Public finance is a space where information moves slowly, but consequences land fast. The best way to stay ahead is to be in the rooms where policy shifts, market sentiment, and operational challenges are actually being discussed. Conferences aren’t just social checkpoints — they’re where issuers, advisors, attorneys, and investors collectively shape how deals will get done for the next year.
This guide pulls together the major public finance–relevant events for 2026 – from GFOA, NABL, NFMA, NAST and CDFA to sector-specific and state-level conferences that draw serious issuer, advisor, and investor attention.
All dates and details are current as of November 2025. Always double-check the event site before you book flights.
| Event | Dates (2026) | Location | Description | Why it matters | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFMA Advanced Seminar on High Yield Bonds | January 22 – 23, 2026 | Vdara Hotel & Spa, Las Vegas, Nevada | Two-day advanced seminar focused on high-yield municipal credits, including sectors like charter schools, healthcare, utilities, and project financings. | For analysts and portfolio managers trading riskier credits, this is a concentrated download on distressed sectors, structures, and workout case studies. | nfma.org (Events) |
| The Bond Buyer – National Outlook (2026 edition) | Early 2026 (dates TBA) | Typically New York or Washington, D.C. | Annual “state of the market” conference looking at volume forecasts, rate expectations, and policy themes for the coming year. 2025 was held in February; 2026 details were pending at last update. | Helpful framing for bankers, advisors, and issuers planning their issuance calendar and thinking about macro risk. | bondbuyer.com (Events) |
| NIGP Leadership Summit 2026 | February 19 – 21, 2026 | El Conquistador, A Hilton Resort – Tucson, Arizona | Public procurement leadership summit offering three tracks (Impact, Academy, Edge) for emerging and experienced leaders in public procurement and supply chain. | While procurement-focused, it’s highly relevant to finance officers trying to modernize purchasing, risk, and vendor management processes. | nigp.org – Leadership Summit |
| NAST 2026 Legislative Conference | February 22 – 24, 2026 | Conrad Washington DC, Washington, D.C. | National Association of State Treasurers’ policy-focused meeting on federal issues, advocacy, and legislation impacting state treasuries and public finance programs. | Where state-level finance leaders coordinate on the federal policy landscape—from muni tax exemption to 529s and ABLE programs. | nast.org – 2026 Legislative Conference |
| NABL – The Institute 2026 | February 26 – 27, 2026 | Fairmont Austin, Austin, Texas | Discussion-heavy, virtual-first (with Austin hub) conference aimed at experienced bond lawyers (10+ years) to dig into advanced topics and market developments. | If you’re structuring complex deals or advising on cutting-edge tax and securities issues, this is where the senior bar is comparing notes. | nabl.org/engage/events |
| NLC Congressional City Conference 2026 | March 14 – 18, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | National League of Cities’ federal advocacy and policy conference for city leaders, with tracks that include infrastructure, fiscal policy, and federal funding. | Not a pure “finance” event but a key venue where mayors, councilmembers, and finance staff align around federal funding and policy priorities. | nlc.org/events |
| The Bond Buyer – Texas Public Finance 2026 | March 30 – April 1, 2026 | Austin, Texas | Regional Bond Buyer conference focused on Texas issuers, investors, and advisors, covering legislative updates, credit trends, and deal structures across the state. | For anyone active in Texas public finance, this event is where you hear how the pipeline is shaping up and how the market is pricing Texas risk. | bondbuyer.com/event-archives |
| NABL – The Essentials 2026 | April 8 – 10, 2026 | Austin, Texas | Foundational conference for attorneys and municipal market participants who are newer to bond law; covers core tax, securities, and disclosure concepts for public finance transactions. | Ideal for newer bond counsel, investment bankers, and financial advisors building a deeper technical base in muni law and deal mechanics. | nabl.org/engage/events |
| CMTA 2026 Annual Conference | April 28 – May 1, 2026 | Anaheim, California | California Municipal Treasurers Association’s annual meeting for city, county, and district treasurers, with content on investments, cash management, and debt. | Key event for California treasury professionals and vendors supporting public-sector investment and liquidity. | cmta.org (Events) |
| NFMA 2026 Annual Conference | May 12 – 15, 2026 | InterContinental Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia | The National Federation of Municipal Analysts’ flagship annual conference, bringing together buy-side analysts, rating agencies, bankers, and issuers around credit, disclosure, and market structure topics. | If you care how investors think about your credits—or you are that investor—this is one of the most important muni-market events of the year. | NFMA 2026 Annual Conference |
| CACTTC 2026 Annual Conference & Vendor Show | June 9 – 12, 2026 | Hollywood, California | California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors conference and vendor show, focused on county treasury, tax collection, and related technology and banking services. | Where county-level finance officials and vendors talk shop on collections, treasury ops, and risk in one of the largest public finance markets in the U.S. | cacttc.org (Events) |
| FGFOA 2026 Annual Conference | June 13 – 17, 2026 | Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Orlando, Florida | Florida Government Finance Officers Association’s main annual conference for state and local finance professionals, with tracks on accounting, budgeting, treasury, and debt. | A must-attend if you’re in Florida public finance—strong technical content plus a dense local issuer network. | fgfoa.org (Conference) |
| NAST 2026 Treasury Management Training Symposium (TMTS) | June 15 – 18, 2026 | Omni Oklahoma City Hotel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Deep-dive training conference for treasury professionals covering cash management, investments, debt, and operations, hosted by NAST. | Highly practical sessions for the people actually running state and related public-sector treasuries—great content if you’re responsible for investment, liquidity, or debt operations. | nast.org – Conferences |
| AWWA ACE26 – Annual Conference & Exposition | June 21 – 24, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | American Water Works Association’s flagship conference for drinking water utilities, covering infrastructure, regulation, and finance. ACE26 will be in D.C. in 2026. | For public utilities and their advisors, this is a prime place to combine technical water conversations with capital planning and funding strategies. | awwa.org/ace |
| APPA National Conference 2026 | June 26 – July 1, 2026 | Boston, Massachusetts | American Public Power Association’s national conference for public power utilities, covering policy, finance, operations, and governance. | If you’re financing public power projects or overseeing a utility’s balance sheet, this gathering connects operations, regulation, and capital strategies. | publicpower.org (Events) |
| GFOA 120th Annual Conference | June 28 – July 1, 2026 | Chicago, Illinois | Flagship annual conference of the Government Finance Officers Association, bringing together state and local government finance professionals for training, policy updates, and vendor solutions. | This is the big tent for government finance officers – budgeting, treasury, debt, accounting, and technology all in one place. If you only do one event as an issuer-side finance leader, it’s probably this one. | gfoa.org/conference |
| NIGP Forum 2026 | August 23 – 26, 2026 | Columbus, Ohio | NIGP’s largest North American educational conference for public procurement professionals, covering policy, process, and technology. | Big gathering for anyone trying to align finance, procurement, and compliance around large capital and operating spend. | nigp.org (Conferences & Events) |
| NAST 2026 Annual Conference | September 27 – 30, 2026 | Westin Book Cadillac, Detroit, Michigan | Annual gathering of state treasurers and staff, focused on strategic issues, best practices, and the future of state finance programs. | Strong networking and strategic discussions for senior public finance officials and corporate partners working with state treasuries. | nast.org – Conferences |
| The Bond Buyer – California Public Finance (2026 expected) | TBA (typically fall) | California (city varies) | Conference focused on California state and local issuers, regulatory environment, and investor appetite. 2024/2025 events suggest a recurring annual California track; 2026 details were not yet posted. | For West Coast participants, it’s a concentrated look at California-specific credit, disclosure, and policy dynamics. | bondbuyer.com (Events) |
| The Bond Buyer – Infrastructure Conference (2026 expected) | TBA (typically fall) | U.S. major city (varies) | Theme-driven conference centered on infrastructure finance, transportation, and large capital projects; 2024 and 2025 editions suggest a continued annual cadence, with 2026 details pending. | Especially relevant post-IIJA for issuers and advisors trying to blend federal programs, P3 structures, and traditional muni debt. | bondbuyer.com (Events) |
| The Bond Buyer – Southeast Public Finance (2026 expected) | TBA | Southeastern U.S. (city varies) | Regional conference focused on public finance trends, credits, and policy in the Southeastern states. 2026 event had not yet been formally posted as of November 2025, but follows an annual pattern. | Useful if your portfolio or issuance is heavily Southeast-weighted and you want regional color from bankers, investors, and issuers. | bondbuyer.com (Events) |
| NABL – The Workshop 2026 | October 14 – 16, 2026 | Chicago, Illinois | NABL’s flagship education conference and business meeting, focused on advanced bond law, regulatory developments, and hot-button topics in public finance. | This is the main annual gathering of bond attorneys and many underwriters/FA’s—especially useful if you care about how new rules will actually be interpreted in practice. | nabl.org – Workshop 2026 |
| ICMA 2026 Annual Conference | October 17 – 21, 2026 | Long Beach, California | International City/County Management Association’s annual conference for city and county managers and senior staff, with significant content on budgeting, long-term planning, and fiscal sustainability. | Where many of your key internal decision-makers (city managers, CAOs) are talking strategy—important context for finance officers shaping capital and operating plans. | icma.org/events |
| GFOA 7th Annual MiniMuni Conference | October 21 – 23, 2026 (virtual) | Online | Online mini-conference focused on key municipal market topics, disclosure, and current issues affecting issuers and investors. Listed as the 7th Annual MiniMuni in 2026 event calendars. | Lower travel cost and time commitment, but still a direct line into what GFOA and market participants are worried about in the muni market. | gfoa.org (Events) |
| CDFA National Development Finance Summit 2026 | November 18 – 20, 2026 | Savannah, Georgia | Council of Development Finance Agencies’ annual summit on bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, and other capital tools for economic and community development. | If your deals involve TIF, PABs, tax credits, or layered capital stacks, this conference is a dense concentration of best practices and case studies. | cdfa.net (Events) |
You don’t have to hit every conference on this list to stay relevant, but building a smart mix of one big national event, one technical deep-dive, and one regional/state conference can completely change the depth of your network and the quality of your ideas.
Bookmark this page, block the dates that matter for your role, and share it with your team.
