Opening Space for Peace and High Performance 2026

Facing Untruth, Suffering & Upheaval:
Opening Space for Peace and High Performance

In the face of untruth, suffering and upheaval, what is OUR WORK to do NOW?

Join us over MLK weekend for our Annual Peace & High-Performance Open Space, a space to explore what real peace requires. Together, we will challenge “passive peace”, explore what holds us back, and discover how to balance courage, action, and connection—personally, locally, nationally, and globally.

“Peace is the dynamic interrelationship of complex forces (including chaos, conflict and confusion) productive of wholeness, health and harmony. The Practice of Peace is the intentional creation of the requisite conditions under which Peace may occur.”
    - Harrison Owen

Bring your ideas, questions, and curiosity. Your voice matters. What is our work now?

When is it happening and where?

The official event dates are Friday and Saturday January 16-17, 2026.

Coffee, Teas, & Hello: 6:30am PT / 9:30am ET / 2:30pm UK

Opening Circle: 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm UK

Closing Circle: 11:30am PT / 2:30pm ET / 7:30pm UK

Our fifth virtual event will continue to use QiqoChat.com, Zoom and other online tools.

How will we practice togetherness?

Our dialogues will be in Open Space Technology, a loose structure powered by five principles and one law which guide behavior and provides clues in self-management.

Whoever comes are the right people
Wherever it happens is the right place
Whatever happens, is the only thing that could have
Whenever it starts is the right time
When it’s over, it’s over

The law of mobility (or the law of two feet) — every person is responsible for their own learning and moves to conversations they find the most rewarding and where they can make a difference.

How it all started...

For nearly a quarter of a century, people from around the world have come together to open space over four or three days in New York City, at International House.

Over the years, this gathering has always been unique and special. It was like coming home for those who attended before; for those new to Open Space, a welcoming place that quickly felt like home.

Past gatherings were hosted by Harrison Owen, Karen Davis, with Devorah Gilbert and Ralph Copleman, Suzanne Daigle; in recent years the Open Space Institute has taken on the baton.

‘Opening Space for Peace and High Performance’ has been the call for more than a decade. Now more than ever, in its broadest applications of self, life, work, community, and world; it speaks to the urgent need of our times.

We are excited you are joining us in this adventure. Be prepared to be surprised!

January 16-17, 2026

In the late 90’s Harrison Owen wrote The Practice of Peace. It was around that time that the tradition of holding a learning event in Open Space during the Martin Luther King federal holiday weekend began. The teachings of Dr. King and the work of Open Space around the world are inspired by similar values, principles and mission.

If you are sensing the shifts and invigorated by the possibilities of navigating change in ways that tap into our unique individual and collective potential, we warmly invite you to join us.

IMPORTANT!

Everyone is also welcome to attend our annual member meetup which will happen on Saturday January 17 at 3:30pm est, half an hour after the event closes. We plan to meet for about an hour through this zoom link. Please email info@osius.org if you have any questions.

As usual we are inviting attendees who want to learn about facilitating Open Space Technology online to step up to practice the facilitation and producer roles for the openings and closings.

Our proceedings are eventually published (such as last year's). We give time for attendees to fix the proceedings before we publish. If you don't wish any snapshots of your attendance to be published, let us know in advance.

SCHEDULE

We are excited you are joining us in this adventure on either or both days (Friday January 16 or Saturday January 17). Each of the day will open half an hour before the start time.

Please view this Daily Flow page to better see what it looks like in your time zone.

DONATION

Our desire is to include all who want to participate. The suggested donation is $25 for the two days to help cover our costs. Any amount will be welcome with the goal of continuous educational activities to foster learning in Open Space through OSI US. If financial circumstances are difficult, know that you will be welcome at no cost.

Registration is necessary to have access to the sessions.

CONTACT

For more information, email info@osius.org.

YOUR HOSTS

Open Space Institute US: OSI-US holds space for Open Space and serves by: providing access to resources on Open Space; connecting individuals and groups to inform, inspire, mentor, and sustain each other in opening and holding space; and being an inclusive learning community. We believe that inspired behavior can be an everyday experience and that humanity is only limited by its perceptions of the possible. OSI was created to grow that sense of possibility and make it a reality by focusing on: learning, research and practice. Our board currently includes Harold Shinsato, April Jefferson, Rijon Erickson, and Susan Liao and Ann Johnson.

Last year's participants are viewable on this link, or go here to see who has registered so far for 2026.