Texas talent rising:
Where student potential meets
Economic possibility
Dec. 9-10, 2026 | AT&T Conference Center, Austin, Texas
Texas Talent Rising: Where Student Potential Meets Economic Possibility, which will be held on December 9th and 10th at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, will bring together education, workforce, business, and community leaders around a shared challenge and opportunity: ensuring every Texas student can thrive in the future of our state.
With fewer than five years remaining to reach the goals of Building a Talent Strong Texas, this year’s conference will focus on the power of student potential, the partnerships needed to accelerate progress, and the possibilities that emerge when pathways to education and career opportunity are stronger, clearer, and more connected.
Across two days of conversations and collaboration, Higher EDge 2026 will spotlight the innovative work happening across Texas to expand access, support student success, and connect more Texans to credentials of value and meaningful careers. Grounded in the belief that Texas’s future depends on the success of its students, the conference will explore how institutions, industry, communities, and policymakers can work together to build a stronger talent pipeline and a more prosperous future for all Texans.