2026 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition
About the Conference
The NACo Annual Conference is the premier gathering of elected and appointed officials from the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs.
The conference will include dozens of committee and caucus meetings, educational workshops, general sessions and more. Sessions will offer learning and best practices on the full range of county responsibilities and domestic policy issues. NACo membership will also elect new leadership and set the organization's policy priorities during the Annual Business Meeting.
Registration
Registration includes access to all workshops, committee meetings, general sessions and conference-wide receptions.
All correspondence regarding registration will come from either nacomeetings@naco.org or naco@naco.org. Please add these email addresses to your safe sender list. Should you receive false correspondence, please report via email at nacomeetings@naco.org.
Early Bird | Advance | Onsite | |
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County / State Association – Member | $575 | $675 | $775 |
County – Non-Member | $850 | $950 | $1150 |
Affiliates | $575 | $675 | $775 |
Corporate – Member | $610 | $725 | $825 |
Corporate – Non-Member | $910 | $1050 | $1250 |
State, Federal, Gov’t & Non-Profit | $575 | $675 | $775 |
Technology Innovation Forum | $125 | $150 | $200 |
*Registration Add-ons | |||
*Guests | $150 | $175 | $200 |
*Student | $150 | $175 | $200 |
*All guests and student registrations are optional Add-ons to a fully purchased attendee rate above. Click here for more information and restrictions on guest and student rates.
Payment is due at the time of registration. Exceptions can be made to allow for payment by check on a case-by-case basis. All fees must be paid in full prior to arrival in order to obtain your badge and registration materials at the conference.
Contact nacomeetings@naco.org with any questions or to pay with a check.
Registrations cancelled by May 13, 2026, will be refunded minus a $50 administration fee. Cancellations made between May 13 and June 24, 2026, will receive a 50 percent refund. After June 25, 2026, no refunds will be issued, including for unused registrations or no-shows. This policy applies to all registration types, including guest fees.
All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email to cancellations@naco.org; telephone cancellations are not accepted.
To transfer a registration, please contact nacomeetings@naco.org and provide the name and email of the person whose registration you are transferring and the name and email address of the person to whom the registration should be reassigned.
Partner/Spouse Registrations include the conference-wide opening and closing reception events and general sessions. For travel companions only. Not valid for colleagues and those with related job functions tied to counties, parishes or boroughs. Spouses, partners and children under the age of 21 need to be accompanied by the paid attendee at all times.
Student Registration applies to high school and/or college enrolled students attending for educational purposes. Students must be accompanied by a paid attendee at all times.
Any persons under 21 are not allowed to attend any events with bar service and alcohol.
Schedule at a Glance
Please note that the conference schedule is subject to change.
Pre-Conference Event: Technology Innovation Forum (TIF) | 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | The Technology Innovation Forum gathers county leaders, technology officials and partners to explore how emerging technologies and innovative approaches are transforming county government. Through real-world case studies and peer discussions, participants gain practical insights on using technology, data and digital tools to strengthen operations, improve services and better serve residents. Separate paid registration is required for this event. |
Pre-Conference Event: Changing the Course of the Opioid Crisis | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | This half-day, pre-conference workshop will highlight best practices in administration of once-in-a-generation settlement dollars counties may use to make innovative investments in prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction to strengthen public health responses to the opioid crisis. Whether your county is developing its strategy or already deploying funds, this session will provide practical tools, ideas and connections to help ensure opioid settlement investments lead to healthier communities. This pre-conference event is open to all county attendees who plan to arrive early for the conference; registration is requested if you plan to join. |
Pre-Conference Mobile Tours | 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Identical to Monday mobile tours to allow more flexibility for those travelling in later or leaving earlier. |
TIF Reception | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Separate registration required. |
First-time Attendee Breakfast | 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. |
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Policy Coordinating Committee #1 | 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. |
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Policy Steering Committee Meetings | 9:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. |
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Policy Coordinating Committee #2 | 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
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Opening General Session | 4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. |
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Exhibit Hall Opening Reception | 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
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Fitness Activity | 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. |
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NACo Standing Committee and Innovation Council Meetings | 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. |
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NACo Board Forum | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
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Educational Workshops | 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Workshops to feature best practice and hot topic areas on subjects such as data centers, property tax trends, elections, leadership development and more. |
All Conference Lunch with Exhibitors | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. |
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Caucus Meetings to Include LUCC/RAC/MCC | 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
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Affiliate, Affinity and State Association Meetings | 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
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Fitness Activity | 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. |
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Worship Service | 8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. |
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All Conference Coffee & Conversations with Exhibitors | 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. |
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NACo Board of Directors Meeting | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
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Educational Workshops | 9:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | Two rounds of 45-minute educational workshops will feature best practice and hot topic areas on subjects such as records & services, transportation & infrastructure, health & human services, first responders, leadership development and public lands. |
Affiliate, Affinity and State Association Lunches | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. |
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General Session | 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
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Innovation & Advisory Council Meetings, Regional Topic Meetings | 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. |
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Affiliate, Affinity and State Association Meetings | 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
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NACo Board of Directors Reception | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
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NACo Annual Business Meeting | 9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
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Regional Caucus Meetings | 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. |
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Educational Workshops | 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
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Mobile Tours | 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Identical to pre-conference mobile tours to allow more flexibility to those travelling in later or leaving earlier. |
New NACo Board of Directors Meeting | 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
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All Conference Closing Reception | 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Don't miss an unforgettable night of New Orleans-style fun and Louisiana food supplied by parish leaders from around the state. |
Venue
The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is located in Downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. The lower end of building one is located 1,640 feet upriver from Canal Street on the banks of the Mississippi River. It is named after former Mayor of New Orleans Ernest Nathan Morial.
Housing Information
NACo's negotiated housing blocks are now open. Discounted rates are available until the hotel cutoff date of Wednesday, June 24, 2026; however, rooms could sell out prior to this date, so register and reserve your room now! Upon registering, attendees will receive information in their confirmation email on how to book housing directly with the hotels at NACo’s discounted rates. Discounted rates are only available to registered attendees.
Available Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET
Toll Free: (888) 751-5182
Email: naco@conferencedirect.com
A valid credit card is required to guarantee each reservation. Please check with your hotel for specific guarantee, deposit and cancellation policies.
Beginning on Wednesday, May 13, NACo's Housing Bureau will charge a cancellation fee of $30.00 for any cancellations. This cancellation fee will appear on your credit card statement as “CONFDIRECT*26NACoAnnl”. Cancellations made directly with hotel will also incur this fee.
Email: naco@conferencedirect.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Hotel information, and the reservation link, are included in the confirmation email sent after registration payment is received. This ensures that only confirmed attendees reserve rooms, helping us manage hotel capacity more effectively.
Please email cancellations@naco.org with the full name of the registrant and the name of the event. Our team will assist you with the cancellation process.
Please email nacomeetings@naco.org with the full name of the registrant and the name of the event. Our team will assist you with obtaining an invoice link.
The Onsite Rate is the final registration tier for the 2026 Annual Conference & Exposition. While designated as “onsite,” participants can still conveniently register online here.
No pre-registration is required. Mobile tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend arriving early to secure your spot.
Guests—such as a spouse, partner, or family member—can be added during the registration process with a fee. If you’re having trouble accessing your registration to make changes, please email nacomeetings@naco.org with your name and the full name of your guest, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Please note: Guest Registrations include the conference-wide opening and closing reception events and general sessions.
Some Pre-Conference events are only available to county attendees and NACo Corporate Premier Partners. If you are not a NACo Corporate Premier Partner and interested in attending these events, please reach out to Melissa Krouse (mkrouse@naco.org) to learn more about partnership opportunities.
Additional Information
- Waiver of liability
- Code of conduct
- Questions? Email nacomeetings@naco.org.