PHOENIX, July 16, 2026 /3BL/ - Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, will host its seventh Cleft Con at The Wigman in Litchfield Park, Arizona from July 17-19, bringing together cleft-affected individuals and their families for a dynamic weekend of connection and learning.
Cleft Con is Smile Train’s signature global event designed to unite the cleft community through shared experiences. The event features interactive sessions and honest conversations between individuals who have lived with a cleft, offering personal perspectives on the emotional and medical aspects of their journeys. Notable Smile Train cleft-affected ambassadors, including 2026 Miss Georgia Sophia Wootten; professional hockey player Nicole Hensley; and Dinè weaver and designer Naiomi Glasses, will also be in attendance.
“The cleft community is strongest when people have opportunities to connect and learn from one another,” said Iva Ballou, Cleft Community Manager, Smile Train. “Cleft Con celebrates those connections, bringing together voices from around the world to foster understanding and support one another.”
This year’s gathering will take place the weekend immediately preceding Smile Train’s second annual World Cleft Awareness Day on July 20, a global observance founded by Smile Train in 2025 to elevate awareness of cleft lip and palate and access to comprehensive care worldwide.
Together, Cleft Con and World Cleft Awareness Day reflect Smile Train’s ongoing commitment to building a global platform where people with clefts are seen, heard, and supported.
Although Cleft Con Phoenix 2026 is in person, there will also be a virtual Cleft Con on October 17, ensuring access for the global cleft community regardless of geography.
Registration details, agenda highlights, and speaker announcements are available at smiletrain.org/cleftcon.
About Smile Train
Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train’s sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.
Media Contact
Emily Gay | Public Relations
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