About the Conference

The Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) will host its 64th Annual Conference at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina, Saskatchewan, from 3-5 November 2026. The title of this year’s conference is Graduate Education as a Public Good: Advocacy, Leadership, and Impact.

For more than six decades, graduate deans, associate deans, administrators, faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students have met at our annual conference to learn and share ideas about the future of graduate education in Canada.

This year's conference will examine the shifting landscape of graduate education in Canada and beyond, while seeking to identify solutions for challenges both new and old. As our society grapples with the unpredictable changes of recent years, graduate research remains essential in shaping solutions and preparing for the future. Now more than ever, the graduate studies community must demonstrate leadership in difficult times, advocate for student success and well-being, and effectively communicate the immense value of graduate research and training to decision-makers and the public. By fostering a strong and engaged community of leaders, the 64th CAGS Conference will reinforce graduate education’s vital role in developing talent, driving innovation, and strengthening communities.

The conference will take place in-person, with presentations delivered in both English and French. The conference hotel and event spaces are fully accessible and CAGS staff will be on site to assist with any accessibility requests.

The conference will feature a variety of practical, results-driven panel discussions, roundtables, lightning presentations, and workshops dedicated to exploring the pressing challenges and unique opportunities that confront the graduate studies ecosystem in Canada. The conference will include a pre-conference workshop for deans and associate deans in the afternoon on Tuesday, 3 November (separate registration required), followed by the conference opening ceremony. The 2026 National 3MT Showcase will be held at Darke Hall in the evening on Wednesday, 4 November. The CAGS AGM and Awards Banquet will be held on Thursday, 5 November. Opportunities for networking and reconnecting with colleagues will be a feature of the conference experience.

In response to member feedback, the conference will end on Thursday evening and no activities will be scheduled for Friday, 6 November.