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| Today's the day! As you prepare for your participation in the ALA 2026 Annual Conference & Exhibition, you have the opportunity to take part in various exhibitor presentation programs. The submission sites for Exhibitor Engagement sessions (Stages, etc.) and Exhibitor Education Sessions open today. See below for links and details. We look forward to your presentation submissions! |
| Exhibitor Engagement Site Opens Today
Submissions (excluding Book Buzz) will open today @ 11 AM ET.
To further promote your authors/illustrators and organization, ALA offers contracted exhibitors the opportunity to participate in several engagement programs, most of which are located right on the exhibit floor. Each program has its own format, pricing, submission details and deadline.
View the Stage Descriptions to help you decide on the best fit for your proposed sessions.
Use the Exhibitor Engagement Submission Guide to decide which opportunities are best for your organization. You must be a contracted exhibitor or part of an ALA Unit to participate.
Submission Site & Deadlines
Proposals are gathered through an open call and reviewed by Show Management. Proposals must be submitted by the deadlines noted below. Plan ahead so you can submit early to have the best chance at getting accepted with preferred date/time.
Submissions (excluding Book Buzz) will open January 14 @ 11 AM ET.
Click "Join Now" on the submission site to set up your account.
Book Buzz submissions will open February 2 @ 11 AM ET.
Programs include:
- Stage Sessions
- Book Buzz Theater
- Now Showing @ ALA Film Program (this program is open to both exhibiting and non-exhibiting organizations.)
- Festival of Shorts
- Podcast Recording Booth
- Storytime in the Park
- Meet the Authors Program
Deadlines:
Stage Sessions | Now Showing @ ALA Film Program | Festival of Shorts | Podcast Recording Booth | Storytime in the Park | Author Autographing Stations | Meet the Authors (In-Booth)*
- Exhibitor Engagement Submission Site Opens January 14, 2026 @ 11:00 AM ET
- First Round of Assignments Deadline March 2, 2026**
- First Round Notifications Start in early April 2026
- Submission Site Remains Open Until Full or June 19, 2026 (whichever is first)
- * Meet the Authors (In-Booth) submissions are automatically accepted and migrated into the scheduler once a week. Submission site remains open until June 29, 2026.
Accepted stage sessions will be invoiced a $500 fee per session. There is no charge to participate in the Now Showing @ ALA Film Program, Festival of Shorts, Podcast Recording Booth, Storytime in the Park, Author Autographing Stations, or Meet the Authors program.
**After the first round of assignments, if there are open time slots or cancellations, those slots will be filled as new submissions come in.
Book Buzz Theater
- Submission Site Opens February 2, 2026 @ 11:00 AM ET
- First Round of Assignments Deadline February 9, 2026
- First Round Notifications Start in early March 2026
- Submission Site Remains Open Until Full or June 19, 2026 (whichever is first)
Accepted Book Buzz sessions will be invoiced a $500 fee per session.
NOTE: For all opportunities listed above details will be included in the ALA Scheduler and Mobile App.
Questions or Concerns
For general questions regarding the submission process please contact ALA Show Management at alasubmissions@heiexpo.com.
Note: if you need to find your booth number, please reference to the Show Map. | |
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NEW: Exhibitor Education Sessions
ALA is launching an Exhibitor Track at the 2026 Annual Conference to provide a dedicated platform for vendors to share industry expertise, practical insights, and innovations shaping today’s library landscape. These one-hour sponsored programs—scheduled Saturday and Sunday in a designated meeting room at McCormick Place—are educational in nature, focusing on timely issues, trends, and solutions relevant to conference attendees.
Programs may take a wide range of engaging formats, from panels and workshops to demonstrations and interactive sessions, with creative approaches and programs that tie into ALA’s 150th anniversary encouraged. Participating exhibitors will contribute $600 to offset AV and room costs, with a portion benefiting ALA’s Hoy Scholarship Fund.
Proposals will be submitted via the official submission site between January and March and will be selected by the ALA Conference Committee based on relevance, quality, creativity, and alignment with current issues facing the profession.
Submissions will open on January 14 and close on March 16.
Click "Join Now" on the submission site to set up your account.
(Note: this submission site is different from the Exhibitor Engagement (Stages, etc.) submission site.) |
| Upcoming Planning Dates
January 14: Submission sites open for Exhibitor Education Sessions, Stages, Now Showing @ ALA Film Program, Festival of Shorts, Podcast Recording Booth, Storytime in the Park, Meet the Authors
February 2: Book Buzz Submissions Open
February 9: First Round deadline for Book Buzz submissions
March 2: First Round of Assignments deadline for Exhibitor Stages, Now Showing @ ALA Film Program, Festival of Shorts, Podcast Recording Booth, Storytime in the Park, Meet the Authors Author Autographing Stations
March 16: Submission close for Exhibitor Education Sessions
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| Need help with your exhibit planning?
We know that direct, early contact with Exhibition Management can be the key to your success as an Exhibit Manager. Never hesitate to ask a question or call to verify information. Each question answered in advance is one less problem to be solved on–site. We look forward to working with you on a successful show!
Contact us at: ala@heiexpo.com, 800/752-6312; 630/434-7779
Visit the Contact Us page for additional contact details. |
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