Cal Cities seeking proposals for 2026 Annual Conference and Expo

By Cal Cities Education Staff

Cal Cities is seeking unique, forward-looking session proposals for California's premier municipal education event: the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo. Taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Sept. 23-25, the conference will bring together local officials and policy experts for three days of learning, sharing, and problem-solving.

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to gain visibility and share your expertise by submitting a session proposal. The annual conference attracts thousands of leaders from all sections of city government, including mayors, council members, city managers, city clerks, city attorneys, and fiscal officers.

This year's conference will offer educational and innovative leadership sessions across a variety of formats with a roster of more than 100 speakers. Change is constant in cities, and these sessions will support city leaders by equipping them with the latest knowledge, resources, and tools to advance their communities and assist officials in their daily roles and operations.

What we're looking for

Submissions from individuals, groups, businesses, and organizations on any topic of interest are welcome. Cal Cities encourages session proposals that are creative and modern in their programming and format.

A diverse group of Cal Cities members will review each proposal through an online survey. Proposals are evaluated on their broad appeal, timeliness, originality, innovation, interactivity, creativity, supporting evidence, the ability to provoke discussion or thought, and the absence of product or vendor commercialization.

The deadline for submitting a proposal is Tuesday, March 10.

How to submit

Only proposals submitted online through the proposal form will be considered. There is a limit to the number of words for each proposal's title and description. Be sure to read the instructions carefully as requirements differ between session types.

The City Attorneys Department will review any sessions that qualify for MCLE credit. When submitting legal issue proposals, check the MCLE credit option on the submission form. If the proposal is accepted, your panel must prepare a paper that meets the State Bar of California's MCLE requirements and a PowerPoint presentation. The City Attorneys Department Executive Committee will determine the timing for accepted legal sessions.

Visit the Annual Conference and Expo page for more information. For questions, please email Event Program Manager .