Convention Bulletin 2025
The 2025 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, this summer. Start planning your trip now.
Tuesday, July 8 through Sunday, July 13
The Marriott New Orleans and the Sheraton New Orleans
As our headquarters hotel, the Marriott will host convention breakouts, general sessions, and the banquet. Right across Canal Street, the Sheraton serves as our overflow hotel and will be home to the Exhibit Hall and Independence Market.
If this will be your first convention or if you need a refresher, check out our First Timer’s Guide at https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/first-timers-guide.
Book Your Hotel
Reserve your room by calling 888-236-2427 for the Marriott or 855-516-1090 for the Sheraton New Orleans. Ask for the “National Federation of the Blind 2025 Convention” block. Here are important things to know about the rates and booking the room:
Rates and Taxes
The nightly rate for both the Marriott and the Sheraton is $119 for singles and doubles, while triples and quads can be booked for $129 per night. You should also anticipate the combined sales tax and tourism support rate of 16.2 percent and note there is a hotel occupancy fee of $3.00 per night.
Deposit and Cancellation
At the time you make a reservation, a deposit of the first night’s stay is required for each room reserved. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately, just as would be the case with a check. If a reservation is cancelled before Sunday, June 1, 2025, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise, refunds will not be made.
Registration
Registration for convention will open in March. Registration will be $25 per person plus $80 per banquet ticket. Register early because prices go up if you register onsite in New Orleans. Registration includes the biggest event of the year, access to the event app, and communications on the latest news and events.
Convention Schedule
The 2025 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind will be a truly exciting and memorable event, with an unparalleled program and rededication to the goals and work of our movement.
- A wide range of seminars for parents of blind children, technology enthusiasts, job seekers, and other groups will kick the week off on Tuesday, July 8. Convention registration and registration packet pick-up will also open on Tuesday.
- Breakout sessions continue on Wednesday, July 9, along with committee meetings.
- Thursday, July 10, will kick off with the annual meeting, open to all, of the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind. National division meetings will follow the board meeting that afternoon and evening.
- General convention sessions will begin on Friday, July 11, and continue through the afternoon of Sunday, July 13.
- Convention ends on a high note with the banquet Sunday evening, so be sure to pack your fancy clothes. The fall of the gavel at the close of banquet will signal convention’s adjournment. Make plans now to be a part of it.
Request for Door Prizes
Remember that as usual we need door prizes from state affiliates, local chapters, and individuals. Prizes should be small in size but large in value. Cash, of course, is always appropriate and welcome. We ask that prizes of all kinds have a value of at least $25 and not include alcohol. Drawings will occur throughout the convention sessions, and you can anticipate a grand prize of truly impressive proportions to be drawn at the banquet. If you have a prize that must be shipped in advance of the convention, please email Greater New Orleans Chapter President Tammy Green at [email protected] to make arrangements.
Division, Committee, Group Meetings
Over 200 sessions and meetings happen during convention. If you are a leader in a division, committee, or group that will meet at convention, please don’t wait to organize. Start planning your agenda, goals, and connections now. Stay tuned for details from the Convention Chair, John Berggren.
Volunteer
Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who help make the national convention a big success. There are plenty of opportunities to pitch in throughout the week of convention. Visit https://nfb.org/convention to learn more about the following opportunities.
- Convention Ambassador: assist in making the national convention a welcoming and empowering experience for all of our attendees.
- Independence Market: serve as demonstrators, storekeepers, cashiers, and line marshals during the days the market is open in the Exhibit Hall.
Ambassadors and the Independence Market are not the only areas where we need volunteers. Stay tuned for more details on shifts, schedules, and signups for the following areas.
- Convention Ally Network: facilitate participation in the convention and support those who feel unsafe because of laws in the host state.
- Support Service Provider: assist with optimizing participation in the convention for deafblind attendees.
- Spanish Interpretation: help make the convention available to our Spanish-speaking attendees.
- Action Fund Book Fair: assist with box sorting, helping customers with book decisions and selections, and packing selected books for delivery.
If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved, please connect with your state affiliate president.