
ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership Annual Meeting 2026
Event Date
August 15–18, 2026
Location
Indianapolis, IN
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition is the flagship event of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), where thousands of association professionals and industry partners gather each year to exchange knowledge, resources, strategies, and solutions. Over three days of learning and networking, attendees are equipped with a year's worth of support for their daily responsibilities as leaders in the association and nonprofit community.
The meeting is built for association executives, staff, and the industry partners who serve them — spanning disciplines from executive management and finance to membership, marketing, meetings, and technology. Programming includes Main Stage keynotes, learning labs, a CEO Series, preconference workshops, and an Expo hall of solution providers.
Attendees come for authentic, engaging, and thought-provoking community-building experiences designed to strengthen the association profession. Full conference registrations include keynotes, learning labs, and lunch, and sessions qualify for CAE and CMP continuing-education credits, making the event a strong investment for professional development and peer connection.
Show Highlights
- Main Stage keynotes featuring notable speakers and thought leaders
- Learning labs and a full slate of education sessions across association-management disciplines
- CEO Series programming tailored to chief staff executives
- Preconference workshops for deeper, focused learning
- The Expo, connecting attendees with industry partners and solution providers
- Signature networking events including the Opening Celebration and Closing Celebration
- Experience Tours and Meeting Community Needs service opportunities in the host city
- Sessions eligible for CAE and CMP continuing-education credits
Attendance
ASAE reports that its Annual Meeting & Exposition draws thousands of association professionals and industry partners each year, though a specific attendee count for the 2026 meeting is not published. ASAE itself is a membership organization of more than 51,000 association executives and industry partners.
Registration
Registration is completed online through the official Annual Meeting website, with several registration types available:
- Attendee — for association professionals
- International Professional — for attendees traveling from outside the U.S.
- Speaker — for confirmed program presenters
- Exhibitor — for companies exhibiting in the Expo
All full conference registrations include keynotes, learning labs, and lunch. ASAE also offers an automatic group registration discount: when five or more staff members register at once, each attendee receives a $100 discount. To qualify, all registrants must be submitted at the same time, share the same email domain, and be association professionals (members or non-members). Membership questions can be directed to ASAE's Member Relations Team at 888.950.2723.
History
The ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition is the signature annual gathering of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), which was established roughly 100 years ago. Over that century, ASAE has grown into a membership organization of more than 51,000 association executives and industry partners, and its members lead, manage, or partner with organizations across more than a dozen association-management disciplines. The Annual Meeting rotates among major U.S. cities each year; upcoming host cities include Charlotte (2027), Chicago (2028), Washington, DC (2029), Columbus (2030), Orlando (2031), St. Louis (2032), Baltimore (2033), and Milwaukee (2034).
Venue & Travel
Venue
Indiana Convention Center
100 S Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46225
The Indiana Convention Center is a major convention center in downtown Indianapolis; the original structure was completed in 1972 and has undergone five expansions. It is one of the largest in the Midwest, boasting 566,600 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space in 11 halls with 71 meeting rooms and three ballrooms. Exhibit halls are virtually column-free, and the largest ballroom, the Sagamore, offers 33,335 sq. ft. of flexible space. The connected Lucas Oil Stadium offers an additional 183,000 square feet of exhibit space and 12 meeting rooms. The center is connected to 12 hotels and 4,700 hotel rooms via skywalks, the most of any U.S. convention center. Situated in the heart of Indianapolis, the campus is within walking distance of 200+ restaurants, shopping centers, and major attractions.
Parking
The Indiana Convention Center does not provide its own parking, but it is connected by skywalks to parking facilities as well as hotel parking. Denison Parking operates the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium parking lots.
- The Circle Centre Mall Garage (49 W Maryland St) is skywalk-connected to the convention center at about $22 max daily, a reliable fallback when closer lots fill.
- Walk-up garage rates range from $22–$60 per day depending on event size, with Capitol Commons Garage closest to the main entrance.
- Pre-booking on SpotHero or ParkWhiz typically saves 30–50%.
- Sunday street parking is free on all downtown meters.
Getting There
Airport: The JW Marriott and downtown core sit just 15 minutes from Indianapolis International Airport (IND).
From the airport:
- IndyGo Route 8 runs from the airport's Ground Transportation Center to downtown every 30 minutes for $1.75–$2.75, taking about 45 minutes.
- Go Express Travel offers a nonstop alternative at $10 each way for a 15-minute ride, with stops at the convention center and several downtown hotels.
- Rideshare runs $18–$25.
Getting around: Downtown Indianapolis is highly walkable, and IndyGo's Red Line BRT covers north-south routes. An enclosed, climate-controlled skywalk system connects 4,700+ hotel rooms directly to the convention center, so you can reach the halls without going outdoors. The venue is also walking distance from the Indianapolis Amtrak station.
Nearby Hotels
The Indianapolis convention campus offers 4,700 rooms connected by enclosed skywalk to the Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, more than any U.S. city. Skywalk-connected options include:
- JW Marriott Indianapolis — the largest hotel in Indiana and the convention center's closest neighbor, with a roughly 2-minute door-to-door skywalk walk.
- The Westin Indianapolis — connected to the convention center's north side, with a 3–5 minute walk and skywalk access to the Marriott IndyPlace complex.
- Hyatt Regency Indianapolis — Indy's original convention hotel, with direct connections to both the convention center and Circle Centre mall.
- Plus the Crowne Plaza at historic Union Station and the multi-hotel Marriott IndyPlace complex.
Not all hotels are connected — the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, Omni Severin, Hilton Indianapolis, Embassy Suites, and The Alexander are all within 5–8 minutes walking distance but require going outside.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition?
The 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition takes place August 15-18, 2026, at the Indiana Convention Center, located at 100 S Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46225.
Who should attend the ASAE Annual Meeting?
The meeting is designed for association professionals and the industry partners who serve them, spanning disciplines from executive management and finance to membership, marketing, meetings, and technology. Thousands of association leaders attend each year.
How do I register, and what does registration include?
Registration is completed online through the official Annual Meeting website, with Attendee, International Professional, Speaker, and Exhibitor options. All full conference registrations include keynotes, learning labs, and lunch, and groups of five or more registered at once receive a $100 discount per person.
Where should I stay, and what is the hotel booking deadline?
ASAE has fifteen official hotels in Indianapolis, seven connected to the convention center via skywalk, bookable through its authorized vendor Expovision. The hotel accommodations cutoff date is July 13, 2026, and hotels tend to sell out early.
How do I get to the venue from the airport?
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is about a 15-minute drive from downtown Indianapolis. Amtrak and Greyhound also serve downtown hubs, and the city offers over 73,000 downtown parking spots for those driving in.
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