The ISA 2026 Annual International Conference will be here before we know it! This year’s conference is set for 10-12 August in Detroit, Michigan, US. Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with others in the industry.  

In addition to the keynote speaker, Doug Tallamy, this year’s conference will feature over 40 educational sessions for attendees to choose from. Some featured presentations during this event include:  

Never Waste a Crisis: Learning from a Serious Incident 

Presented by Craig Bachmann 

This presentation shares valuable lessons learned from an incident in August 2022 where a climber’s fall resulted in a severe injury, leading to a state-level OSHA investigation. Get practical steps to improve safety and emergency response through improved work planning, team communication, PPE inspection, skills training, and documentation.  

The New Best Management Practices for Tree Support Systems 

Presented by Tom Smiley, PhD, Stella Dee, and Peter Fixler 

Get an update on the Best Management Practices for Tree Support Systems, to be published by ISA in 2026. This session reviews the process and details of cabling, bracing and propping, including cables, placements, and systems, rod locations, brace systems and inspections, and prop designs, materials, and designs, as well as much more.  

Research in the real world: Selecting the Right Tree for the Right Place for Stormwater Benefits 

Presented by Asia Dowtin, PhD, and Phil Bennett 

Learn more about the application of stormwater mitigation in urban tree selection for optimal runoff reduction. Receive an overview of the physical tree traits that correlate with high rainfall interception and runoff reduction by urban trees, along with real-world examples and case studies from multiple sites.  

Plus, get the most out of your experience with pre-conference offerings, including Earliest Urban Forestry - What 100 Years of Sustainability Looks Like!, Community Canopy: A Journey through Detroit's Urban Forests, the Detroit Institute of Art, The Urban Tree Lifecycle Experience at Belle Isle - How City Trees Live On After Removal, and the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Calibration Session.