FAQs

Where is the Conference being held? The 2026 MTNA National Conference will be held at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, 540 North Michigan Avenue, (Driveway Entrance on 541 N. Rush Street), Chicago, Illinois, 60611.
How do I reserve a hotel room? Reservations may be made by clicking on the Hotel Reservations tab at the top on this page.
Does Conference registration include access to any virtual sessions? No, conference registration does not include any virtual access.
How do I register for the Conference? Online registration and downloadable PDFs can be found on the Registration tab above.
Does my registration fee include any meals? Hotel? Pedagogy Saturday? No, it does not. See below for information about Pedagogy Saturday.
I forgot to make reservations for an event, and I have already registered. What do I do? Please call MTNA at (888) 512-5278, or if you have registered online, you may sign in to your account and add the item if it is before the online registration deadline.
Can I take my friend, spouse or child to a session if they are not registered for the conference? The only events open to the public are competitions, winners concerts and the exhibit hall. Individuals must be registered for the conference to attend a session.
Can I attend Pedagogy Saturday without registering for the conference? No. Attendees who want to attend the Pedagogy Saturday pre-conference workshops must register for a minimum of one day of the conference AND pay the additional fee for Pedagogy Saturday.
There are several Pedagogy Saturday tracks available. Do I have to select one track? Registered Pedagogy Saturday attendees may attend any session within any track without an additional charge.
When will I receive my registration confirmation? If you registered online, your confirmation was received upon completion of the registration process. If you registered over the telephone or by mail, confirmation will be sent to you via USPS mail 2–3 weeks after it was received.
What is the cancellation policy? Refund requests must be submitted no later than February 18, 2026, using the online request form. A $125 processing fee will be assessed for all refunds. Collegiate registration cancellations will be assessed a $25 processing fee. Refunds will be issued after the event.
Will my badge/program book be mailed to me prior to the conference? No, you may pick up your registration materials (badge/program book) at the Conference registration desk in the hotel.
When I arrive at the conference what should I do? During conference registration hours you may come to the Conference registration desk in the hotel. Signs will direct you to the registration area, where you can pick up your packet of registration materials.
What are the on-site Conference Registration Hours? Friday, March 20, 4:30–6:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 21, 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 22, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Monday, March 23, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25, 8:00–10:00 a.m.
Note: Hours are subject to change.
Any advice for a first-time attendee? After you receive your conference registration materials we advise you to take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the program book. It contains many things that you will need throughout the conference such as facility maps, complete daily schedule, presenter bios, exhibitor listings and much more. The Conference Daily News, emailed to you each morning, will keep you updated with changes to the published schedule. There may be changes from the schedule as it was published in American Music Teacher or online so always refer first to your program book then the Daily News.
How do I know if a session has been
cancelled or changed?
Each day MTNA emails the Conference Daily News to announce any schedule changes or to provide any late breaking information you may need.
Where can I find a Conference schedule? The full conference schedule will be available in the program book at the conference, in the December/January and February/March issues of American Music Teacher magazine and on this website.
Are exhibit booths available? Yes. See the Exhibitor tab for details.
Do you provide scooters or wheelchairs? Scootaround at (888) 441-7575 does offer wheelchair and scooter rental in the Chicago area.
What airports serves the Chicago area? Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport
What ground transportation options are available? Ground transporation options can be found on both the O'Hare /span>and Midway websites under the "Getting To and From" tab. The conference hotel does not offer shuttle service.
What about hotel parking? The Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile offers both valet and self-parking. If you are driving to Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, please follow these steps related to parking:

Valet

  1. Drive to 541 N Rush Street, and let the attendant know you would like to Valet Park Daily, Valet Parking is $76.

Self-Parking

  1. Drive to ROW Parking located at the corner of Rush & Ohio, 50 E Ohio Street
  2. Take a ticket from the kiosk in order to enter the lot.
  3. Provide your ticket from ROW Parking to the associate who checks you into the hotel. The associate will text a barcode to your mobile device for you to use to exit the lot and apply our standard, daily parking rate of $58 unless your reservation is contracted with an alternative rate.

(PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.)