How Are YOU Preparing for bbcon 2026?

Crystal Bruce · August 3

bbcon 2026 is almost here — September 29–October 1 in Columbus, OH — and with over 100 sessions live in the catalog, the excitement is building fast.

August is your month to get intentional about making the most of this experience, and we want to hear all about it!

Here's your challenge: Tell us how YOU are preparing for bbcon 2026. Share your answer in the comments below and earn this badge.

Here are a few prompts to get you started — answer one, a few, or all of them:

📋 Is This Your First bbcon or Are You a Pro? First-timers feel free to share what you are most excited about. Veterans share how many years you've attended and your best tips and advice!
🤝 Connections to Make — Is there someone in the community you're hoping to finally meet in person? An All-Star, a peer, a Blackbaud expert?
🧳 Packing Your Brain — What questions or challenges are you bringing with you, hoping to get answered while you're there?
💻 Where are you attending from? — Tell us where you'll be coming in from!
🤳C-Bus: What are you excited to see in Columbus, Ohio?

Don't forget to claim your bbcon Attendee Badge if you're attending in person or virtually.

BONUS: Look out for everyone's favorite game.. bbcon BINGO! It will launch in a few weeks. You can follow the bbcon category to ensure you don't miss it.

Whether this is your first bbcon or your tenth, we want to celebrate that you're showing up for your mission and your community. 🎉 Let's build some buzz together before we even hit Columbus!

Dan Snyder · August 4

I preparing for another epic road trip with @Elizabeth Johnson.

Austen Brown · August 4

Attended bbcon off and on since 2018 (Virtual and in-person). Recommend bringing a pair of comfortable shoes, and a sweater.

Pro Tip: If you're an introvert (like me) take frequent breaks and bring an activity that takes your mind off the conference for a little while - I bring a crochet project + noise cancelling headphones = a wonderful 30 min break to reset.

Tammi Franzen · August 5

I am attending remotely-wish I could be in person! One day :)!!! But I have watched remotely for a number of years since 2018. Looking forward to another great year!

Miki Martin · August 6

I am so excited to be attending in person for the second time! I have been virtual most years, except 2023 when I was able to attend in person. I am the only one from my org attending but I know there are several others from the Greater Cincinnati area like me.

I am looking forward to hopefully reconnecting with people offline since we do so much online. I am also hopeful to take some extra time before or after the conference to catch up with some friends in the area.

Definitely planning to dress comfortably like @Austen Brown suggested. That was a huge help when I was last in person. Also bringing a battery pack in case I cannot grab an outlet to charge in between sessions.

Julissa Dahlberg · August 6

Loved bbcon2025! Bring a sweater, wear comfortable walking shoes, and take time for a few quiet moments during the busy schedule. Meeting the Blackbaud team and so many wonderful people was a highlight. As a first-time attendee, I had an amazing time!

Elaine Tucker · August 7

I've been attending since "way back when" when they were on Daniel Island. My advice is to be flexible with the sessions, yes preview the sessions beforehand, and make a "plan" but also be open to sessions that you may not at first glance think are your cup of tea. One year I accidentally went to the wrong room, it was on finance/governance and I learned alot!

Looking forward to connecting with other All-Stars and some of my favorite vendors (Red Arc).

Attending from Dallas Texas, what are the best sites to see in Columbus?

Patti Hommes · August 7

I'm a bbcon veteran from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and I believe my first bbcon was in Charleston back when Blackbaud's headquarters was still on Daniel Island Road—and I was working in New Jersey!

I've had the privilege of presenting since 2019 alongside an incredible group of Super Users and All Stars, including @Sunshine Reinken Watson, @Ryan Hyde, @Amy Dana, @Amy Barker, @Austen Brown, @Maya Rosman, @Heather MacKenzie, @Elizabeth Johnson and @Dan Snyder. I've learned something new from every one of them, and the Blackbaud community is truly one of the best parts of bbcon.

I wholeheartedly echo everyone's advice to wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket or sweater—the meeting rooms can get chilly!

One last tip: if you sign up for a session and, after the first few minutes, realize it's not the right fit for you, don't hesitate to quietly slip out. Presenters won't be offended! Take a break, grab a coffee, or pop into another session that better matches your interests. I've been known to session-hop more than a few times, and it's a great way to make the most of your bbcon experience.

Lauren Henderson · August 7

I'm hoping there will be a good amount of virtual content, as I won't be there in-person this year.

Plan you first-choice and backup sessions ahead of time to make the most of the content. Also make time to spend with the people-chatting over a meal, at an event, or off-site. The relationships I have made and grown are my real takeaway from 3 bbcons I was fortunate to attend in person!

Lauren Henderson · August 7

https://community.blackbaud.com/discussion/comment/316298#Comment_316298

Short North is a fun, walkable neighborhood with so many restaurants and shops!

Irene Hui · August 10

Looking forward to attending again virtually. :)

Rachel Cavalier · August 10

I'll be attending the US bbcon virtually as usual - I would love if even more of the sessions were available virtually to us overseas folks!

I'm also currently planning to attend bbcon London and with a colleague this year so that we can attend different concurrent sessions to really make the most of what's on offer.

Carrie Sorensen · August 10

https://community.blackbaud.com/discussion/comment/316305#Comment_316305

Thanks for the tip about popping out if the session isn't a good fit. This is my first time attending, and I'm getting excited.

Adam Stegeman · August 13

I was looking forward to going but my 85-year-old father is having knee replacement the week before the conference and his 89-year-old wife cannot care for him, so I will be caring for him. I have cancelled my hotel reservation, and I have emailed conference@blackbaud.com TWICE, once on Monday and once this morning regarding getting a refund or credit towards next year's event. No one has responded to me yet. Does anyone have a phone number where I can speak to a human being? Calling 1-800-443-9441 got me absolutely nowhere. UPDATE: I heard from someone on Saturday and my registration has been cancelled, and a refund is on the way.

Lauren Henderson · August 14

https://community.blackbaud.com/discussion/comment/316489#Comment_316489

@Crystal Bruce are you able to help @Adam Stegeman connect with conference folks?

Lia Wilson · August 14

It will be virtually for me, despite the nearness of the location to me. We have made many changes this year, and it's not in the budget at this time. But maybe one year…

Roberta A. Gilbert · August 14

I would love to go to a bbcon sometime. This year it is being held over my birthday and I had made other plans for that week a long time ago. I did get to attend the K-12 conference in Boston last month, which was really fun, and I loved meeting everyone! I imagine bbcon as similar, but bigger, with more sessions.

Beth Broomall · August 17

Looking forward to driving up from Cincinnati to C-bus! I am already writing down questions that I have for the experts. Can't wait for pre-conference education. I have printed the sessions and marked my schedule in my calendar. Pulling the luggage down very soon and I am thinking about my style for this year!

Amy Dana · August 18

My hot tip is for my disabled folks - look into renting a scooter from the facility to save your spoons! After day one of last year (not to mention a full day of travel to get there), I was already beyond exhausted. I found out I could rent a scooter from the convention center and it made things SO much easier for me.

Christine Melchiorre · August 19

Does anyone know if there is a virtual registration form? or how to livestream some of the sessions?

Megan Kinsey · August 19

I will be attending in person - it has been years since I have attended in person. I will be traveling from NJ looking forward to finding out about the unified view. starting to prepare my list of questions.

Rachel Kauer · August 24

I would love to attend BBCon one of these years; unfortunately, it always coincides with major giving days at the independent schools where I've worked, which I can't be away from. Maybe next year <3

How Are YOU Preparing for bbcon 2026?

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