Make your plans now to attend our NLAPW Biennial in Washington, D.C., on April 24-26, 2026. Three amazing days await your reservation at The Darcy hotel, just a few blocks from our League’s home at Pen Arts on 1300 17th Street NW.
Featured Content
- Why attend the Biennial?
- Make your hotel reservation
- View the Biennial schedule of events
- Download the event registration form
- Pay for the conference using PayPal
- Read about the luncheon keynote speakers
- Read Biennial FAQs
What to Expect at the 2026 Biennial
The Central New York (CNY) Branch members will celebrate their branch’s 100th anniversary and host the League’s 52nd Biennial in our nation’s capital, with lots of help from other branches around the country. This coming-together creates unique opportunities for Pen Women to network; share strategies, ideas, and projects; support one another in their creative processes; examine ways to provide new opportunities for our members and entice prospective new members; sell our art; and discuss and define what we do.
The 2026 Biennial will offer many special features, including a bus tour to our capital’s landmarks. We will also offer several guided walking tour options, a staffed boutique at The Darcy to sell your creative works, and a music awards ceremony featuring musical arrangements at Pen Arts. Our Vinnie Ream banquet is always well-received, and we already have an amazing, prominent speaker lined up. The letters luncheon and arts and music luncheon present the opportunity to congratulate the many winners (you could well be one of them) in our Biennial competitions and exchange ideas for future ones. Letters awards winners will read their prize-winning work during at an evening get-together. The art competition’s winning entries will be showcased in an exhibition in our recently remodeled gallery at Pen Arts and is not to be missed. We will also have an exciting exhibition of entries from our new cross-genre competition set up in the boutique at The Darcy.
Roundtable and panel discussions, workshops, seminars, and multifaceted presentations in every genre — from music to art to letters — designed to help us grow as creatives will be drawn from the best proposals you submit. These presentations will give us all invaluable learning and inspirational experiences in the midst of gaining new Pen Women friends and creative support.
Coming “home” to Pen Arts is always one of the most special aspects of a meeting in D.C. “I love the Dupont Circle area, and knowing I’m a ‘part-owner’ is fun to think about,” wrote CNY Branch member Mary Gardner. “I stayed at Pen Arts, just a couple of nights, walking up and down the winding staircase, aware we have a picture of a mid-20th century CNY member hanging on that stair wall. It is good to know our CNY Branch gave that picture to NLAPW; it made my whole visit even more of a pleasure and a good memory.”
Don’t let the opportunity to expand your creative boundaries pass by you. Set the dates aside. Make your reservations. We can guarantee you will leave D.C. with new ideas for your creative projects, as well as make a host of new friends from around the country.
Highlights from the 2026 Biennial Schedule
- Concurrent Sessions
Demonstrations, roundtable discussions, and interactive sessions led by Pen Women
Friday, 1:30–5 p.m. & Sunday, 9-11:30 a.m. - Luncheons & Awards with Keynote Speakers
Friday (Art & Music) & Saturday (Letters), 11:30 a.m. - Vinnie Ream Dinner
Keynote speaker to be announced
Friday, 6 p.m. - Poetry and Prose Reading
With letters competition winners
Friday, 8 p.m. - Musical Performance and Art Show
Featuring competition winners @Pen Arts
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. - Celebrate 100th Anniversary with CNY
4-hour sightseeing bus tour with box supper and champagne toast
Saturday, 5 p.m. - Plus: Small Group Adventures to explore a museum or nearby attraction on Sunday, and much more!