The AHG Annual Symposium brings together herbalists, educators, and enthusiasts from across the country for a multi-day celebration of herbalism, learning, and community. Now in its 36th year, the symposium is a cornerstone event for practitioners and students alike, offering workshops, lectures, and networking opportunities to explore the latest in clinical herbalism.
36th Annual Symposium: August 14-16, 2026 in Black Mountain NC
The 36th Annual American Herbalists Guild Symposium will take place August 14–16, 2026, at the historic YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in the heart of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, just outside Asheville, NC. Surrounded by lush forests and the abundance of late summer in Appalachia, this year’s gathering invites herbalists from across the country to come together in celebration and community.
The AHG Symposium offers far more than lectures alone. Across three immersive days, attendees can choose from a rich variety of classes, panel discussions, plant walks, experiential workshops, and clinical intensives led by respected herbal practitioners and educators. Additional opportunities for deeper study include optional Pre-Symposium Intensive Workshops on Friday, August 14, as well as a full-day Post-Symposium Intensive on Monday, August 17. Whether you are a student beginning your herbal journey or an experienced clinician refining your practice, the Symposium provides meaningful educational experiences for every level of study.
This year’s theme, Facilitating Regulation: The Role of Clinical Herbalism in Autoimmunity & Chronic Conditions, explores the many ways herbalists support resilience, restoration, and balance in the face of complex chronic illness. Programming throughout the weekend will weave together contemporary clinical insight and traditional wisdom through workshops focused on clinical practice, formulation strategies, ethnobotany, and the evolving role of herbalism within modern healthcare.
Beyond the classroom, the Symposium is a beloved annual reunion of the herbal community — a space where ideas are exchanged and collaborations are sparked. Attendees can gather Friday evening for our community mixer, explore the vibrant Vendor Fair throughout the weekend, connect with herbal organizations and small businesses, and celebrate together Saturday night at our lively Sassafras Soirée.
Our host venue, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, offers comfortable lodging, on-site meal plans, scenic walking trails, and easy access to the rich biodiversity and natural beauty of Southern Appalachia. We encourage attendees to arrive early, settle into the mountain atmosphere, and enjoy all that makes the AHG Symposium such a meaningful and memorable annual tradition.
AHG Members receive discounted registration rates. Lodging and meal plans are booked separately through the venue.
We look forward to gathering with you in the mountains for a weekend of herbal education, connection, and celebration.
Important Dates
- Early registration runs from June 1st through June 30th, 2026
- General registration starts July 1st and ends August 10th, 2026
- Onsite registration only after this date
Pricing
Symposium Tickets
- Early Bird General Admission: $350
($300 for AHG Members & Residents of Western NC & Eastern TN) - Standard General Admission: $375
($325 for AHG Members & Residents of Western NC & Eastern TN)
Intensives (Purchased Separately)
- Pre-Symposium Intensives (4 hours): $60–$80
- Post-Symposium Intensive (8 hours): $125
Recordings
All 2026 symposium classes will be in-person only and will not be live-streamed.
Instead, all registrants will receive access to audio recordings in the weeks following the event. Recordings will also be made available for separate purchase by the public after the symposium.
Symposia History
The AHG has a rich history of convening herbalists nationwide. The first symposium was held in 1990 at the Lloyd Library in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the tradition has grown ever since. Each year’s symposium features new locations, innovative programming, and opportunities to celebrate the diversity and expertise of the herbalist community.
Explore even more resources in our online community
Are you looking for member resources, events, online courses, and discussion? You can find them all in the American Herbalists Guild Circle Community.