84th Annual MPSA Conference
Thursday, April 1 through Sunday, April 4, 2027
Hybrid Format: In Person at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL or Virtual
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:
Shana Gadarian, Syracuse University
Laura B. Stephenson, University of Western Ontario
Learn more about the conference.
Registration and pricing is not yet available for the 2027 Annual Conference. The prices and information listed below are details from the 2026 Annual Conference, are subject to change, and should only be used as a reference point for the 2027 conference.
2026 MPSA Conference Registration Rates
Please note: Conference registration and membership purchases are non-refundable with the exception of adjustments due to changes made to in-person or virtual participation. MPSA does not invoice for conference registration or membership and does not accept purchase orders, wire transfers, or bank transfers as payment. Conference registration fees do not include any meals.
In-Hotel/Out-Hotel – In-Hotel rates apply to registered guests of the Palmer House, Chicago Hilton, and Chicago residents. Out-hotel rates are slightly higher and apply for those staying outside of the official conference hotels. Book your hotel accommodations here, prior to registering for the conference.
Non-member rates include one year of complimentary electronic MPSA membership.
Questions about registration? View the FAQs.
EARLY REGISTRATION RATES AVAILABLE THROUGH FEBRUARY 25, 2026
REGULAR REGISTRATION RATES AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 25-APRIL 8, 2026
ON-SITE REGISTRATION RATES BEGIN APRIL 9, 2026
Not on the conference program? Serve as a discussant and attend the conference for free!
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.) 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.
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.
Conference Registration Fee Waivers
Registration Fee Waivers
A limited number of fee waivers are provided on a first-come, first-served basis and cover the MPSA conference registration fee only; no additional funds for travel or hotel are provided. Fee waiver recipients can apply their fee waiver to either in-person or online conference participation. Learn more about fee waivers and how to apply.
Graduate Student Travel Scholarships
The MPSA provides a limited number of $500 travel scholarships for graduate students enrolled in a doctoral program who meet scholarship criteria. Learn more about Graduate Student Travel Scholarships and how to apply.
Developing Nations Complimentary Memberships and Conference Fee Waiver Eligibility
To encourage broad participation in the association, the Midwest Political Science Association is offering a limited number of complimentary two-year electronic memberships to developing nations political science scholars residing and working/attending a university in their home country; this country must qualify as a developing nation as defined by the World Bank for the 2015 fiscal year. This program will allow access to MPSA membership benefits including electronic access to the American Journal of Political Science (AJPS), the association’s monthly electronic newsletter, and other member benefits for a period of twenty-four months. Upon being granted a developing nations membership, you will be eligible to apply for a conference fee waiver. Learn more about complimentary Developing Nations memberships and how to apply.
IIE-SRF Complimentary Memberships and Conference Fee Waivers
The MPSA partners with the Institute of International Education Scholar Rescue Fund® (IIE-SRF) to provide complimentary membership and conference registration fee waivers to threatened or displaced scholars. Learn more about the IIE-SRF here. If you are an IIE-SRF fellow, contact Carly O’Connell at coconnell@iie.org for more information on how you can qualify for complimentary MPSA membership and a conference fee waiver.
Press Inquiries
For press inquiries, please contact mpsainfo@mpsanet.org.
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. Information on how to update your participation will be available in 2027. Adjustments to registration pricing (based on in-hotel/virtual, out-hotel status) 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.
Future MPSA Conference Dates
- Thursday, March 30 – Sunday, April 2, 2028
- Thursday, April 19 – Sunday, April 22, 2029
- Thursday, March 28 – Sunday, March 31, 2030