American Library Association opens registration for its 2026 Annual Conference & Exhibition and announces opening and closing speakers

CHICAGO — Today, the American Library Association (ALA) opened registration for the ALA 2026 Annual Conference & Exhibition, to be held at the McCormick Place Chicago Convention Center and surrounding hotels in Chicago, June 25-29, 2026.

ALA has released its first speaker announcement, featuring two respected thought-leaders. Rachel Maddow, host of the Emmy Award-winning The Rachel Maddow Show on MS NOW. Maddow released Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order, her fifth original podcast and first under the MS NOW brand in her expanding multiplatform portfolio. The six-part series has been at the top of Apple Podcasts’ Top Series chart for weeks and exposes the extraordinary chain of events behind the U.S. government’s decision at the outset of World War II to incarcerate tens of thousands of immigrants and U.S. citizens solely based on their race.

Wayne Brady is a multiple Emmy Award-winning actor, Grammy-nominated singer, author, podcast host, and television personality, known for the American version of the improv comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Showtime’s American Gigolo, and as the host of Let’s Make a Deal since its 2009 revival. His musical theater credits include Broadway’s Moulin Rouge, The Wiz, and Kinky Boots, as well as the Chicago production of Hamilton. His podcast, Wayne Brady’s What If? with Jonathan Mangum, can be found on Spotify and Apple Music. Brady makes his sci-fi debut with award-winning author Maurice Broaddus: a time-travel thriller about a father searching for his son, who has been sent to a prison located outside of time.

Eight additional mainstage speakers will be announced soon.

This year’s conference comes with a special milestone as ALA celebrates its 150th anniversary. Thousands of library workers, leaders, authors, exhibitors, and advocates will gather in Chicago to recognize 150 years of impact while exploring what’s next for libraries. Signature experiences include mainstage speakers, educational sessions, hands-on learning, the Library Marketplace, and plenty of opportunities to connect across library types and roles. Along the way, attendees can celebrate the journey so far, share ideas with colleagues, and look ahead together.

The popular Library Marketplace will feature exhibitors showcasing innovative products, services, and titles; publishers hosting established and new authors on live stages; Meet the Authors and the Autographing Area; e-zines and makerspaces for creative projects; free advanced reading copies of books; the STEAM booth; and additional fun activities.

Gathering in the host city of Chicago offers many exciting local attractions. The ALA Ticketed Events will allow people to tour local libraries and attend receptions, summits, and more.

Explore the Preliminary Scheduler, with education programs, President & Chair programs, Ticketed Events, and exhibitors.

Learn more about the conference at ALAAnnual.org and follow the hashtag #ALAAC26. Updates are available on social media at ALA BlueSky,  ALA Facebook, ALALinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads.

Media interested in registering for the session may contact the ALA Communications and Marketing Office at cmomedia@ala.org.

The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.