The New England Newspaper & Press Association is excited to announce that the 2026 New England Newspaper Convention will take place March 13 and 14 in beautiful Portsmouth, New Hampshire—a city rich with history, coastal charm, and a thriving downtown perfect for gathering our region’s journalism community.
This year’s theme is Honoring the Past. Celebrating the Present. Inspiring the Future reflects the full scope of our industry’s journey: from the legacy of New England’s storied newsrooms, to the creativity and resilience shaping journalism today, to the bold ideas preparing us for the years ahead.
We’re also thrilled to share that the response to this year’s Better Newspaper Competition has been our strongest in recent years. Thank you to every newsroom and journalist that submitted entries—your work illustrates the unwavering strength and innovation of local journalism across New England. Winners will be recognized at our annual Awards Banquet on the evening of Saturday, March 14, one of the most anticipated highlights of the convention.
In addition to the Better Newspaper Awards, the convention will also feature two of New England’s most distinguished lifetime honors. On Friday, March 13, we will host the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, celebrating journalists and news leaders whose remarkable careers have left a lasting impact on our region’s media landscape. On Saturday, March 14, we will gather for the Yankee Quill Awards Luncheon, honoring individuals who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to journalism, civic life, and the communities they serve.
Hotel room reservations and event sponsorships are available now.
Stay tuned—and mark your calendar now for two days of learning, celebration, and community. We look forward to seeing you in Portsmouth!
CONVENTION HOTEL
Hampton Inn & Suites Portsmouth Downtown
23 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth, NH, 03801
(603) 430-3033
NENPA Room Block March 13-14, 2026
Rates:
Two queen beds, $169 per night
King rooms,$209 per night
Plus standard hotel taxes and fees. All room rates include a hot breakfast each day. Participants are encouraged to book hotel accommodations early to secure their preferred room type.
Progam Highlights
This year’s convention will feature a forward-looking, practical program focused on the ideas and skills newsrooms need to thrive in a changing media landscape. Anticipated programming includes a screening of News Without a Newsroom, an unprecedented exploration into journalism’s uncertain future in the digital age. Examining the collapse of traditional media, the rise of misinformation, and the fight to preserve truth, trust, and accountability in an era of disruption. There will also be sessions focused on marketing and advertising, audience engagement, fundraising and philanthropy, nonprofit newsroom sustainability, FOIA and media law, newsroom collaboration, creator-driven journalism, and video storytelling—from getting comfortable on camera to making short-form video approachable and effective.
The program will also include a full-day Community Insight Reporting Track, focused on community-centered reporting and newsroom leadership, with topics such as language and representation in coverage, reporting across difference, accountability journalism, immigration and public policy, mental wellness in media, and building inclusive newsroom cultures.
📣 Convention registration opens next week, with full program details to follow.