Conferences & Events

Early bird pricing (through March 31, 2026):
Member: $445 | Non-Member: $895 | Student Member: $195

Regular pricing (April 1 – June 1):
Member: $495 | Non-Member: $895 | Student Member: $195

The Annual Conference is open to both members and non-members. Non-members pay $895 vs $495 for members.

Tip: Join ICF before registering and save — $295 membership + $495 member conference = $790 total, compared to $895 for non-member conference registration alone. You also gain immediate access to online courses, webinars, and certification discounts.

Register at members.intlcheese.org/conference.

The 2026 ICF Annual Conference (CheeseCon) is June 14–17, 2026 at the Portland Hilton Downtown in Portland, Oregon.

Hotel information:
Group Code: CHSFD6
Rate: $229/night
Booking cutoff: May 20, 2026

The Annual Business Meeting (members-only governance session) takes place June 15 at 8:00 AM.

The Annual Conference is open to everyone — members and non-members alike. All registered attendees can access educational sessions, exhibits, and networking events regardless of membership status.

The Annual Business Meeting (governance/voting session on June 15 at 8:00 AM) is members-only and requires Professional or Associate membership with voting rights.

One-day & expo-only passes: ICF does not offer one-day or expo-only passes. Conference registration covers all three days.

Guest passes ($150): Available for spouses/guests accompanying registered attendees. Includes access to opening and closing receptions, keynote sessions, and the exhibit hall — but not educational sessions or CE credits.

Speaker selection prioritizes members, but exceptions are made for subject matter experts presenting cutting-edge research, international speakers with unique global perspective, and industry partners presenting technical (non-promotional) innovations.

Submit a speaker proposal when the call opens (typically 6 months before the conference). The Program Committee reviews all proposals regardless of membership status and selects based on content quality and audience value.

Selected non-member speakers receive complimentary conference registration but are responsible for travel and hotel expenses. Submit proposals at members.intlcheese.org/speaker-proposal when the call is active.

Changing breakout sessions: You can modify your session selections up to 7 days before the conference at members.intlcheese.org under “Event Registrations.” Within 7 days, changes must be made on-site at the registration desk. Some sessions have capacity limits (first-come, first-served).

Exhibitor staff registration: Exhibitors receive one complimentary full conference registration per 10×10 booth space. Additional exhibitor staff can register at the member rate ($495) regardless of membership status using the discount code in your exhibitor confirmation email. If you haven’t received your code, contact registration@intlcheese.org with your booth number.

Cancellations received less than 15 days before the event are not eligible for standard refunds. However, ICF reviews exception requests for medical emergencies on a case-by-case basis.

To request a medical exception:
1. Email registration@intlcheese.org within 14 days after the conference
2. Include your confirmation number
3. Attach documentation (doctor’s note, hospital records, etc.)
4. Use subject line “Exception Request – Medical Emergency”

Review takes 10 business days. Approval is not guaranteed, but medical emergencies are exactly the situations this process exists for.

Alternative: You can substitute your registration to a colleague at no charge by emailing your confirmation number and the substitute’s name to registration@intlcheese.org before the conference.

Recorded sessions are available only to conference registrants (both members and non-members who attended). Access is provided through the member portal within 30 days after the conference and remains available for 90 days. Recordings cannot be downloaded or shared.

Didn’t attend? Members who didn’t register for the conference can purchase recordings: $95 per individual session or $495 for full conference access.

National Events (2026):
Spring Technical Symposium: March 21–22, Madison, WI
CheeseCon 2026 (Annual Conference): June 14–17, Portland, OR
Fall Quality & Safety Workshop: October 8–9, Chicago, IL

Virtual Events:
Monthly “Cheese Talks” webinar series (third Wednesday, 12:00 PM ET)
Certificate programs offered throughout the year

Regional Chapter Events: ICF’s 14 chapters host 2–6 events annually, including networking socials, technical panels, facility tours, and workshops. Sample events by region:

New England: Vermont Spring Networking Social (Mar 28), MA Technical Panel (Apr 17)
New York: NYC Metro Cheesemaker Roundtable (May 14), Hudson Valley Equipment Showcase (Jul 20)
Midwest: Wisconsin Meetup (Feb 22, free), IL Regulatory Update (Mar 25), OH Business Workshop (Oct 2)
California: CA Spring Symposium (Apr 11–12), Advanced Sensory Workshop (Apr 5–6), Northern CA BBQ (Jul 12)
Pacific Northwest: OR Welcome Reception (Mar 7), WA Food Safety Roundtable (May 30)
Mountain: High Altitude Cheesemaking Workshop (Jun 6–7, Longmont, CO)
Southeast: NC Farm Tour (Apr 26), GA Marketing Workshop (Aug 8), TX Queso Event (Oct 17)

Can I attend chapter events in other states? Yes — chapter events are open to all ICF members regardless of your assigned chapter. Most chapter events cost $25–$50 for members. Non-members are welcome at slightly higher rates (typically +$20–30).

View the complete calendar and filter by location, date, and topic at members.intlcheese.org/events.

Free for members:
Monthly “Cheese Talks” webinar series (third Wednesday, 12:00 PM ET)
Virtual peer networking groups (monthly, by specialization)
Select chapter meetups (e.g., Wisconsin Artisan Cheesemaker Meetup – Feb 22)
Michigan New Cheesemaker Support Group (monthly, last Thursday)

Free for anyone:
Public webinars (occasional, announced via website)
Conference expo hall (sometimes open to public on last day — check conference details)

Events offering CE credits: Filter by “CE Credits” at members.intlcheese.org/events. Most technical workshops, symposia, and some chapter events offer CE credits. Virtual webinars typically offer 1 CEU per session.

High-CEU events:
CheeseCon: 30+ CEUs available across all sessions
Spring Technical Symposium: 12 technical CEUs
Fall Quality & Safety Workshop: 10 technical CEUs
Virtual Safety Certificate: 12 technical CEUs
California Spring Symposium: 8 technical CEUs

Event descriptions specify whether credits count as “technical” CEUs (required for AAC, CSQP) or general CEUs.