Visa delay, Cuts of funds, geopolitical tensions expel science conferences from the United States some are relocating. Others are canceling.
The International Association for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (IACBT) canceled its August 14-17 meeting in Nashville, the first American conference in 40 years. There are estimated to be about 900.
Organizers believe visa uncertainty, cuts in federal funding and concerns about U.S. policy are the reasons for the cancellation.
“The IACBT meeting must be cancelled due to plans for actions and regulations related to funding and international relations, and therefore the IACBT meeting must be cancelled,” IACBT wrote in the message to the registrant.
We are considered unpopular
“We started hearing letters from attendees who said they weren’t sure if the United States would be welcome and if they could get a visa, they wouldn’t risk buying tickets.”
IACBT is reviewing its location contract with Renaissance Nashville, conference venue. Organizers hope to invoke impossible clauses to avoid penalties related to changing U.S. policy.
“It’s frustrating, heartbreaking because we have the opportunity to bring together thought leaders in the cognitive and behavioral therapy world to discuss how we can help people recover from mental illness,” Brinen said. “We had a meeting. Everything was set, we were registering people, and now everything is gone. I worked hard on this meeting, and so is my team.”
Stephanie Woodrow, owner and clinical director of the National Center for Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disease Treatment, plans to be held at the IACBT, said the cancellation reflects a wider crisis.
“In view of the current government’s actions – the cancellation of research funding from universities, the termination of NIH grants, the imposition of good peer-reviewed journals, and the review of the language of NIH researchers in all forms of communication – the prospects for science and public health are very worrying.”
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Company reported that the city has lost less than 1% of its conference operations to date.
Canadian welfare as conference moves north
Some conferences planned for the United States are moving north to Canada. The International Society for Research on Aggression (ISRA) has moved its 2026 Biennale conference from Atlantic City, New Jersey to St. Catherines, Canada.
“many [members] Concerns about hostility to visit the United States after voting on our members suggest we can’t hold meetings anywhere in the United States.
Three Canadian members stepped in to help with the relocation. “They saved our meeting,” Bushman said. The conference usually attracts about 250 attendees, previously held in Ottawa and Munich.
“The future is a difficult future for American scientists to work together to solve problems and will not be satisfied where they are excluded,” Bushman said.
Others followed suit.
The International Conference on Comparative Cognition (CO3) will hold a 2026 gathering in Montreal. This is the first time the event will be held outside the United States
This year’s conference was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, attracting 210 attendees. Although there is no problem, the problem still exists. “Many people expressed hesitation,” said Caroline Strang, assistant professor of psychology at the Department of Western University in London, Ontario.
The Canadian University Teachers Association’s Travel Consulting urges academics to visit the United States only if necessary to eventually tilt the scale for relocation.
CO3 will add virtual components to extend access and engagement at the 2026 conference.
Montreal replaces Boston
Additionally, the Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) has moved its 2026 Biennale conference to Montreal. The event was originally scheduled for Boston and is expected to attract about 500 attendees.
The North American Society for Physical Sociology (NASS) will meet in Seattle in November. But there is a problem. About 40% of the members are Canadians, and many people don’t want to participate due to the Trump administration’s policies.
Solution? Three-part format. NASS will host a smaller Seattle event, parallel face-to-face gatherings at UBC Robson Square in Vancouver, and a virtual option.
