The education sessions are selected. Your Expo Hall must-see list is taking shape. Now, as you put the finishing touches on your plans for the 2026 NFDA International Convention & Expo, October 25-28 in Charlotte, don’t forget to make time for the experiences that happen outside the classroom and Expo Hall.

From a private evening at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and opportunities to give back to the Charlotte community to celebrating the best of funeral service, Convention week is filled with opportunities to reconnect with old friends, make new ones and simply enjoy being together.

And this year, there’s one very special addition to the Convention calendar: all NFDA Convention attendees are invited to attend the FIAT-IFTA International Gala!

Sunday: Start Convention Week in High Gear

26th Annual Funeral Service Foundation Golf Classic: The Queen City Classic
8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Olde Sycamore Golf Club

Convention week gets underway with one of funeral service’s favorite networking traditions. Now in its 26th year, the Funeral Service Foundation Golf Classic has raised more than $2.15 million to support the Foundation’s mission.

Golfers of all skill levels are welcome for this shotgun scramble-style tournament at Olde Sycamore Golf Club, an award-winning course set among Carolina pines just outside Charlotte. Separate registration is required.

Funny Bus and City Tour
3-5 p.m.

Want to see Charlotte before Convention gets into full swing? Climb aboard the Funny Bus for an adults-only comedy tour that combines sightseeing, Charlotte history and plenty of laughs. Separate registration is required; the cost is $60.

Welcome Party
6-8 p.m. | NASCAR Hall of Fame

Start your engines – we’re taking over the NASCAR Hall of Fame!

Sponsored by Batesville and The Messenger Co., this year’s Welcome Party gives Convention attendees exclusive private access to the entire NASCAR Hall of Fame. Explore the exhibits without the usual crowds, catch up with friends you haven’t seen since last Convention and meet some new ones along the way.

Whether you’re a NASCAR fan or have never watched a race, this is one Convention kickoff you won’t want to miss.

Monday: Remember, Give Back and Celebrate

Service of Remembrance
9:15-11:45 a.m. | During the Opening General Session

Each year, the Service of Remembrance gives our funeral service community an opportunity to pause together and remember colleagues and loved ones who have died during the past year.

This year’s service will also honor firefighters who have died in the line of duty. As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, we will pay special tribute to the hundreds of firefighters who lost their lives that day and reflect on their extraordinary courage and sacrifice.

Community Impact Zone
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday

Giving back to our host city has become an important Convention tradition, and you don’t need to set aside hours to participate. Stop by the Community Impact Zone whenever you have a few minutes Monday or Tuesday and lend a hand.

Attendees will assemble kits for Veterans Bridge Home, a Charlotte nonprofit that helps veterans and their families successfully transition to civilian life. You can also make fleece blankets that will provide comfort to animals awaiting adoption through local animal welfare organizations.

No advance planning or special skills are needed – just stop by and help!

Funeral Face-Off
1:30-3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday | Expo Hall

How well do you really know funeral service?

Sponsored by Precoa, Funeral Face-Off puts teams of three head-to-head in the ultimate funeral service trivia challenge. After preliminary competition, the action moves to the Expo Hall for two live championship rounds. Even if you’re not competing, stop by to cheer on your colleagues and see who earns bragging rights as the 2026 champions.

South End Brewery Tour
3-6 p.m.

Explore another side of Charlotte during a guided tour through the city’s historic South End. You’ll visit three of the neighborhood’s iconic breweries while enjoying an afternoon of local flavor, conversation and fun with fellow attendees. Separate registration is required; the cost is $150.

All-Star Recognition Ceremony
4-5 p.m.

Some of the best work happening in funeral service deserves its moment in the spotlight.

Join the NFDA Board of Directors as we recognize funeral service professionals and firms whose dedication, innovation and achievements have distinguished them during the past year.

Among those being celebrated are our 2026 Pursuit of Excellence Award recipients; Cremation Certification, Certified Preplanning Consultant and Green Funeral Practice designees; Funeral Service Foundation scholarship recipients; National Emerging Leaders and Meet the Mentors participants; and other professionals who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to funeral service.

Come celebrate your colleagues who continually inspire all of us to raise the bar.

Tuesday Night: Celebrate With the World!

FIAT-IFTA International Gala
7:15-10 p.m. | Westin Charlotte, Grand Ballroom
Black-Tie Optional/Formal Attire | $330 per person

This is a Convention experience we have never been able to offer before.

The 2026 FIAT-IFTA Global Convention is joining us in Charlotte this year, bringing funeral service professionals from around the world together with the NFDA community. And, for the first time, the FIAT-IFTA International Gala is open to all NFDA Convention attendees and their guests.

So, pack something special and join us Tuesday night for an elegant celebration of the global funeral service community.

Held in the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Charlotte, the evening includes a three-course dinner, beer, wine and soft drinks, a champagne toast and live music with a dance floor.

But what makes this evening truly special isn’t simply the dinner or dancing. It’s the people in the room.

Throughout Convention, we’ll have an extraordinary opportunity to learn alongside colleagues from other countries and discover both the differences and the common bonds that connect funeral professionals around the world. The International Gala gives us one evening to simply enjoy that global community – to share a meal, raise a glass, continue conversations that began during the week and celebrate together.

Formal or black-tie-optional attire is encouraged. Women may choose floor-length dresses, cocktail attire or refined dressy separates; men may wear a dark suit or tuxedo.

Don’t leave your formalwear at home. This is going to be a special night.

The International Gala requires an additional ticket. Add the Gala when registering for Convention or contact NFDA Member Services at 262-789-1880 to add it to an existing registration.

Build Some Fun Into Your Convention

A great Convention isn’t measured only by how many sessions you attend or how many miles you walk through the Expo Hall. Often, it’s the conversation over dinner, the unexpected new friendship, the chance to celebrate a colleague or the experience you share with people who understand this profession as well as you do that you remember long after you return home.

So, leave a little room in your Charlotte schedule for those moments.

Visit the Tours and Special Events page at NFDA.org/Convention for complete details, locations and registration information.