Veterans For Peace gathered in Kansas City, Missouri, from August 6–9, 2026, for its 41st Annual National Convention, bringing together members, friends, family, and peace advocates from across the country. The convention centered on the theme “Peace Through Nonviolent Action: From Chaos to Community,” with programming focused on organizing, solidarity, education, and building a more peaceful and just society.
You can watch most of the convention’s sessions at this link
The convention opened with registration, a welcome reception, poetry, and film programming before moving into several days of meetings, workshops, speakers, and community events. The schedule included Veterans For Peace business meetings, chapter and regional gatherings, special meetings, workshops, meditation and yoga, as well as presentations on topics such as Palestine, resisting illegal orders, media, peace-building, and community organizing.
Convention organizers emphasized the importance of confronting war, militarism, injustice, and violence while also strengthening solidarity within the peace movement. The welcome message highlighted continuing concerns about U.S. military policy, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, attacks on immigrant and Indigenous communities, threats to civil liberties, and the broader need for nonviolent action and democratic engagement.
The weekend also created space for connection and reflection, including meals, informal gatherings, cultural programming, and opportunities for members to exchange ideas and strengthen relationships across chapters. The convention concluded Sunday with a closing program centered on moving “From Chaos to Community.”
For VFP Chapter 160, the national convention serves as a reminder that local chapter work is part of a much larger movement of veterans and allies committed to peace, justice, and nonviolent action.
