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VAF 2026 Annual Meeting
Columbia River Plateau: Atomic Space. Native Soil. Geologic Time.
Walla Walla, Washington
2026 Conference Schedule
The following is a working schedule. Times are subject to change so please refer to the final published program the week of May 27-30, 2026.
The Marcus Whitman Hotel in Walla Walla is the conference's home base. Registration, bus departures, and the paper sessions will be held there. The Saturday evening Annual Meeting and Banquet will be held at the Motor Co., just one block east of the hotel at 11 North Colville Street.
Wednesday, May 27 - Arrivals
Marcus Whitman Hotel, 6 West Rose Street, Walla Walla, Washington
- 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm Registration
- Dinner on your own
- Note: There is no organized conference event on Wednesday, May 27th due to the inbound flight arrival times. However, for attendees who have arrived, there will be an informal wine reception in the hotel with cash bar. Registration is not required but it is included in the conference registration form to gauge possible attendance numbers.
Thursday, May 28 - Bus Tours
- 6:30 am - 8:30 am Registration
- 7:00 am - 8:00 am Breakfast sandwiches and coffee/tea available at the Marcus Whitman Hotel for all tour participants
- 8:00 am/8:15 am Thursday tours depart (Pendleton and the West & Walla Walla Land)
- Buses load and depart from in front of the Marcus Whitman Hotel. Departure times are selected at registration.
- Both tours include a boxed lunch and conclude with heavy appetizers / drinks at the keynote held at the Gesa Power House Theatre
- Dinner on your own after the keynote
Friday, May 29 - Atomic Space: Hanford, Richland, East Pasco Bus Tour
- 6:30 am - 8:30 am Registration
- 7:00 am - 8:00 am breakfast sandwiches and coffee/tea available at the Marcus Whitman Hotel for all tour participants
- 7:30 am/7:45 am/8:00 am Friday full-day tours depart (Atomic Space: Hanford, Richland, East Pasco)
- 11:00 am Friday half-day tour departs (please note: this tour does not include the Hanford Site and will meet the other buses in Richland and East Pasco).
- Buses load and depart from in front of the Marcus Whitman Hotel. Departure times are selected at registration.
- Dinner on your own after the tour
Saturday, May 30 - Paper Sessions, Book Exhibits, Banquet & Annual Meeting
Marcus Whitman Hotel, 6 W. Rose Street, Walla Walla, Washington
- Please Note: Breakfast is not provided on Saturday morning. Breakfast is on your own/bring your own breakfast/beverage.
- 7:00 am - 3:00 pm: Registration
- 8:00 am: Book Exhibit Opens
- 9:00 am - 4:00 am: Paper & Poster Sessions
- (Various meetings and/or break time)
- 6:00 am - 9:00 pm: Banquet, Annual Meeting, Awards Ceremony, and Preview of Cincinnati 2027. The final banquet will be held at The Motor Co, 11 N. Colville Street, Walla Walla.