UNITE 2026 Frequently Asked Questions

UNCF UNITE 2026 is scheduled for July 19 – July 23, 2026 at the Signia by Hilton Atlanta hotel in Atlanta, GA. The summit officially starts with the opening gala on the evening of July 20, 2026. Pre-Summit workshops will be held on July 19-20, 2026.

UNCF UNITE is designed for HBCU and other mission-aligned leaders, practitioners, advocates and stakeholders. We also welcome anyone interested in learning more about higher education, institutional excellence, student success, research and innovation, economic mobility and systems change.

YES. Don’t miss a chance to speak at UNITE 2026, the most influential gathering on HBCUs and advancing higher education for all. 

The UNITE steering committee is pleased to announce its call for proposals for breakout sessions and Spark Talks at this year’s Summit.

Click here to apply

We are excited to welcome 1,500+ participants and our largest gathering of institutions ever. Previous summits have included hundreds of institutional administrators, faculty, and staff, as well as others committed to delivering on the promise of HBCUs. 

2025 saw a record-breaking number of participants, including representation from 101 higher education institutions.
A breakdown of 2024 participants:  

• 45% HBCUs/PBIs 
• 28% Non-Profit Organization
• 17% Philanthropic Organizations
• 7% UNCF Staff
• 3% Other

Previous summit presenters have included: 

• The Honorable Alma Adams, US Representative 12th Congressional District of North Carolina
• Steven Bandrowczak, CEO of Xerox
• Dr. Ruha Benjamin, Sociologist and Professor at Princeton University
• Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, President Emerita, Spelman College and Bennett College
• Phill Gross, CEO of Adage Capital Management
• Dr. Eddie Cole, Professor of Education and History, University of California Los Angeles
• Courtland Cox, Board Chair, SNCC Legacy Project
• Ibram X. Kendi, Professor at Howard University
• Mayor Andre Dickens, City of Atlanta
• Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy, Executive Vice President/COO, Howard University
• Byna Elliot, Managing Director, Advancing Black Pathways, JPMorgan Chase
• Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist, The New York Times Magazine & Professor, Howard University
• Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond, President, Council of Higher Education Accreditation

• Stephanie Khurana, CEO Axim Collaboration
• Dr. Henry McKoy, Office of State and Community Energy Program
• Kwasi Mitchell, Chief Purpose Officer, Deloitte
• Melonie Parker, Chief Diversity Officer, Google
• Mayor Randall Woodfin, City of Birmingham
• The Honorable Michael S. Regan, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
• Jim Shelton, President & Chief Investment Officer, Blue Meridian Partners
• Dr. Harry Williams, President and CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Yes. Check out the Sponsor page, download our 2025 Sponsorship Prospectus or email Dr. Kendra M. Sharp , Strategist, ICB.

Please email our Planning Committee at UNITE@uncf.org or CLICK HERE or call at 404-551-5228.

Start promoting it using these HASHTAGS:

#UNITE2026

#UNCFUNITE

#UNITE

#HBCUPromise 

#HBCUs

#HistoricChange 

Sunday, July 19 and Monday, July 20

Pre-Summit Workshops – Business Casual  Opening Gala – Cocktail or Creative Cultural Expression

Tuesday, July 21
Business Casual

Wednesday, July 22
Daytime – Business Casual Evening – “Rep Your HBCU”
*We encourage participants to sport attire from your favorite HBCU!

Expected temperatures in July in Atlanta will likely be humid with daytime temperatures in the low-90s and evening temperatures in the low-70s. CLICK HERE to see the local forecast.