exhibit Hall hours are:  

• Thursday, April 23: 9:30 am – 6:30 pm  
• Friday, April 24: 9:30 am – 6:40 pm  
• Saturday, April 25: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm  

Undergraduate Programming at the Conference

The MPSA is proud to welcome undergraduate students who are attending the 2026 Conference! If you are an undergraduate, or a faculty member who is bringing undergraduate students to the conference, you can find more information about the sessions and events for students here.

Plan to Attend a Meeting, Reception or Event

Mark your calendar and plan to attend 83rd Annual MPSA Conference meetings, receptions, and events. Please note that many events are available for in-person participation only, although some may offer a virtual option.

Office Hours with the MPSA Executive Committee During the MPSA Annual Conference

The MPSA Executive Committee (President, Rikhil Bhavnani and President-elect, Jennifer Merolla) will hold office hours with attendees on Thursday, April 23^rd from 3:30–4:30 p.m., and Friday, April 24^th from 1:30–2:30 p.m. in the Harvard Room on the 3^rd floor. Attendees are welcome to drop-in without an appointment or may schedule time to meet with the Executive Committee through this link. Appointments are available in 10-minute intervals; if you need a longer appointment time, please book up to two consecutive 10-minute time slots or email the Executive Committee (ExecutiveCommittee@mpsanet.org) if you would like to set up meeting that you anticipate may go over twenty minutes.

MPSA Ombuds Office Hours at the MPSA Conference 

The MPSA Conference Ombuds serve as impartial, confidential, and independent resources, offering informal support to all conference participants in addressing a wide range of challenges and concerns that may arise during the event. Learn more in this informational flyer about how the Ombuds can support you and serve as a resource, or watch this YouTube video for additional information.

The MPSA Ombuds Sarah Klaper will be available to meet with attendees via walk-in consultations (if there is not another appointment already scheduled during that time) or for scheduled appointments, on Thursday, April 23 from 1:00-5:00 p.m., Friday, April 24 from 1:00 –5:00 p.m., and Saturday, April 25 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. in Clark 2 on the 7th floor. MPSA Ombuds Tyler Smith and will be available by virtual appointment. To contact Sarah or Tyler on Sunday, April 26, please reach out via email to set up a virtual appointment. If you have any questions or concerns about scheduling an appointment, please contact the ombuds via email at mpsaombuds2026@gmail.com.  

2026 MPSA Annual Conference Mobile App

App Features
The app features the conference program agenda as well as a host of additional features. With the app you can:

• View the entire program agenda.
• Set up your personalized schedule.
• Search sessions by day/time, participant, section, room location, etc.
• View the exhibitor list and visit virtual booths.
• Locate resources and helpful information.
• Be alerted via app notifications of receptions, popular sessions, and other important information.

Download the App
To download the app, search for “MPSA 2026” in the Apple App Store for iOS devices or the Google Play Store for Android devices. The app is not available for download on Amazon devices.

Please install the app and login before arriving at the conference. Advanced download will allow us to maintain strong Wi-Fi connectivity speeds on-site. The hotel will provide free Wi-Fi in most areas. Due to the volume of users, the speed may vary. If you have technical questions, please contact support@bravuratechnologies.com.

Login to the Conference Mobile App
After downloading the app, you must log in with the email address you used to register for the event. If you need assistance accessing or operating the app, please come to the staff information booth on the 4^th floor on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 7:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The conference app is only accessible for pre-registered attendees. If you have colleagues registering on-site, they will only have access to the app after they have completed their registration.

Looking for resources for the conference and/or your visit to Chicago? 

View role-specific guidelines for Authors, Chairs, and Discussants. View presenter resources, FAQs and guidelines for Lightning Talks and Poster Sessions. Instructions for the hybrid conference and virtual attendees can be found here. Information on the breakdown of session times, as well as session formats and role descriptions can be found here. 

Explore Travel Resources, On-site Details, A/V Details and Tech Support information, Local Dining options, Family Resources, and Health and Emergency Services locations and contact information. Choose Chicago offers a complimentary online service (Chicago Concierge) that will guide you to the award-winning restaurants, attractions and retailers in town to help make your time in the city as memorable as possible. Make the most of your time in Chicago with Chicago Concierge! Simply type in keywords or select specific categories through the search engine to find an interactive map and list of suggestions. 

Submit Your MPSA Conference Paper to APSA Preprints

In partnership with the American Political Science Association, the MPSA invites authors to submit their 2026 MPSA Conference papers to APSA Preprints. APSA Preprints is a free-to-access prepublication platform dedicated to early research outputs in political science and related disciplines, developed through a collaboration of the American Political Science Association and Cambridge University Press. Prepublication enables scholars to stake an early claim to their work, upload new versions throughout the revision process, and will automatically link to journal publication at a later time. The platform will provide authors with a DOI for their submission, early feedback, usage, Altmetrics, and citations for their conference paper, poster, or presentation.

Exhibit, Sponsor or Advertise

We invite you to secure your chance to share information about your organization, its books, products and services, and network with members and attendees through exhibiting, advertising and sponsorship opportunities throughout the conference. We have some great bundle deals featuring options to get in front of conference attendees, expanding your outreach and visibility to more professionals in the political science community. For questions or assistance, please contact MPSA Professional Development Manager, Lewis Hoss, Ph.D. at hoss@mpsanet.org or (812) 558-0588, ext. 13.  

About the MPSA Annual Conference

The MPSA Annual Conference is one of the largest political science conferences in the discipline with over 1,000 panels, a large exhibit hall, and a variety of networking and professional development activities. The conference historically averages more than 4,000 attendees from every state in the US and over 65 countries around the world representing 80+ political interest areas. The conference brings together scholars, researchers and decision makers in the political science community to exchange information and address the latest scholarship in political science.

The conference has the international and multidisciplinary research collaboration opportunities you seek and the networking opportunities and professional development sessions tailored to help you take the next step with your research. 

Hybrid Session Formats and Real Time Sessions
The 83rd Annual MPSA Conference will feature a hybrid session format for all Panel/Paper sessions, Roundtables, Lightning Talks and Working Groups. Sessions will be broadcast online in real time. Panels may consist of individuals participating in-person, online, or a mixture of both. Poster sessions and Receptions and Networking Events are available for in-person participation only. Each format is described in detail here.

In-Person Conference Participation and COVID-19 Policies
In-Person Participation. All conference events, including research panels, networking and mentoring receptions, will be held at the historic Palmer House Hilton Hotel. For those participating in-person, hotel rooms will be available at various price points at the Palmer House and at multiple nearby hotels. Featuring two international airports (ORD and MDW), Chicago is one of just FIVE cities on Earth with direct air service to all inhabited continents – traveling to Chicago couldn’t be easier!

COVID-19 Policies. The MPSA will follow state and local guidelines requiring masks and vaccination. The City of Chicago has lifted its indoor mask mandate, its proof of vaccination requirement, and has no capacity restrictions; however we highly encourage you to take appropriate health and safety measures. If there are any changes to state and local guidelines, we will communicate them as they become available. Please see additional COVID-19 recommendations and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

Presenter Registration Status Flexibility
If you register for in-person attendance and are unable to travel, you can change your registration status to virtual if you are participating on a session featuring a hybrid format (Panel/Paper sessions, Roundtables, Lightning Talks and Working Groups). You may also switch your registration status from virtual to in person as needed. If you have a participatory role (presenter, chair, discussant) on an undergraduate poster session, you will not be able to switch your registration status from in person to virtual as this session type is available for in-person participation only. If you need to change your status, please login to your MPSA account. After logging in, click the “Update Registration” button to begin the updating process. Adjustments to registration pricing (based on in-hotel, out-hotel, and virtual) will be processed accordingly. If a balance is due, your registration will not be updated until the balance is paid in full. Any refunds due to registration status changes will be issued after the conference.

Conference Policies
The Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) is committed to providing a safe, harassment-free, hospitable and productive meeting environment for everyone attending our events, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, religion or belief. All conference participants must agree to abide by the MPSA Code of Conduct at Events as well as the MPSA Streaming and Recording Policy. 

About the MPSA

Home of the American Journal of Political Science (AJPS), one of the top-ranked academic journals in the discipline, the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) was founded in 1939 and is dedicated to the advancement of scholarship in all areas of political science.

The purposes of the MPSA are to promote the professional study and teaching of political science, to facilitate communications between those engaged in such study, and to develop standards for and encourage research in theoretical and practical political problems.

As such, MPSA is a nonpartisan association. It does not support political parties or candidates.

Questions?

Please contact MPSA staff at mpsainfo@mpsanet.org.

Future MPSA Conference Dates

• • Thursday, April 1 – Sunday, April 4, 2027
  • Thursday, March 30 – Sunday, April 2, 2028
  • Thursday, April 19 – Sunday, April 22, 2029
  • Thursday, March 28 – Sunday, March 31, 2030