Top 20 Upcoming Government Conferences | 2026

Are you selling to government and chasing for RFPs? If you have been waiting for solicitations to drop before getting in the room, you are already behind. The vendors who win government contracts do not just respond to bids. They show up, build relationships, and learn what agencies need before a formal requirement is ever published. Conferences are where that happens. They are where contracting officers talk candidly, where prime contractors look for teaming partners, and where procurement pipelines come into view long before they appear on SAM.gov or a state portal.

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Whether you sell to federal agencies, defense commands, state IT offices, or public universities, attending the right events can completely change your pipeline for the year. The question is not whether to go. It is which ones to pick.

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20 Upcoming Government Conferences That Vendors Should Attend

We curated this list based on the value each event brings to contractors and B2G vendors. The selection criteria cover four things that matter most: direct access to procurement decision-makers, teaming and networking opportunities, visibility into what agencies are buying and building, and advance intelligence on upcoming RFPs and contract vehicles. 

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These events span federal defense, civilian IT, procurement, and state, local, and education (SLED) markets, listed in chronological order so you can plan your calendar from start to finish.

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TL;DR? Here is a quick summary of all 20 conferences.

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Let's explore more about these government conferences and summits.

1. VETS26 Conference

When: June 1–4, 2026

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‍Where: Hyatt Regency, New Orleans, LA

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‍What is it? The premier federal small business event hosted by the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC), bringing together federal procurement decision-makers, large prime contractors, and procurement-ready small businesses for four days of training, teaming, and matchmaking. Register and learn more

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For whom: Veteran-owned small businesses (SD/VOSBs), 8(a) firms, HUBZone companies, and any small business actively pursuing federal contracts.

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How it helps vendors: VETS26 includes two dedicated matched networking sessions pairing small businesses directly with federal agencies and large prime contractors sorted by NAICS code. With over 1,500 participants, 60-plus training sessions, and 200-plus exhibitors and teaming partners, vendors leave with concrete introductions, qualified pipeline leads, and a clear picture of which federal agencies are buying in their space. No other event puts this concentration of buyers and sellers together in a small-business focused environment.

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2. AFCEA TechNet Cyber 2026

When: June 2–4, 2026

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‍Where: Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD

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‍What is it? AFCEA's flagship cybersecurity event convening military, government, industry, and academic leaders to address cyber defense, zero-trust architecture, and CMMC compliance across the DoD and federal enterprise. Register and learn more

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For whom: Cybersecurity vendors, IT service providers, defense contractors, and cloud solution providers selling to DoD, DISA, or U.S. Cyber Command.

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How it helps vendors: With over 5,000 cybersecurity professionals expected and key buyers from DISA, U.S. Cyber Command, and the DoD CIO's office all in attendance, this is the single best venue to understand what the federal cyber community is procuring and why. Vendors get direct exposure to program officers and agency IT leads who are actively shaping requirements. The exhibit hall and networking sessions make it practical to schedule qualified meetings with decision-makers who control real budgets, not just attend keynotes.

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3. New Hampshire Digital Government Summit

When: June 9, 2026

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‍Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, Manchester, NH

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‍What is it? A state-focused technology summit hosted by Government Technology bringing together New Hampshire state and local government IT leaders to discuss cybersecurity, AI, digital transformation, and data governance. Register and learn more

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For whom: Technology vendors selling cybersecurity, cloud, AI, or digital services to state and local government agencies in New England.

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How it helps vendors: State-level summits like this one are among the most efficient ways to build relationships with state CIOs, IT directors, and procurement staff outside of the formal RFP process. Sponsorship and attendance give vendors direct access to the decision-makers who shape budget requests and write specifications for upcoming projects. Conversations at these events often happen months or years before a formal solicitation appears, which is precisely when vendor influence is highest.

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4. 35th Annual Government Procurement Conference (GPC)

When: June 11, 2026

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‍Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC

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‍What is it? The nation's premier small business procurement event connecting small, minority, veteran-owned, HUBZone, and women-owned firms directly with federal agency procurement representatives and prime contractor exhibitors. Register and learn more

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For whom: Small and diverse businesses looking to sell to federal agencies, including 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, and HUBZone-certified firms.

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How it helps vendors: The GPC puts procurement specialists and small business office reps from agencies like NASA, the VA, and USDA in the same hall as small businesses ready to pitch. Vendors can attend educational sessions on set-aside vehicles, participate in one-on-one matchmaking, and get in front of prime contractors building their small business subcontracting plans. For firms new to federal contracting, this event is one of the most concentrated and accessible entry points available.

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5. 2026 Southern California Contracting Conference

When: June 11, 2026

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‍Where: Riverside Convention Center, Riverside, CA

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‍What is it? A regional contracting event hosted by the Orange County Inland Empire SBDC bringing together 30-plus government agencies, municipalities, and major corporations with small businesses to explore federal, state, local, and corporate contract opportunities. Register and learn more

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For whom: Small businesses in the Southern California region targeting local, state, or federal government contracts or corporate supplier diversity opportunities.

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How it helps vendors: For vendors based in or selling across Southern California, this event is a one-stop connection to buyers at agencies like NASA JPL, the County of Riverside, Caltrans, and regional utilities, all in a single day. Procurement matchmaking sessions are highly structured, and breakout sessions walk vendors through how to navigate specific contracting processes at the state and local level, which differ significantly from federal FAR-based procurement.

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6. GFOA 120th Annual Conference

When: June 28–July 1, 2026

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‍Where: Chicago, IL

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‍What is it? The flagship event of the Government Finance Officers Association, bringing together over 34,000 public finance professionals from across North America for 80-plus sessions on budgeting, debt management, financial reporting, and emerging issues in public finance. Register and learn more

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For whom: FinTech vendors, ERP and financial software companies, banking and investment solution providers, and professional services firms targeting state and local government finance offices.

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How it helps vendors: GFOA is the most concentrated gathering of government chief financial officers, finance directors, and budget officers in North America. For vendors in the financial technology or advisory space, the exhibit hall at GFOA is where relationships with government buyers at hundreds of jurisdictions are built and maintained. The event also signals what financial challenges governments are actively trying to solve, from pension management to federal compliance, pointing directly to where procurement demand will flow.

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7. AWS Summit Washington, DC 2026

When: June 30–July 1, 2026

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‍Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC

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‍What is it? A free two-day event hosted by Amazon Web Services focused on cloud innovation for the public sector, featuring 340-plus sessions, an expo hall, and direct access to AWS government experts and agency customers. Register and learn more

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For whom: Cloud technology vendors, ISVs, system integrators, and any contractor whose solutions run on or integrate with AWS in a federal, state, or local government context.

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How it helps vendors: With no registration cost and 10,000-plus attendees expected from federal, state, local, and education sectors, this event offers unusual access to government cloud decision-makers without a large budget commitment. Sessions reveal which agencies are moving workloads, piloting AI, or addressing FedRAMP and GovRAMP compliance, giving vendors early visibility into where demand is forming. The partner ecosystem and expo interactions are direct pipeline-building opportunities with buyers already committed to the cloud.

8. NACUBO 2026 Annual Meeting

When: July 18–21, 2026

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‍Where: Anaheim, CA

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‍What is it? The flagship conference of the National Association of College and University Business Officers, gathering higher education finance, operations, and technology leaders to address procurement, compliance, AI integration, and institutional modernization. Register and learn more

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For whom: Vendors selling financial, ERP, compliance, technology, or operational solutions to colleges and universities across the country.

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How it helps vendors: Higher education is a large and relatively underserved segment for many B2G vendors. NACUBO brings together chief business officers, VPs of finance, and procurement directors from institutions of every size, and the exhibit hall is one of the few places where education-market decision-makers are reachable in volume. For vendors navigating higher ed procurement, which often mirrors SLED rules more than federal FAR, the educational sessions also provide practical context for how buying decisions get made on campus.

9. NCMA World Congress 2026

When: July 26–29, 2026

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‍Where: Swan and Dolphin Hotel, Orlando, FL

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‍What is it? The world's largest gathering of contract management professionals, hosted by the National Contract Management Association, covering FAR changes, emerging acquisition strategies, AI in contracting, and professional development for government and industry practitioners. Register and learn more

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For whom: Contractors, capture managers, proposal professionals, and business development leaders who work directly in federal procurement and need to stay current on acquisition law and strategy.

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How it helps vendors: World Congress is the one place where government contracting officers and industry contractors sit in the same sessions and talk through the same challenges. Vendors gain direct insight into how agencies interpret regulations, what they find frustrating in proposals, and what acquisition strategies they plan to use for upcoming procurements. It is also the strongest venue in the country for building relationships with contracting professionals across multiple agencies in a single week.

10. Navy Gold Coast Small Business Procurement Expo 2026

When: August 17–20, 2026

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‍Where: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA

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‍What is it? The premier Navy procurement conference in the country, hosted by NDIA San Diego, connecting small businesses with the ten Navy Systems Commands and over 200 government and industry organizations through matchmaking, panels, and workshops. Register and learn more

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For whom: Small businesses targeting the Department of the Navy, including Navy and Marine Corps contracts across the Southwest region and beyond.

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How it helps vendors: Gold Coast is unique because the matchmaking program is structured and NAICS-based, giving small businesses up to three scheduled 15-minute one-on-one meetings with actual Navy buyers. The conference consistently draws 90-plus procurement decision-makers from Navy Systems Commands. For vendors looking to break into the Navy supply chain or expand relationships with existing buying offices, this is the most operationally useful procurement event on the West Coast.

11. TechNet Augusta 2026

When: August 17–20, 2026

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‍Where: Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center, Augusta, GA

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‍What is it? An AFCEA conference centered on Army Cyber Command and the Army Cyber Center of Excellence, exploring C2, counter-C2, cyber electromagnetic activities, and the technology partnerships needed to support Army warfighting in contested digital environments. Register and learn more

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For whom: Cybersecurity and IT vendors serving Army Cyber Command, Army CIO, PEO offices, or supporting cyber capabilities across the joint force.

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How it helps vendors: TechNet Augusta is one of the few events where Army cyber leadership, operational commanders, and procurement offices gather in the same venue with industry. Attendees include Army Cyber Command, the Army CIO and G6, and the Army Cyber Center of Excellence, which makes it the right room to understand cyber modernization priorities and connect with the program managers who are shaping upcoming acquisition requirements. The co-location with Fort Eisenhower also creates informal engagement opportunities that rarely happen at larger national events.

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12. State and Local Government AI Summit 2026

When: August 19–20, 2026

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‍Where: Location TBD

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‍What is it? A focused invitation-based summit hosted by the Center for Public Sector AI and Government Technology, convening state and local government CIOs and AI leaders alongside private sector partners to address responsible AI adoption, governance, and implementation across public agencies. Register and learn more

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For whom: AI platform vendors, data analytics companies, and technology providers targeting state and local government agencies that are actively deploying or evaluating artificial intelligence.

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How it helps vendors: Because attendance skews heavily toward government practitioners rather than vendors, the State and Local Government AI Summit gives sponsors and approved attendees an unusually candid look at where agencies are in their AI journeys. Decision-makers speak openly about implementation blockers, procurement preferences, and governance priorities in ways that rarely happen at larger, more commercial events. For vendors positioning AI solutions for the SLED market, the intelligence gathered here directly informs messaging, product roadmaps, and deal strategy.

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13. AFA Air, Space & Cyber Conference 2026

When: September 14–16, 2026

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‍Where: Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, MD

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‍What is it? The Air and Space Forces Association's premier professional development event bringing together Air Force and Space Force leadership, defense industry executives, and government officials for policy discussions and nearly 300 exhibits. Register and learn more

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For whom: Defense contractors, aerospace vendors, and IT companies selling to the U.S. Air Force, Space Force, or supporting cyber programs across the military departments.

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How it helps vendors: This is where the Air Force and Space Force tell industry what they need. The Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff, and the majority of 4-, 3-, and 2-star commanders have historically attended. For vendors with solutions in C2, space systems, cyber, or advanced aircraft programs, no other event provides a comparable density of senior leaders and program office staff in one place. The exhibit hall and sidebar meetings are where real acquisition conversations start.

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14. Government Innovation Arizona 2026

When: September 16, 2026

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‍Where: Phoenix, AZ

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‍What is it? A Public Sector Network event convening senior Arizona state and local government leaders to explore AI-powered governance, digital inclusion, sustainable infrastructure, and interagency collaboration. Register and learn more

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For whom: Technology and services vendors targeting Arizona state agencies, municipalities, and public institutions with solutions in AI, IT modernization, or infrastructure.

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How it helps vendors: Arizona is one of the most active states for government technology modernization, and this summit is where senior public sector leaders from across the state share their priorities and implementation challenges. For vendors looking to break into the Arizona SLED market or expand existing relationships, the event provides a high-trust environment to engage decision-makers around specific problems they are already trying to solve, well before procurement begins.

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15. EDUCAUSE Annual Conference 2026

When: September 29–October 2, 2026

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‍Where: Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO

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‍What is it? The largest higher education technology conference in North America, hosted by EDUCAUSE, bringing together over 7,000 higher ed IT professionals, CIOs, CTOs, and technology providers from institutions around the world. Register and learn more

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For whom: Technology vendors, platform providers, and service companies selling IT, cybersecurity, AI, learning management, or cloud solutions to colleges and universities.

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How it helps vendors: EDUCAUSE is the single highest-density gathering of higher education technology buyers in the world. CIOs, VPs of IT, and chief digital officers from institutions of every size attend, making it the most efficient venue for technology vendors to generate qualified conversations and demonstrate solutions. Sessions on AI integration, data governance, and digital transformation give vendors real-time intelligence on which capabilities institutions are funding and which challenges remain unsolved, shaping both product positioning and sales strategy.

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16. AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition 2026

When: October 12–14, 2026

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‍Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC

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‍What is it? The world's largest land warfare exposition and professional development forum, hosted by the Association of the United States Army, drawing 44,000-plus attendees, 750-plus exhibitors from 92 countries, and the senior Army leadership team. Register and learn more

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For whom: Defense contractors, technology companies, and services vendors selling to the U.S. Army across any capability area, from logistics and communications to advanced weapons systems and soldier systems.

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How it helps vendors: AUSA Annual is the Army's primary communication platform with industry. The Chief of Staff of the Army, top commanders, and international delegations all attend, and the event is where the Army signals its modernization priorities to industry. For vendors already in the Army supply chain, it is a critical relationship maintenance event. For companies trying to enter the Army market, the scale and structure of the exhibit hall, alongside sidebar meetings with program offices, makes it the most efficient market entry event available in the defense space.

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17. GovAI Summit 2026 (Federal)

When: October 27–29, 2026

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‍Where: Arlington, VA

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‍What is it? A multi-day summit where federal, state, and local agency leaders come together with AI innovators and infrastructure builders to align on strategy, capability, and execution around the White House's AI Action Plan and national AI infrastructure priorities. Register and learn more

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For whom: AI technology vendors, cloud providers, and solution integrators with products or services that support AI adoption, workforce readiness, or secure AI infrastructure for government agencies.

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How it helps vendors: GovAI Summit is where the federal AI implementation conversation happens at a level of specificity rarely found elsewhere. Sessions address practical topics such as agentic AI deployment, AI-ready infrastructure, and public sector data architecture, alongside policy context from agency leaders. For vendors competing in the fast-moving federal AI market, this event provides both the network and the strategic intelligence needed to align solutions with real agency requirements and budget cycles.

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18. GovRAMP Cyber Summit 2026

When: November 15–17, 2026

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‍Where: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX

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‍What is it? A national public-private summit convening government cybersecurity leaders to address cloud security compliance, framework harmonization across FedRAMP, GovRAMP, and CJIS, and practical risk-based approaches to state and local government security under constrained budgets. Register and learn more

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For whom: Cloud service providers, cybersecurity vendors, and technology companies navigating state and local government security compliance requirements.

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How it helps vendors: GovRAMP has become the authoritative forum on cloud security compliance below the federal level. Vendors who need their products authorized under GovRAMP or who serve state and local governments with cloud-based solutions will find this event essential for understanding where framework requirements are heading and who the key buyers and compliance decision-makers are. The peer-driven format also creates networking dynamics where vendors can build credibility with government CISOs and procurement officers who directly influence security product selection.

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19. CSG National Conference 2026

When: December 3–6, 2026

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‍Where: Anaheim, CA

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‍What is it? The annual gathering of the Council of State Governments, convening elected and appointed state leaders from across the country and across the aisle to exchange ideas, share best practices, and collaborate on the policy solutions shaping effective state government. Register and learn more

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For whom: Policy-focused vendors, technology companies, infrastructure firms, and solution providers targeting state-level decision-makers across all government functions.

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How it helps vendors: CSG National is where governors' offices, legislative leaders, and senior state officials set shared priorities. For vendors operating across multiple states, it is an unmatched venue to understand what policy directions are gaining bipartisan momentum and to build relationships with the officials who will shape upcoming state-level procurement and legislation. The Legislative Learning Labs format also gives private sector participants a structured way to present solutions to state leaders in an educational, non-sales context.

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20. GovAI Coalition Summit 2026

When: December 9–11, 2026

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‍Where: San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA

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‍What is it? Hosted by the GovAI Coalition, the City of San Jose, and Government Technology, this summit convenes leaders from over 900 public agencies across seven countries to explore responsible AI adoption, ethical frameworks, data governance, and practical AI implementation in government operations. Register and learn more

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For whom: AI and data platform vendors, system integrators, and technology solution providers targeting state, local, and federal agencies exploring or deploying AI.

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How it helps vendors: The GovAI Coalition Summit is one of the rare events where the conversation is peer-driven among government practitioners rather than vendor-led. That dynamic makes it extraordinarily valuable for vendors because it gives direct insight into how agencies are thinking about AI adoption challenges, what institutional barriers they face, and which capabilities they are actively trying to procure. Vendors who participate as sponsors or speakers gain credibility in a community that has strong influence over state and local AI procurement decisions nationally.

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How Pursuit.us Can Help You Sell More to Government

Attending conferences is one piece of the puzzle. The vendors who win consistently are the ones who show up prepared, knowing which agencies are spending, what contracts are coming up, and what their competition is already selling. Pursuit.us gives you that intelligence before you walk into the room. With early-signal data on upcoming SLED and federal opportunities, contract history, and buyer activity, you can stop chasing RFPs and start building relationships at exactly the right moment.

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Ready to turn conference conversations into contract wins? Book a demo with Pursuit.us and see how the right intelligence changes the way you sell to government.

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