NINC (Novelists, Inc.) Conference 2026

An annual conference focused on career development for novelists and indie publishers with panels, networking, and industry insights.

NINC Conference 2026

The 37th annual NINC Conference runs September 23–26, 2026 (Wednesday through Saturday), at the TradeWinds Island Grand Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

What it is

The conference is the annual meeting of Novelists, Inc. (NINC), a professional organization for career novelists whose members are traditionally published, indie published and hybrid authors. Every member has published at least two novels. The organizer describes the conference as three and a half days of programming on craft, business and mindset for working, multi-published authors.

The program lists 45 workshops across five concurrent tracks, plus a networking suite for attendees, sponsors and industry guests. Registration is open to members, their assistants and industry guests. NINC says its conferences sell out quickly because it keeps them small.

How the week runs

• Wednesday: registration check-in, a welcome reception dinner and the NINC Innovators sessions, where members share what is working in their businesses.
• Thursday: the Craft, Mindset & Business Intensive with Lisa Cron, Becca Syme and Ines Johnson, then the Meet Our Sponsors Happy Hour with publishing-industry reps. The Thursday program is open to non-members as well as members, and members' registration includes it.
• Friday and Saturday: the main workshop tracks, with a happy hour each evening. The conference closes with the Saturday beachside dinner.

Most sessions take place in the TradeWinds conference rooms, and the Saturday dinner is held at the RumFish. After registering, attendees get instructions for booking the room block.

The nearby Rum Fish property takes overflow. The closest airports are Tampa (TPA) and St. Pete/Clearwater (PIE).

Future dates

NINC is staying at the TradeWinds. It lists September 22–25, 2027, and September 20–23, 2028.