The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is pleased to invite you to the ADE Summit 2026, which will be held July 14-16, 2026, at the Hot Springs Convention Center. This annual event brings together educators, education leaders and school personnel from across the state for professional learning, collaboration, and connection.

Overview

The Summit will feature a broad range of sessions designed to support education professionals in any role. Attendees can expect learning experiences aligned to key focus areas including literacy, mathematics, data use, artificial intelligence, leadership, finance, technology, and student support services. To promote engagement and interaction, conference sessions will not be recorded or live-streamed.

Pre-Conference Opportunities

The 2026 Summit will be preceded by optional pre-conference sessions on Monday, July 13, for The Learning Collaborative (TLC), Beginning Superintendents, and Beginning Principals. The Summit will officially begin Monday evening with a Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall from 6:00–8:00 p.m. All registered participants are encouraged to attend this reception, which provides an excellent opportunity to engage with exhibitors before the full conference schedule begins and also offers an opportunity to network with colleagues.

Important Venue Update

Please note that the Hot Springs Convention Center is now fully cashless; all food and beverage purchases must be made using credit or debit cards.

New for 2026, the Convention Center has introduced a Marketplace, replacing the concession stand available in prior years. The Marketplace offers fresh, grab-and-go meals with greater variety, including salads, sandwiches, and hot entrées. To better accommodate attendees, two Marketplace locations will be available during the Summit, expanding on the single concession stand used previously.

Conference Schedule and Mobile App

Participants are encouraged to use the online conference schedule, available on the ADE Summit webpage, to browse sessions and plan their schedules in advance. During the Summit, attendees may use the "ADE Summit" mobile app to view their selected sessions, track times and locations, and stay organized onsite. The mobile app will not be updated with 2026 sessions until approximately 2 weeks prior to the Summit.

Registration

Pre-registration is now open! All conference information—including registration, hotel accommodations, agenda updates, and additional event details—is available on the official ADE Summit webpage. Because updates will be posted as the event approaches, participants are encouraged to check the site regularly. Registration closes June 19, 2026.

We look forward to welcoming you to Hot Springs for the ADE Summit 2026 and appreciate your continued commitment to education in Arkansas.