September 2026

The 2029 AERA Annual Meeting will be held in Detroit, Michigan, April 18–22, bringing the education research community together in the heart of the city. The meeting will be based primarily at Huntington Place, Detroit’s downtown convention center, with the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and the JW Marriott Detroit Water Square serving as AERA’s headquarters hotels.

Downtown Detroit has undergone substantial development in recent years, including new and renovated hotels, an expanding restaurant scene, and a growing range of cultural and entertainment attractions. Much of this activity is concentrated near Huntington Place and along the Detroit Riverfront, giving attendees convenient access to dining, lodging, and attractions near the meeting venues.

The compact meeting campus will make it easy for attendees to travel among the primary venues. Huntington Place, the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, and the Water Square area are all served by the Detroit People Mover, an elevated rail system that circulates through downtown. Stations at Huntington Place, Water Square, and the Renaissance Center will provide convenient connections among AERA’s meeting locations and to other parts of downtown.

AERA is especially excited to return to Detroit because of the city’s unique place in the association’s history. The 2029 Annual Meeting will mark AERA’s first return to Detroit since 1916, when Frank W. Ballou presided over the association’s first Annual Meeting. More than a century later, AERA’s return offers an opportunity to reflect on lessons from the Association’s history while bringing members together to advance education research and shape its future.