OCON 2026 FAQ

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New Orleans

June 26-30, 2026 • Sheraton New Orleans Hotel

June 26-30, 2026

Sheraton New Orleans Hotel

FAQ

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Getting the Most out of OCON

Absolutely! Some of the content is designed for those new to Ayn Rand’s ideas.

Not at all. Every year there are dozens of first-time attendees. There are receptions and other social events where you can mingle with others. We have people from all walks of life, from students to retirees, from first-timers to people who have been to every conference for the past thirty-five years.

OCON speakers are happy to make themselves available for discussion outside their talks. But please remember that they also need time to relax! Feel free to approach speakers with questions, but please be polite and nonintrusive.

One of the best ways to interact with other attendees before the conference is to join the OCON Facebook group. Here you can chat with other attendees about their plans for the conference. You can also follow ARI on X @aynrandinst for general conference updates.

We have a YouTube playlist of videos recorded at OCON 2025 here, OCON 2024 here, and at OCON 2023 here. You can also find many of our past conference talks and courses on YouTube.

Attendance Options

The conference days have a mix of talks and panels. We may have special programming designed for students, but most programming is for all attendees. You don’t have to decide ahead of time which events to attend—simply show up and take advantage of everything offered.

Student pricing is available for full-time students of any age with a valid student ID, including current and new students enrolled as graded students in ARI Live Courses. Attendance at student events may be required to receive the discounted student pricing. Exceptions may be granted for unique circumstances (e.g., one is returning to school after an absence but not yet a current student). Contact us if you have a question about your eligibility. Those up to the age of 12 attend free with their parents.

Absolutely! You can leave a few days early, arrive a few days late or come only for a few days in the middle. Every year, we have many attendees who can only stay for part of the conference. The weekend and day passes make it easy to attend only part of OCON.

We are not offering the option of attending single talks or events at this year’s OCON. We recommend that you buy a day pass and hope you can take the time to attend several talks or other events on that day.

Navigating the Conference

You can take a ride share service, taxi, or public transportation from the airport. The hotel is approximately 10 miles from the New Orleans Lakefront Airport, and approximately 12 miles from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

The hotel offers paid valet parking to visitors and overnight guests. Check the Sheraton New Orleans website for pricing information.

We will have signs directing you to conference events. Also, when you first check in at Attendee Services, you will receive a program that contains complete conference information, including a guide and map showing where the events are taking place.

Staff will have bright yellow ribbons attached to their name tags. Feel free to talk to any of us!

Conference and Hotel Registration

There is a discount for young adults, age 25 and under as of June 15, 2025, and for full-time students of any age with a valid student ID. Contact us if you have a question about your student eligibility.

Additional in-person passes can be purchased online at any time until June 15, 2026. After that, you can register onsite in New Orleans.

 You can cancel your OCON registration anytime before May 10, 2026, and receive a full refund.

  • Cancellation requests postmarked, emailed, or made online by May 10, 2026, will receive a full refund.
  • Starting May 11, there will be no refunds, except for students, who will receive a refund until June 15, 2026.
  • Virtual passes can be canceled until June 15, 2026.

Registering your family for OCON is easy! Just head to the registration page and choose the OCON pass types you’d like to purchase. You will be asked to provide attendee details for each pass during checkout.

Our host hotel for OCON 2026 is the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. Since all the conference events will be held there, it would be most convenient for you to stay there too, but there is no obligation to do so. Guest room reservations are available starting at $199 plus taxes and fees per night from June 23 to July 1. There are limited rooms available at the group rate before and after the conference dates; contact events@aynrand.org if you are unable to extend your stay on your own.

Discounted rooms are available only through our room block (see the hotel section for reservation details). The room block closes on June 4, 2026. Reservations must be canceled at least 72 hours prior to the date of arrival to avoid being charged one night’s room and tax.

The Sheraton New Orleans Hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi internet access in its guest rooms.

Miscellaneous

Visit the Ayn Rand Institute’s main website, AynRand.org, and explore a wealth of resources related to Ayn Rand and her philosophy, Objectivism. A selection of past conference talks and courses is available at the Ayn Rand Institute eStore, and ARI Campus has a large selection of free online courses. These courses are also available on the Ayn Rand Institute app, available at Apple and Android stores.

You can inquire about roommates on the OCON Facebook group. If you need assistance, please email events@aynrand.org. 

The conference will be photographed and filmed and has a “smart” or “smart casual” dress code, which means casual but presentable and neat. The dress code for the Closing Reception is dressy. If you have questions, contact us at events@aynrand.org.

No private audio or video recording is allowed. ARI records OCON events and makes most of them available later through our different channels. However, you are encouraged to take photos and post on X! We simply ask that you respect our speakers’ wishes and refrain from using flash photography during talks.

OCON has a strict no-solicitation policy. All our attendees are there to learn and enjoy themselves and should not be approached for funding, employment, etc.

  • Cancellation requests postmarked, emailed, or made online by May 10, 2026, will receive a full refund.
  • Starting May 11, there will be no refunds, except for scholarship students, who will receive a refund until June 15, 2026.
  • Virtual passes can be canceled until June 15, 2026.

Everyone who registers for OCON 2026 is required to agree to these Terms and Conditions as part of the checkout process.

Please see the Terms and Conditions for ARI’s Conference Code of Conduct.

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