Thursday, September 4th- Saturday, September 6th, 2025
University Plaza Hotel
Springfield, Missouri
Optional Early Birds Information Coming Soon scheduled for Thursday, September 4th, 2025
If you’ve attended an ACFW conference before, you understand what the excitement’s about. Where else would you find this many people all devoted to writing and publishing Christian fiction?
Each year, hundreds of veteran authors and those just learning the craft of Christian fiction gather in a setting like this to hear skilled instructors, inspiring keynoters…to gain from the insights of industry professionals…to interact with other writers…and to present their ideas to agents and editors looking for stories like theirs, or to mentors who can help them move forward in their writing career.
The conference culminates with the Awards Gala, during which ACFW's prestigious Carol Awards, Genesis Contest winners, and other industry honors will be awarded.
If you write Christian fiction—or want to learn how—the ACFW conference is an investment worth making. We hope you’ll join us on this exciting journey - ACFW, the Voice of Christian Fiction.
2025 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION RATES & FEES
The Registration fee includes:
- Conference Workshops
- Appointments with agents and editors are available on a first pay, first scheduled then volunteering priority basis.
- Meals: Breakfasts from the hotel have been negotiated and are included in your hotel room rental, Friday Zone lunch, Friday Milestones dinner, Saturday lunch, and Saturday Awards Gala dinner. You can opt-in and purchase the ticket to attend the pizza party on Thursday night during registration.
- Applicable materials of handouts, presentations, etc.
| Type |
SUPER SAVER Rate (before June 15th 5:00 pm Central) |
Standard Registration (before July 31st 5:00 pm Central) |
Late Registration Rate (before August 31st 5:00 pm Central) |
Walk-In Rates (after August 31, 2025 5:01pm Central) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ACFW Members †Does NOT include Early Bird sessions: Must be purchased separately |
$499† | $599† | $650† | $700† |
| Non-members †Does NOT include Early Bird session: Must be purchased separately |
$580† | $685† | $735† | $785† |
| Daily Rate (Thursday, Friday, or Saturday) Does NOT include Early Bird or Awards Gala ticket |
$200/Thursday $225/Friday $225/Saturday |
$215/Thursday $235/Friday $235/Saturday |
$225/Thursday $245/Friday $245/Saturday |
$250/Thursday $275/Friday $275/Saturday |
| Guests‡ (Meals Only) Thurs - Sat No workshops or general sessions included. Package only-meals may not be purchased individually. This DOES include the Awards Gala. |
$300 | $350 | $400 | $450 |
| Awards Gala Only | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 |
| Early Bird Sessions Optional add-on sessions on Thursday, September 4th, 8am-1:15pm) |
$75-$100 | $100-$125 | $125-$150 | $150-$175 |
| ALL conference registration orders will be charged a $40.00 processing fee. | ||||
Please note: Hotel accommodation fees are NOT included in the registration fee.
Payment:
Full payment will be required to secure your registration. Payment can be made by credit card (through PayPal: you do NOT have to have a PayPal account) or check/money order. Your registration will be confirmed by a separate email after payment is received. Credit card payments are processed almost immediately; registrations by check payments will be confirmed by separate email after the check clears and is deposited to the ACFW account (approx. two weeks after receipt).
Cancellation
Cancellations may be made until NOON CENTRAL August 19, 2025. Prior to the deadline, refunds will be made in the manner in which payment was received, minus $40.00 handling fee; cancellations after the deadline will not be refunded.
Returned Check PolicyThere is a $50.00 fee for all returned checks.
CONFERENCE ADD-ONS
2025 Conference Syllabus digital copy: $29.99
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION DATES
June 15, 2025 (5:00 PM CENTRAL): Deadline for SUPER SAVER registration rates.
July 31, 2025 (5:00 PM CENTRAL): Deadline for STANDARD registration rates.
August 19, 2025 (NOON CENTRAL): Cancellation Deadline. Prior to the deadline, refunds will be made in the manner in which payment was received, minus $40 handling fee; cancellations after the deadline will not be refunded.
August 1, 2025: Last day to select mail-in payment option.
August 31, 2025 (5:00 PM CENTRAL): Deadline for LATE registration rates.
August 31, 2025 (5:01 PM CENTRAL): WALK-IN rates apply.
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE INFORMATION
Suggested conference attire is business casual. Since meeting rooms can vary in temperature, a light sweater or jacket would be good to have on hand. Comfortable shoes should be considered a must, as quite a bit of walking is involved. Dress in layers, and select clothing that is comfortable for you, clothing that makes you feel confident and professional.
You are encouraged to study the workshop sessions carefully before registering. Due to severe space limitations, conferees will need to attend only the sessions chosen at registration. NOTE: In an effort to be as environmentally responsible as possible, handouts for sessions will not be available onsite. You’ll receive handouts for your sessions via email the week prior to conference. If you purchase the complete syllabus, all of the handouts of all sessions will be emailed to you prior to conference.
New This Year: Opt-in Pizza Party on Thursday Night (no group dinner scheduled), followed by GENRE FUN. Friday night is the Milestones Celebrations Dinner As we began with the 2018 conference, ACFW will bestow another honor for member novelists whose careers have reached significant publishing milestones. It's the conveniently named Milestone Pin. During Thursday night dinner at the ACFW conference, novelists who have reached landmarks of 25, 50, 75, 100, or 100+ published novels (traditionally, QIP*, or a combination) will receive a beautiful ACFW pin marking that accomplishment. Pins will be reserved based on criteria determined during authors' registration for the conference--those that received the pins last year will not this year, unless they have reached the next level of milestone. An author must be present at the Friday night dinner at the conference to receive their pin. As stated earlier, pins are awarded for book titles in increments of 25, re-releases not included. This is not only an honor, but a photo opp that will resonate throughout the industry.
Lunch on Friday is designated as the Zone Lunch. Make face-to-face connections with ACFW members from your area. Tables will be designated by zones for this meal. Swap stories and contact information, share local research interest, and establish friendships or the beginnings of new ACFW local chapters.
The Gala event on Saturday evening is a formal awards banquet. Dress code will be enforced. Attire is Sunday best-to-formal. Attendees may dress to reflect their cultural heritage, religious beliefs, or military status – but no costumes or character attire will be allowed at this formal event.
New for 2025 Be sure and check out this year's schedule for all the new things that have been added!
CONFERENCE RECORDING/TAPING
Conference Workshops and Continuing Education Sessions are recorded as Conference Audio digital files, which you will be given access to approximately 6-8 weeks after the conclusion of conference.
Worship and Early Birds, are NOT included in the standard conference set, but you can purchase the Early Birds separately.
Because of our contract with the hotel and recording companies, recording and/or videotaping is only allowed by ACFW or ACFW's contracted recording company.
FRAGRANCE FREE
Many conference attendees have serious sensitivities to fragrances. Please refrain from using perfume, scented lotions, oils, etc.
BABIES AND CHILDREN
The ACFW conference is a professional event. Babies (even nursing infants) and children under the age of 14 are not allowed in any general sessions, meals, worship sessions, workshops, or evening sessions.
ACFW reserves the right to refuse conference registration if deemed in the best interest of the corporation and its membership.