How to Cite Conference Proceedings in APA

• Written by Rebecca Cahill

• Published on 12/04/2025

When conducting research, it can be tempting to head straight to the library or to search a trusted database. Although these are excellent sources for information, don’t overlook the value of conferences.

The practice of common-minded scholars coming together to present new ideas and collaborate is thousands of years old. However, with current technology, we can access a conference either in person or virtually. 

Conference presenters are often experts in their academic fields, and their lectures serve as a preview of upcoming developments or changes in a field. It is invaluable to be able to integrate timely information into your own research papers. 

Citing Different Types of Conference Presentations

When including references to information from a conference, according to APA Style (7th edition), it is important to consider the type of presentation itself. You will need to determine whether the information has been previously published or if there is an online source available. You will also decide whether to cite from the overall conference or a specific presentation.

Publication from a Conference

If there is an existing publication of the material presented, such as a book or journal article, you will follow the APA guidelines according to the publication type.

If you are using the official conference publication as a citation, you will need to include the title of the editors (if included) and the title of the conference. This information will give your reader less specific details about the content.

Citation	Angley, M. B., & Stevens, R. C. (Eds.). (2025). Restorative practices in urban education symposium. Sage. https://www.urbaneducation.com/con2025
Structure	Surname, Initials., & Surname, Initials. (Title of role). (Year). Title of conference. Publisher. https://URL

Example	(Angley & Stevens, 2025)
Structure	(Editor 1 Surname & Editor 2 Surname, Year)

Presentation

The most common approach utilizing information from a conference is to cite information gathered from an original presentation. If the content has not yet been published traditionally or online, you will need to include the title of the presentation and the title of the conference.

Citation	Hall, T. E., Lauren, E. E., Young, P. J., & Walsh, S. D. (2023, July 11). Integrating speech language practices into early intervention practices [Conference presentation]. Communication Improvements in Education, Minnesota Department of Education, Minneapolis.
Structure	Surname, Initials., Surname, Initials., Surname, Initials., & Surname, Initials. (Year, Month Day). Title of contribution [Description of contribution]. Title of Conference, Organization, Location.

Example	(Hall et al., 2023)
Structure	(Surname et al., Year)

Presentation with Online Resource

If the content you have located has an online source, you will follow the same structure above and include the link to the correct URL. If you attended the session in person, you would keep the geographic location. However, if you participated virtually, you would remove the location.

Citation	Prichard, R. K., & Shah, M. O. (2019, January 15). Revisiting the stages of development as identified by Jean Piaget [Poster session]. Childhood Development Consortium, Cedar Rapids, IA. https://Cdconsortium.com/2019/con/Piaget
Structure	Surname, Initials., & Surname, Initials. (Year, Month Day). Title of contribution [Description of contribution]. Title of Conference, Location. https://URL

Example	(Prichard & Shah, 2019)
Structure	(Author 1 Surname & Author 2 Surname, Year)

Description Types: Different conferences might use distinct descriptors; however, the most common types include conference sessions, poster sessions, keynote speeches, formal addresses, and panel presentations. APA Titles: Only the first word of a title is capitalized in APA Style (7th edition), unless the title includes a proper noun. Internal Citations: If the conference presentation has three or more authors, you will use the Surname of the first person and then et al. (Hall et al., 2023).