Overview
About this event
ASAE is the American Society of Association Executives. It represents association professionals and the organisations they run. The Annual Meeting is its largest yearly gathering.
The event mixes education, networking, and an expo floor. Attendees include CEOs, staff, and industry partner companies. Sessions span leadership, membership, technology, and governance.
The 2026 edition runs across four days in Indianapolis. It is held at the Indiana Convention Center. Registration is open to association professionals worldwide.
What Usually Happens at ASAE Annual Meeting?
The programme opens with pre-conference programming and early registration. Main stage keynotes and Catalyst talks run through the week. An expo floor and evening celebrations round out each day.
Education sessions cover practical, job-ready topics. Past years have included AI adoption, membership pricing, and governance. Attendees can earn CAE certification credit hours.
When Is ASAE Annual Meeting 2026 Taking Place?
The event runs August 15-18, 2026. The venue is the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The official site is annual.asaecenter.org and registration is open at annual2026.asaecenter.org/register.cfm.
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ASAE Annual Meeting 2026: Latest Updates
4 topicsSeveral details are now confirmed on the official site. These cover keynotes, pricing, and host city preparations. Everything below is sourced from the official event pages. More speaker announcements may follow.
Full Keynote Lineup Confirmed
Oz Pearlman opens the meeting on August 16. Amy Edmondson speaks on August 17. Van Jones closes the event on August 18. Full bios are on the Main Stage keynotes page.
Registration Rates Published
This is a paid event, not a free one. Standard Association Professional registration is $1,248 for members. Non-members pay $1,648. Every rate is listed on the attend page.
Indianapolis Host City Confirmed
Indianapolis is investing in new tourism infrastructure ahead of 2026. Visit Indy has confirmed hotel and venue upgrades. ASAE cited this as a factor in choosing the city.
Hotel Booking Opens Through Expovision
Expovision is the only authorized hotel vendor for this event. Fifteen official hotels are available, seven connected by skywalk. The booking cutoff is July 13, 2026, and details are on the hotel and travel page.
Main Topics at ASAE Annual Meeting 2026
4 topicsThe programme covers the core work of running an association. Topics come from the official education and Main Stage pages. The themes below reflect the confirmed focus.
Leadership and Governance
Sessions address board relations and organisational strategy. Governance and succession planning are recurring themes. Content targets both CEOs and senior staff.
Psychological Safety and Team Culture
Amy Edmondson's keynote centres on psychological safety. Catalyst speaker Justin Patton addresses trust and leadership. These sessions focus on how teams function under pressure.
Membership Growth and Engagement
Sessions cover membership models and pricing strategy. Past editions have featured pricing sensitivity tools. This remains a core association management topic.
AI Strategy for Associations
A preconference CEO Summit focuses on AI planning. It targets building an AI plan for board approval. This reflects growing AI adoption across the sector.
Event Experiences
4 topicsThe meeting blends formal sessions with signature social events. Each format serves a different kind of connection. The sections below outline what to expect.
Main Stage Keynotes and Catalyst Sessions
Keynotes anchor each full day of the meeting. Catalyst sessions add focused talks on culture and trust. Both run as part of the core education programme, listed on the keynotes page.
Opening and Closing Celebrations
An Opening Celebration kicks off the meeting. A Closing Celebration wraps the event on the final day. Singer Babyface is confirmed for the Opening Celebration.
The Classic
The Classic is the ASAE Foundation's evening reception. It follows the opening keynote on August 16. It supports the ASAE Foundation's work.
Expo Floor and Experience Tours
The expo floor runs across the meeting. Experience Tours let attendees explore Indianapolis directly. A Global Lounge supports international attendees.
Why ASAE Annual Meeting 2026 Matters
3 topicsThis is the largest annual gathering in the association sector. It shapes how associations approach leadership and growth. Different roles gain different value from attending.
For Association CEOs and Executives
The CEO Summit addresses AI planning at the board level. Leadership keynotes speak directly to executive decision-making. Networking connects CEOs across the sector.
For Association Staff and Managers
Education sessions offer practical, job-ready strategies. Topics range from membership growth to team culture. CAE credit hours support ongoing certification.
For Industry Partners and Exhibitors
The expo floor connects vendors with association buyers. Exhibitor and sponsorship packages are available. This is a direct channel to sector decision-makers.
Agenda
The meeting runs across four days. Times follow US Eastern Time (UTC-4). The full schedule is on the official schedule page.
| Date | Programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, August 15 | Pre-conference programming, early registration, committee meetings | Indiana Convention Center |
| Sunday, August 16 | Opening Keynote: Oz Pearlman, Opening Celebration, The Classic | Indiana Convention Center |
| Monday, August 17 | Keynote: Amy Edmondson, Catalyst sessions, expo floor | Indiana Convention Center |
| Tuesday, August 18 | Closing Keynote: Van Jones, Catalyst session, closing sessions | Indiana Convention Center |
Following this event? Get the updates as they drop.
Registration and Access
ASAE Annual Meeting 2026 requires paid registration. Rates depend on membership status and career stage. A group discount applies for larger teams. Register at annual2026.asaecenter.org/register.cfm, and see the attend page for the full rate card.
| Pass Type | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Association Professional | Full conference, member rate | $1,248 |
| Association Professional | Full conference, non-member rate | $1,648 |
| Small Staff | Small-Staff Association members only | $1,048 |
| NextGen (age 35 or under) | Member rate | $849 |
| NextGen (age 35 or under) | Non-member rate | $1,199 |
| International Professional | Member or non-member | $848 |
| Daily Registration | Member rate | $699 |
| Daily Registration | Non-member rate | $899 |
Groups of five or more from the same email domain get $100 off each. All full conference registrations include keynotes, learning labs, and lunch.
Venue
Indiana Convention Center
Seven of the fifteen official hotels connect to the Indiana Convention Center via skywalk, with shuttles running from the rest. Expovision is ASAE's only authorized hotel booking vendor and the accommodations cutoff is July 13, 2026. Indianapolis International Airport is a 15-minute drive from downtown, offering about 145 daily departures to 53 destinations, and Amtrak and Greyhound both serve the downtown area.
Date & Time
Aug 15–18
Starts 9:00 AM EDT
Location
Indianapolis, IN 46225
Indiana Convention Center, USA
Format
In-person
On location only
Indiana Convention Center
100 S Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46225, USA
Speakers6
Engineers shipping the work, not theorizing about it
The confirmed Main Stage speakers appear below. Catalyst speakers add sessions on leadership and trust, and full bios are on the official Main Stage page.
Recap: 2025 & 2024
The biggest announcements from the last 2 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition editions.
ASAE Annual Meeting 2025 Recap
ASAE Annual Meeting moves to a new host city each year, and both recent editions drew major national keynote speakers.
The 2025 meeting ran August 9-12, 2025, in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Convention Center, on the theme "Imagine the Possibilities." See the 2025 announcement release.
Main announcements included:
- Keynotes included author Susan Cain and entrepreneur Andrew Yang
- Holly Ransom interviewed Susan Cain on the Main Stage
- The Opening Celebration was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- The Classic ran at The Novo and The GRAMMY Museum
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