the Badge Summit
at the University of Colorado Boulder
July 13-15, 2026 | Boulder, CO
An Exploration of Micro-Credentials, Access & Equity
Online Virtual Sessions | Pre-Conference Workshops | Live + Recorded Sessions
2025 Sessions
Every time you think about how cool, how innovative it is, stop. Stop at that point and think about how it can impact and change lives.
- Rico Munn, Superintendent of Aurora Public Schools
What is the Badge Summit?
Now in its eleventh year, the 2026 Badge Summit is a leading gathering to learn about digital credentials and connect with others who are changing the world. The Badge Summit brings together thinkers and doers from K-12, Higher Ed, Industry, Government, Non-Profit, and Cultural institutions for an exciting and impactful conference accessible to both in-person and virtual attendees and presenters.
The 2026 Badge Summit @ CU Boulder seeks to honor our previous gatherings while evolving to continue meeting the growing needs of our community. The in-person conference will be hosted July 13-15, 2026 on the amazing CU Boulder campus. In-person attendance will be capped at 300 people. And to support access to learning and sharing for more people in more places, there will also be an entirely on-line component on a date to be announced.
Registration for the virtual gathering is only $100 (and is an included perk in regular registration). Virtual content will include live and pre-recorded sessions, including highlight screenings of featured sessions from the face-to-face gathering.
The 2025 Badge Summit built on the successes of previous conferences. Monday morning kicked off with FREE pre-conference workshops, concurrent sessions, catered lunch (included in registration, as with all meals!), afternoon sessions and an opening keynote, followed by a welcome reception. Tuesday featured breakfast and lunch, plus a full day of learning and sharing. Wednesday morning included concurrent sessions and in the afternoon, the option for FREE post-conference workshops offering attendees facilitated opportunities to slow down and dive deep into applying the new ideas and excitement from the conference.
The 2025 Badge Summit returns with in-person + virtual content!
This 3 day event (+ online Badge Summit and pre- and post-conference webinars!) is bringing together some of the brightest and most inspiring Credential Innovation thought leaders on the planet for highly interactive learning and sharing. In-person attendance is limited to 325 attendees. In addition to providing snacks, meals and two receptions, the Badge Summit will offer participants even more of our popular Table Talks, Badgesplaining, Fireside Chats with leaders, a Dream Maker’s Lounge, and concurrent sessions and panels along curated strands that include:
How do I present? Is the Badge Summit open to all?
If you have amazing work that you want to make sure our curators know about, please submit a session using our 5ish Minute Session Proposal Form. The Badge Summit continues to be a worldwide event, inviting presenters and attendees from all parts to learn and share with us in both in-person and virtual formats!
What about the Table Talk sessions?
Table Talk sessions are our take on poster sessions. These round-table discussion groups led by experts in their field are about 10 minutes long and repeated 7 or more times. One of the key learnings from previous years is that Table Talk sessions are a top source of meaningful learning and fruitful collisions for Badge Summit attendees. In response to this, we will prioritizing these sessions by expanding the number of Table Talk sessions offered to allow for deeper dialog. Participants have made it clear that these are a lifeblood of what makes the conference special and we are honoring that. Table Talks kick off Badge Summit and do not compete with other concurrent sessions.
What is the Dream Maker’s Lounge?
For some attendees, the amazing lineup of speakers, panels and sessions might not be the biggest reason to attend because what they are really interested in is the chance to dig in and start creating. The Dream Maker’s Lounge is a dedicated space meant to serve them by providing space and guidance from experienced leaders and facilitators. These are led as design thinking sessions and are rooted in a "How might we...?" question.
Is the Trusted Learner Network (TLN) Unconference included with Badge Summit registration?
Yes! Monday morning will kick off with the TLN Unconference at the Badge Summit. Taking the place of pre-conference workshops, our collaborators at the Trusted Learner Network organize a convening unlike any other in the digital credentials space. The unconference format means that the agenda is created on-site and in real time based on what YOU, the attendees, want to explore. You can pitch a new idea, pick through a thorny challenge, show off a new process or piece of technology for feedback, and propose a provocation that deserves a conversation. Included for free with your Badge Summit registration, the TLN Unconference is an opportunity to advance partnerships and look for new ways to push digital credentialing into reality.
In addition to hosting the TNL Unconference at Badge Summit from 9am–3pm on Monday (including a keynote luncheon!), the TLN will also host an Unconference Lounge throughout the conference, creating formal space for the powerful, off-menu, informal conversations you want to have.
The 2026 Badge Summit @ CU Boulder seeks to honor our previous gatherings while evolving to continue meeting the growing needs of our community. The in-person conference will be hosted July 13-15, 2026 on the amazing CU Boulder campus. In-person attendance will be capped at 300 people. And to support access to learning and sharing for more people in more places, there will also be an entirely on-line component on a date to be announced.
Registration for the virtual gathering is only $100 (and is an included perk in regular registration). Virtual content will include live and pre-recorded sessions, including highlight screenings of featured sessions from the face-to-face gathering.
The 2025 Badge Summit built on the successes of previous conferences. Monday morning kicked off with FREE pre-conference workshops, concurrent sessions, catered lunch (included in registration, as with all meals!), afternoon sessions and an opening keynote, followed by a welcome reception. Tuesday featured breakfast and lunch, plus a full day of learning and sharing. Wednesday morning included concurrent sessions and in the afternoon, the option for FREE post-conference workshops offering attendees facilitated opportunities to slow down and dive deep into applying the new ideas and excitement from the conference.
The 2025 Badge Summit returns with in-person + virtual content!
This 3 day event (+ online Badge Summit and pre- and post-conference webinars!) is bringing together some of the brightest and most inspiring Credential Innovation thought leaders on the planet for highly interactive learning and sharing. In-person attendance is limited to 325 attendees. In addition to providing snacks, meals and two receptions, the Badge Summit will offer participants even more of our popular Table Talks, Badgesplaining, Fireside Chats with leaders, a Dream Maker’s Lounge, and concurrent sessions and panels along curated strands that include:
- K-12 Implementation
- Higher Ed and Teacher Professional Development Badging
- Community and Cultural Organization Badging
- Workforce Readiness & Industry Badging and Micro-credentials
- Hot Topics in Badges and Micro-credentials
- and more!
How do I present? Is the Badge Summit open to all?
If you have amazing work that you want to make sure our curators know about, please submit a session using our 5ish Minute Session Proposal Form. The Badge Summit continues to be a worldwide event, inviting presenters and attendees from all parts to learn and share with us in both in-person and virtual formats!
What about the Table Talk sessions?
Table Talk sessions are our take on poster sessions. These round-table discussion groups led by experts in their field are about 10 minutes long and repeated 7 or more times. One of the key learnings from previous years is that Table Talk sessions are a top source of meaningful learning and fruitful collisions for Badge Summit attendees. In response to this, we will prioritizing these sessions by expanding the number of Table Talk sessions offered to allow for deeper dialog. Participants have made it clear that these are a lifeblood of what makes the conference special and we are honoring that. Table Talks kick off Badge Summit and do not compete with other concurrent sessions.
What is the Dream Maker’s Lounge?
For some attendees, the amazing lineup of speakers, panels and sessions might not be the biggest reason to attend because what they are really interested in is the chance to dig in and start creating. The Dream Maker’s Lounge is a dedicated space meant to serve them by providing space and guidance from experienced leaders and facilitators. These are led as design thinking sessions and are rooted in a "How might we...?" question.
Is the Trusted Learner Network (TLN) Unconference included with Badge Summit registration?
Yes! Monday morning will kick off with the TLN Unconference at the Badge Summit. Taking the place of pre-conference workshops, our collaborators at the Trusted Learner Network organize a convening unlike any other in the digital credentials space. The unconference format means that the agenda is created on-site and in real time based on what YOU, the attendees, want to explore. You can pitch a new idea, pick through a thorny challenge, show off a new process or piece of technology for feedback, and propose a provocation that deserves a conversation. Included for free with your Badge Summit registration, the TLN Unconference is an opportunity to advance partnerships and look for new ways to push digital credentialing into reality.
In addition to hosting the TNL Unconference at Badge Summit from 9am–3pm on Monday (including a keynote luncheon!), the TLN will also host an Unconference Lounge throughout the conference, creating formal space for the powerful, off-menu, informal conversations you want to have.
