When and where is the 2026 AAEA Annual Meeting?

The 2026 AAEA Annual Meeting takes place July 26–28, 2026, in Kansas City, MO, at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown (200 West 12th Street).

Who should attend the AAEA Annual Meeting?

It is designed for professionals in agricultural and applied economics, including researchers, professors, graduate students, and analysts from academic departments, government agencies, NGOs, think tanks, and the private sector. Recent meetings have drawn over 1,500 attendees from 300 organizations and 35 countries.

How do I register and what does it cost?

You can register online through the AAEA portal or by submitting the PDF form. Rates depend on membership and timing; for example, Early Bird (on or before June 1) is $475 for professional members and $650 for non-members, with a special $50 rate for first-time graduate student members who apply by July 3, 2026.

How much does it cost to exhibit or sponsor?

A 10' x 10' exhibit table costs $800 and includes one meeting registration, a skirted table, two chairs, a sign, and Wi-Fi. Sponsorship packages are also available at Gold ($5,000), Silver ($3,500), and Bronze ($2,000) levels, among other a-la-carte options.

What is the host hotel and how do I get there from the airport?

The host hotel is the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, offering an AAEA group rate of $194 per night (book by June 29, 2026). Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is about 19–23 miles away, roughly a 25-minute drive by car or rideshare, with RideKC bus service also available.

AAEA Annual Meeting 2026 – Kansas City, MO | Trade Show Event Directory

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AAEA Annual Meeting 2026 – Kansas City, MO | Trade Show Event Directory | Trade Show Directory

Attendance

According to AAEA's sponsorship materials, the Annual Meeting draws an average of about 1,500 attendees, and the most recent meeting drew over 1,500 attendees from 300 different organizations and 35 countries. The broader AAEA membership numbers more than 2,400 professionals who receive meeting communications. By affiliation, AAEA members are approximately 75.8% academic and 24.2% non-academic, working in academic departments, government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector.

Booth Pricing

Exhibitor and sponsorship costs published by AAEA for 2026:

One 10' x 10' Exhibit Table: $800 (includes one 6' skirted table, two chairs, a table-top sign, one badge with meeting registration, and Wi-Fi in the exhibit area)
Additional Exhibit Table: $350
Additional Meeting Registration: $250

Sponsorship packages:

Gold: $5,000 (includes 2 exhibit tables and 4 full registrations)
Silver: $3,500 (includes 2 exhibit tables and 2 full registrations)
Bronze: $2,000 (includes 1 exhibit table and 1 full registration)

A-la-carte sponsorships include the Student Section Academic Bowl ($5,000), Mobile App & Wi-Fi ($5,000), Attendee Lanyards ($3,000), Attendee/Coffee Break ($2,000), and Host Headshots ($1,500).

Registration

Register online through the AAEA registration portal, or by downloading and submitting the PDF registration form. Rates depend on membership status and timing.

Registration tiers (by deadline):

Early Bird — on or before June 1
Advanced — June 2 to July 20
On-site — July 21 or after

Sample Early Bird rates: Professional/Regular $475 member / $650 non-member; Senior (65+) $365 member / $505 non-member; Graduate Student $105 member / $300 non-member. A special $50 rate is available to graduate student members attending their first AAEA Annual Meeting (apply by July 3, 2026). A Guest pass is $75; guests under 16 are free.

Cancellations are subject to a $50 processing fee, and no refunds are given after July 3. Presenters must be 2026 members and register by May 13, 2026, and upload their finished paper by June 1, 2026.

History

The AAEA traces its roots to 1910, when the American Farm Management Association was founded at Iowa State University. In 1919 it merged with the American Association of Agricultural Economists to form the American Farm Economic Association, which in 1968 became the American Agricultural Economics Association. In 2008 the organization adopted its current name, the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, to better reflect its broadened membership and scope. The Association, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has held an annual meeting throughout its history; the 2026 edition is hosted in Kansas City, MO.