The modern local government landscape is shifting faster than ever before. Communities aren’t just asking city and county managers to balance budgets and pave roads anymore; they are asking them to navigate the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, rewrite the playbook on public workforce retention, and build alternative emergency response models that actually move the needle on community health. 

Welcome to a new era of local government; one that requires fresh strategies, advanced toolkits, and the unique opportunity to meet and mingle with the people who "speak your language" and face the same daily challenges that you do. 

The 2026 ICMA Annual Conference in Long Beach, October 17–21 is curated around these immediate, real-world pressures. The program tracks are taking shape with tactical, forward-thinking sessions designed to give you concrete solutions to bring home. 

A Glimpse Into the 2026 Agenda:

• The AI Frontier: Step into panels detailing how progressive local governments are utilizing artificial intelligence to transform the public workforce—fundamentally reshaping recruitment, talent management, and municipal service delivery. 
  • AI-Ready from Day One: A Practical Playbook for Local Governments of Every Size (Education Session).
  • From Strategy to Action: Incorporating AI in City Services (Skill Building Workshop).
  • The “Gig” Government: How to Build Your Workforce with Fractional Time, Remote Experts in an AI Age (Education Session).
•  Data-Driven Crisis Management: Explore sessions that break down the essential metrics for alternative response programs, giving city and county managers the exact benchmarks needed to measure real-world impact. 
  • Redefining the 911 Response: Measuring the Impact of Civilian Mental Health Teams. 
  • Hard Numbers, Soft Landing: Utilizing Predictive Analytics to Combat Homelessness.
• Resilient Infrastructure: Discover how cutting-edge technology integration is modernizing public assets across both rural and urban landscapes. 
  • Smart Infrastructure for Mid-Sized Communities: Practical Tech Integration. 
  • The Climate-Resilient Waterfront: Lessons from Coastal Innovation.

You won't just sit through high-level theory. You will sit alongside more than 5,000 global peers doing the hard work, learning what works, what fails, and what comes next. 

The Countdown Is On: Two Weeks Until Launch

In two weeks, the gates open. High-demand hotel blocks on the Long Beach waterfront and exclusive "Best Value" registration rates will go live simultaneously. To secure the best accommodations within walking distance of the convention center at the lowest possible price, you will need to act fast. 

Set your alarms, calendar invites, and team reminders now: Registration and Housing open June 10 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

[Explore the Evolving Program Agenda] |