2026 NRC Conference Is Positioned to Be the Best Yet

The NRC is hard at work all year round, but we proudly acknowledge that the pinnacle of our year starts in January, when we host our annual conference. Registration is now open for the 2026 NRC Conference and NRC-REMSA Exhibition. We hope you will join us and more than 1,400 contractors, suppliers, railroad and rail-transit representatives, and other government and industry professionals at The Diplomat Beach Resort and Spa, in Hollywood, Florida, from January 7 through 10. 

Next year’s conference is set to be bigger and better thanks to your support and input. At the conclusion of every conference, we invite attendees to share their opinions and suggestions for changes for the next conference. Our staff and board take this feedback seriously. We poured over ratings and comments to evaluate changes for the upcoming conference in January. Here’s some of what you can expect. 

Conference attendees tell us the networking is one of the best values of the conference and is a tremendous way to start the year. Networking will continue to take center stage along with the presentations by railway leaders about capitol plans and budgets for the year ahead. Your comments tell us this information is invaluable in developing and fine tuning your action plans for the year. Again in 2026, our program will feature presentations by more than a dozen railway engineering and operations leaders. Attendees also will have the opportunity to ask questions and interact during formal and informal settings. These presentations are not infomercials. They feature detailed plans along with concrete ways contractors and suppliers can influence and participate in this work.  

Many attendees said the speed networking meetings – where members of their team meet with purchasing and operations personnel from Class I and short line railroads – are worth the price of attending alone. We’ve expanded our lineup to include four railroads. Always in high demand, these sessions fill up right away. Be sure to immediately sign up right after these sessions are announced later this fall. 

The conference will also continue to feature highly rated breakout sessions and panel discussions. These segments allow you to hear from and interact with some of the sharpest, most impressive professionals in our industry. Your ratings and suggestions have helped us to hone in on relevant business and professional development topics at the next conference. 

Some attendees told us that while they appreciate the jam-packed schedule, the sessions start too early – even for railroaders – particularly for those coming from western states when the conference is in Eastern Standard Time. Because we know you are already balancing day-to-day work obligations with the conference schedule, the January conference will start a bit later each morning. This extra window will give you more time for rest and to manage your workload. 

Our conference partner REMSA is putting together our largest exhibition yet. The expansive exhibition hall is open during prime time throughout the first two days of the conference to give attendees many opportunities to connect with decision-makers in the railway construction and maintenance market. Contact REMA to lock in your exhibit space. 

Registering for the conference early guarantees a discounted hotel rate In our room block at The Diplomat. It also ensures you, your co-workers and customers have a spot for golf and trap shooting, which have sold out in recent years. 

Don’t miss the best networking event of the year along with conference sessions that will fast-track your business plans. Register today and start your year off right. 

“We aren’t just in this industry. We are this industry!” 

Joe