Save the Date

The 2026 New York Cooperative Summit will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Armory Studios NY in Schenectady.

The Summit is a statewide gathering for cooperative members, leaders, organizers, community institutions, funders, technical assistance providers, and allies working to strengthen New York’s cooperative ecosystem.

This year’s gathering will focus on practical workshops, shared strategy, connection, and movement-building across the cooperative economy.

Registration opens this summer.

At a Glance

• Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
• Time: Main Summit, 12:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• Location: Armory Studios NY, Schenectady, NY
• Optional: Sunday Field Day on October 18
• Registration: Opens this summer
• Format: Workshops, shared strategy, connection, and statewide cooperative movement-building

Location

Armory Studios NY
125 Washington Ave.
Schenectady, NY 12305

The Summit will be held in downtown Schenectady at Armory Studios NY.

Travel, parking, hotel, and accessibility details will be posted as registration materials are finalized.

About the Summit

The New York Cooperative Summit brings together people and organizations working to build a stronger cooperative economy across the state.

The Summit is a place to connect across sectors, share practical tools, learn from one another, and build relationships that can carry the work forward beyond a single event.

This includes worker cooperatives, food cooperatives, credit unions, housing cooperatives, community land and real estate projects, cooperative developers, technical assistance providers, funders, organizers, researchers, educators, and allied institutions.

The point is not just to gather. The point is to strengthen the relationships, infrastructure, and shared strategy needed to grow democratic ownership and community-rooted economic power across New York.

Who Should Attend

The Summit is for people who are building, supporting, studying, funding, or organizing around cooperative and democratic economic models.

• Cooperative members, workers, boards, and managers
• Worker cooperatives, food cooperatives, housing cooperatives, credit unions, and community-owned enterprises
• Cooperative developers and technical assistance providers
• Community organizers and economic justice groups
• Funders, lenders, foundations, and public-sector partners
• Attorneys, accountants, bookkeepers, educators, and professional allies
• Students, researchers, and people new to the cooperative movement
• Anyone interested in building a more democratic, community-rooted economy

Program Preview

The full program will be announced later this summer.

The Saturday Summit is expected to include:

• Registration and networking
• Welcome and keynote session
• Workshop sessions
• Full-group reflection and strategy
• Dinner and social time
• Space for connection across regions, sectors, and cooperative models

The program is still being developed, and details may shift as the organizing committees finalize speakers, sessions, and logistics.

Call for Presenters

The Call for Presenters is expected to open on June 1, 2026.

Workshop proposals will invite cooperators, organizers, technical assistance providers, educators, and allied organizations to share practical tools, lessons, models, and strategies with the broader cooperative ecosystem.

Expected timeline:

• Call for Presenters opens: June 1, 2026
• Proposal deadline: July 1, 2026
• Proposal review: July 2026
• Program announcements: Later this summer
• Final schedule: September 2026

More information about proposal topics, submission instructions, and review criteria will be posted when the Call for Presenters opens.

Optional Sunday Field Day

An optional Sunday Field Day is being planned for Sunday, October 18, 2026.

This will likely include a local cooperative tour or site visit in the Schenectady / Capital Region area.

• Expected time: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm
• Details: Coming this summer

The Sunday Field Day is optional and separate from the main Saturday Summit.

Registration

Registration will open this summer.

Tickets will be offered on a sliding scale to help keep the Summit accessible to people and organizations with different levels of resources.

More information about ticket levels, registration, scholarships, and group participation will be posted soon.

Accessibility, Childcare, and Language Access

The organizing team is working to make the Summit accessible and welcoming.

Childcare and Spanish/English interpretation are part of the plan again this year. More details will be shared when registration opens.

Spanish-language materials are currently under review and will be added when finalized.

For access questions or needs, contact newyorkcooperative@gmail.com.

Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities

Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are being finalized.

Sponsors help make the Summit accessible, practical, and sustainable. Sponsorship support helps cover event costs such as venue, interpretation, childcare, food, speaker and organizer support, printing, and outreach.

Organizations interested in sponsoring, exhibiting, advertising, or supporting the Summit can contact newyorkcooperative@gmail.com.

More sponsorship details will be posted soon.

Help Organize the Summit

The Summit is built by people across New York’s cooperative ecosystem.

The organizing team is still welcoming people who want to help with:

• Finance and sponsorship
• Logistics and event operations
• Content and workshop planning
• Marketing and outreach
• Translation and accessibility support
• Day-of volunteering

People interested in helping organize or volunteer can contact newyorkcooperative@gmail.com.

Stay Updated

More information will be shared soon, including registration, sponsorship opportunities, exhibitor details, the Call for Presenters, and the full program.

Save the date: Saturday, October 17, 2026.

• Location: Armory Studios NY, Schenectady
• Main Summit: 12:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• Optional Sunday Field Day: October 18
• Contact: newyorkcooperative@gmail.com

FAQ

Is registration open yet?

Not yet. Registration is expected to open this summer.

Where is the Summit?

The 2026 New York Cooperative Summit will be held at Armory Studios NY, 125 Washington Ave., Schenectady, NY 12305.

When is the Summit?

The main Summit is on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 8:30 pm. An optional Sunday Field Day is being planned for Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Can I propose a workshop?

Yes. The Call for Presenters is expected to open on June 1, 2026, with proposals due by July 1, 2026. More details will be posted when the call opens.

Will there be childcare?

Childcare is part of the plan again this year. Final details will be shared when registration opens.

Will Spanish interpretation be available?

Spanish/English interpretation is part of the plan again this year. Final details will be shared when registration opens.

Is the Sunday Field Day required?

No. The Sunday Field Day is optional.

Can my organization sponsor or exhibit?

Yes. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are being finalized. Contact newyorkcooperative@gmail.com for more information.

Español

La traducción al español está siendo revisada y estará disponible próximamente.

Para preguntas, comuníquese con newyorkcooperative@gmail.com.