
Hosted by the Federal Bar Association, the 2026 Indian Law Conference: Past Developments, Current Realities, and Mapping the Road Ahead is the United States’ signature program on American Indian law. This annual gathering brings together nearly 800 participants and more than 50 exhibitors, including local artisans, legal vendors and nonprofits.
Federal Indian law and policy stand at a critical juncture in 2026. The contemporary challenges that Tribal Nations face in exercising and protecting tribal sovereignty, protecting natural resources, pursuing economic development initiatives, and maintaining government-to-government relationships with the United States and neighboring states require that Indian law practitioners remain at the ready with creative thinking and innovative approaches for successfully navigating the current legal landscape. This year’s conference will help practitioners in their pursuit of that goal by revisiting important lessons learned from U.S. Supreme Court developments affecting Indian country since 2001 and commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Tribal Supreme Court Project, hearing from subject matter experts and seasoned practitioners about how recent legal and policy developments are challenging the status quo, and assessing what lies ahead as Tribal Nations pivot and adapt in an ever-changing environment.