GRAND FORKS – The National Association of State Aviation Officials annual conference will be coming to Grand Forks in September 2026. Visit Greater Grand Forks made the announcement in a release Thursday afternoon and said that it is a significant milestone for both Grand Forks and the state of North Dakota. The conference brings together state, federal and industry aviation leaders from across the country.
The last and only time it was last in North Dakota during NASAO’s 1994 conference in Bismarck. Kyle Wanner, director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, said in a statement that hosting in Grand Forks gives a chance to show the research and advancements being made here to those from across the country. ADVERTISEMENT “For North Dakota, this is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of our collective achievements and a testament to the strength, growth, and innovation of our aviation community,” said Kyle Wanner, director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission in the statement.
“Our state has long been a national leader in aviation, from the cutting-edge research at the University of North Dakota’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences to our pioneering work in unmanned aerial systems with the Northern Plains UAS test site.” The annual conference will be held Sept.
12-16, 2026. The conference has occurred annually in various locations throughout the United States since 1931 and is one of the leading aviation industry conferences, acco.