New Attendees
Welcome to your first APCO Annual Conference & Expo!
Welcome!
Welcome to your first APCO Annual Conference & Expo! Get ready for an incredible "all-in-one" experience where a new attendee can earn 20 CEUs across 132 sessions, gain hands-on experience with over 200 vendors showcasing their latest products and services, and build a lifelong national network through exclusive events. Oh yeah, and 4 full days of fun!
Making the Most Out of Your First APCO Conference
Attending your first APCO conference can be a whirlwind. To make the most of your first time, here is your roadmap for making the most of the conference
Before you arrive
- Register as a "New Attendee": When you sign up, ensure you check the "New Attendee" box. This ensures an invitation to an exclusive New Attendee Reception, which is the best place to meet people and also will ensure you receive dedicated information just for you as a first timer.
- Book your travel and accommodations: Find out about traveling to San Antonio and booking your conference hotel room.
- Pack for "Conference Climate": The sessions are business casual, but convention centers are notoriously cold. Wear layers and, most importantly, comfortable shoes; you will easily walk several miles a day between the exhibit hall and education session rooms. Layers are great for when you step outside to the Texas heat, you’ll be able to adjust from the cold convention center.
- Be on the lookout for emails from APCO directly to you as an attendee. These emails will give insight into new things happening at conference, when the schedule builder and conference app launch, and “can’t miss” things to put on your radar.
- Download the Mobile App: APCO releases the dedicated show app a few weeks before the conference. Use it to browse the 100+ educational sessions and build a personalized schedule of what you want to attend and what vendors you want to see in the exhibit hall.
Onsite
Essentials
- Attend the New Attendee Reception: This is the flagship event for new attendees! It’s high-energy and much less formal than the general sessions and allows time to network with peers in your industry and have some fun.
New Attendee Reception
Sunday, August 2, 2026
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk
Texas Ballroom A-C
Must have badge for entry. Invitations will be sent via email in June. Light appetizers will be served, a networking game and a photo booth will get the party started, and our APCO President will address the group to round out our evening of fun and gathering.
- Cheeseboard
- Charcuterie
- Chips and Dips
- Veggies and Dips
- Lemonade, Iced Tea, Soda and Water
- Cash Bar
- Get the "New Attendee" Ribbon: At the registration desk, look for the ribbon wall. Grab a "New Attendee" ribbon to stick to your badge. It acts as a conversation starter; seasoned veterans often go out of their way to welcome those wearing them and you can start up a conversation with other new attendees.
- Dedicate Time to the Exhibit Hall: There is so much to explore in the hall. Don’t miss things are the APCO Pavilion that has everything APCO right at your fingertips, Career Advancement Center for special sessions focusing on career growth, the Wellness Zone and checking out the public safety vehicles. Learn about all the special things to do.
- Don’t miss the keynote speakers delivering their inspirational messages to help motivate you through your next challenge. Opening General Session on Monday morning is a must see for all attendees. Then the conversations continue with our meal functions: Distinguished Achievers Breakfast, Food for Thought Lunch, and the closing party, the Connect and Celebrate Dinner. Be sure to add these events to your registration so you don’t miss out!
- The most fun, one-of-a-kind networking experience is APCO’s Block Party on Tuesday night. This is always the talk of the conference and something you don’t want to miss when in attendance. Every year keeps getting bigger and better and is a true representation of immersing ourselves in the location that we are in.
How to Get
the Most Out
of APCO 2026
- Give yourself some free time: Keep some time free for unexpected meet ups with people you meet. There are also plenty of quiet spaces to recharge, have a coffee and catch up on emails while you’re at the show.
- CEUs: Ensure you track your Continuing Education Units for any certifications (like CPE or RPL) you may be pursuing.
- Navigating the space: Use the exhibit hall floorplan—available on our app at the show to help navigate the booths. Also, we're there to help you at the show. Find us at the information counter by registration to help navigate anywhere in the show or answer any questions you might have.
- Exploring the Exhibit Hall: The exhibit hall is massive. Don't try to see it all at once. Start by spending time walking through the whole space and seeing the layout of everything. Then go back to talk to specific vendors and areas of the exhibit hall you specifically want to see.
- Plan well, have fun and be open to meeting new people. If you have any questions before you arrive, read our answers to frequently asked questions.
See what 2025 new attendees had to say about their time at conference.
“This was my first time attending an APCO conference. I must say this is the best conference I have attended. From the sessions to the events, it was great.”
“This was my first APCO Conference and I was very impressed with the large number of vendors. It was great!“
“My favorite take away from conference was networking with likeminded individuals and making new friends to create new teams and enhance ideas for my centers culture.”
“The New Attendee Reception and the APCO Block Party were a fun way to unwind and network.”
“As a first time attendee, it was great to learn new perspectives from other members."
“My favorite take away from conference was the opportunity to be with others who love my job just as much as I do and seeing people from all over.”