Great Lakes Islands Summit 2026

Great Lakes Islands Alliance (GLIA) will host its 2026 Great Lakes Islands Summit on Mackinac Island, Michigan, October 4–7. This periodic gathering brings together leaders and community members from island communities across the Great Lakes to share ideas, build relationships, and explore solutions to common challenges. The Summit will feature local perspectives from Mackinac Island residents including several days of structured discussions, networking, and collaborative learning.

Programming will include breakout sessions on topics such as tourism and marketing, island economics and advocacy, historic preservation, and local planning. A unique guided boat tour around the island will feature narration by a local expert discussing how the community protects its natural/cultural features and balances environment and economy. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in field-trip experiences focused on housing development, environmental stewardship, and essential infrastructure systems, offering practical, place-based insights.

Registration for the Summit through Eventbrite does not include lodging. Registered attendees are asked to secure their own lodging and will be provided booking information for Mission Point Resort and other island establishments. A limited number of complimentary rooms (1 per visiting island) will be offered to each island cohort based on who has registered by August 17. Please see GLIA’s main Summit page for details.

GLIA is a fiscally sponsored project of The Stewardship Network (TSN), a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and TSN is administrating registration and finances for the Summit on behalf of GLIA.