The 19th annual Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education (VWBPE) Conference, centered on the theme Insights, invites educators, researchers, designers, artists, and immersive-learning enthusiasts from around the globe to gather in vibrant virtual spaces to explore how immersive technologies are reshaping teaching, learning, and community. Hosted online March 19–21, 2026, primarily in Second Life®, this free, community-driven event creates an accessible and collaborative space for discovery, reflection, and shared growth.

At the heart of VWBPE 2026 is a rich and diverse program illuminating the lessons, challenges, and breakthroughs defining immersive education today. Through research presentations, practical demonstrations, panels, and interactive workshops, participants will explore the insights gained from years of innovation in virtual worlds, extended reality, and online community building.

This year’s keynote speakers offer powerful perspectives on the evolving metaverse and its educational potential. Featured speakers include Philip Rosedale (SL: Philip Linden), Chief Technology Officer of Linden Lab; Ryan Schultz, Science & Agriculture Librarian and well-known metaverse commentator; and Mark Childs (SL: Gann McGann), Senior Learning Designer and long-time scholar of virtual pedagogy. Their keynote addresses anchor the conference with forward-looking reflections on community, creativity, and the human dimension of immersive technology.

A significant thread running throughout this year’s program is the growing role of artificial intelligence in education. AI is rapidly increasing its presence in classrooms and learning environments, opening exciting new possibilities — particularly within immersive and virtual spaces where intelligent agents, adaptive systems, and creative tools can transform the learner experience. At the same time, AI raises important questions about ethics, privacy, safety, bias, authorship, and the guardrails needed to prevent unintended consequences. At VWBPE, we are proud that our presenters have embraced these complexities rather than avoided them. Across presentations and Quadrivium discussions, participants will explore both the promise and the responsibility that come with integrating AI into educational practice. These sessions invite thoughtful dialogue, practical insight, and imaginative exploration of how AI can meaningfully support teaching and student learning.

VWBPE’s distinctive Above the Book discussions provide conversational, big-picture sessions that move beyond traditional academic formats. These informal yet substantive dialogues invite thought leaders and participants alike to reflect deeply on trends, tensions, and possibilities emerging in immersive education.

Complementing these are the Quadrivium sessions, specially curated strands that foster interdisciplinary thinking and synthesis. These sessions encourage participants to connect theory, research, practice, and lived experience, creating space for deeper engagement with the conference theme of Insights — including some of the most compelling conversations about AI and its evolving role in education.

Learning at VWBPE extends beyond formal presentations. Immersive Experiences, hosted in the weeks before and after the main conference, invite attendees to engage directly in interactive explorations across virtual environments. These guided experiences offer hands-on opportunities to learn through play, design, storytelling, and embodied participation.

Community connection is also central to the VWBPE experience. Social activities woven throughout the event — including informal coffee chats, live music gatherings, networking meet-ups, and themed socials — create welcoming opportunities to build relationships, exchange ideas, and celebrate the shared passion that defines this global community.

The conference culminates in a closing ceremony that not only reflects on the insights gathered over three inspiring days but also celebrates excellence and innovation within the field. During this ceremony, the recipient of this year’s prestigious Thinkerer Award will be announced — honoring an individual whose work exemplifies creativity, leadership, and meaningful contribution to immersive learning and virtual world education.

Whether attending a keynote, participating in an Above the Book conversation, engaging in a Quadrivium session, exploring immersive spaces, or connecting through social events, VWBPE 2026 offers a dynamic and welcoming environment to discover the insights shaping the future of education in virtual worlds.

To see the VWBPE 2026 program, you can find the link to the program in the menu under “Conference” or you can click on the button at top right.