A unique electricity fills the air when the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference and Exhibition returns to Chicago, the city that holds our history and anchors our future. As we gather this June, we aren’t just attending a professional meeting, we are stepping into a historical slipstream 150 years in the making. This is the moment we have been building toward: the sesquicentennial celebration of our collective impact.
This milestone is about more than looking back; it is about the momentum we carry into the next era.
When we talk about shaping what’s next, we are acknowledging that the radical act of keeping library doors open for everyone requires constant, courageous innovation. In the hallways of McCormick Place, you will feel a renewed energy. We are coming together to ignite a new era of access, fueled by future-focused learning and the kind of transformative resources that only the world’s largest library event can provide.
After years of navigating shifting landscapes, there is no substitute for the hand-to-hand knowledge exchanged among colleagues. Whether you are a change maker, an idea builder, or a library leader, you are part of a global tapestry of advocates.
In Chicago, we will find shared understanding and deep mentorship when we step away from our screens and into a community of peers who join our unwavering commitment to intellectual freedom, reminding us that we never do this work alone.
Every session and every conversation is a practical idea you can bring back to your own community.
From the vibrant Library Marketplace (featuring more than 500 exhibitors) to the presidents’ and chairs’ programs, we are highlighting the professional acumen and relevant skill-stacking that prove our libraries are adaptive, inclusive, and essential. This conference is where you find the tools to build the community-driven world we all want to live in. (See a sampling of some of these programs and events in the conference preview. For a complete list of events, visit alaannual.org.)
Amid this historic moment, there will be no shortage of ways to celebrate together, including “ALA150: A Celebration for Our Libraries,” taking place the night of Saturday, June 27. Hosted by the Association, this signature event invites attendees into a vibrant evening of connection and creativity, with live music, immersive experiences, and moments to reflect on our shared legacy. Library workers, trustees, authors, vendors, and publishers are invited to ring in this anniversary and to engage across the conference in conversations on advocacy, intellectual freedom, the library’s role in civil society, and how we will navigate artificial intelligence with our students and patrons in the years ahead.
You will want to be part of this historical moment to say you were there when we turned the page.
Decades from now, library workers will look back at the 2026 conference in Chicago as the point where the next century of service began. Don’t miss the chance to stand with your colleagues as we mark this momentous anniversary and look boldly toward what is yet to come.
Be part of the celebration and be part of the future. I invite you to bring your energy and your insight to Chicago June 25–29. Let’s toast to 150 years of resilience and, more importantly, let’s begin the next chapter together. I’ll see you at the turning of the page.
