At ASAE Annual Meeting 2026 today? Don't miss these things

If you're at the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition 2026 in Indianapolis today, you already know the basic conference problem: there are more things worth doing than there are hours in the day.

The event runs August 15–18 in Indianapolis, with more than 100 education sessions, an Expo, networking opportunities and a packed lineup of speakers and experiences.

So, if you're already on site, here's what we'd put on the don't-miss list.

Start with the keynotes

There are three keynote slots across the main programme, and they're a good way to get a feel for the bigger conversations at this year's meeting.

On August 16, Emmy Award-winning mentalist and bestselling author Oz Pearlman takes the keynote stage. On August 17, Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, is the keynote. Van Jones, CNN host and Emmy Award-winning producer, closes out the keynote lineup on August 18.

If you're choosing between sessions, these are worth putting on the calendar first.

Don't try to attend everything

This is the mistake people make at big conferences. They build a completely packed schedule, then spend the whole day rushing between rooms.

Use the official ASAE app to build a custom schedule, bookmark speakers and exhibitors, see who else is attending and book meetings. The app also has AI recommendations for discovering people and companies.

Pick the sessions you genuinely want to attend. Then leave some white space.

That is where the useful conference stuff tends to happen: the conversation after a session, the person you bump into between rooms, or the exhibitor who solves a problem you didn't realise you had.

Spend time on the Expo floor

Don't treat the Expo as something you squeeze in at the end of the day.

ASAE describes the Expo as a place to explore the latest products and services for the association community. If you're looking for a particular solution, make a shortlist before you walk in. If you're not, wander. Both approaches work.

And actually talk to exhibitors. The good ones will tell you what they're seeing across the industry, not just what their product does.

Look beyond the sessions

ASAE's programme is built around more than education. There are opportunities to connect with association peers, speakers and industry partners throughout the meeting.

If you're trying to make a few good connections today, don't overcomplicate it. Ask someone what brought them to ASAE, which session they've liked, or what they're working on. You don't need a networking script.

Don't miss the evening events

ASAE has built several evening experiences into the 2026 programme. The Opening Celebration on August 15 features Babyface, while the ASAE Research Foundation's The Classic takes place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 17. The Closing Celebration is at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 18.

If you're staying through the end, don't make the mistake of assuming the conference is over when the last session finishes.

One last thing: use the app

If you haven't already, get into the ASAE app. It contains the schedule, speakers, attendees, exhibitors and on-site information. You can also create your schedule, bookmark people and companies, and use the meeting-booking feature to connect with others.

It's one of those small things that makes a big conference much easier to navigate.

And if you're sharing what you're seeing from ASAE, don't wait until you're home. A good session takeaway, speaker quote or Expo find is far more useful while everyone is still talking about it.

The real trick to ASAE?

Don't try to “win” the conference by seeing everything.

Pick a few sessions. Meet people you actually want to meet. Spend time on the Expo floor. And leave enough room for something unexpected.

That's usually where the best conference stories come from.