2026 Government Event Trends

The government market has seen an unprecedented level of change in the past year. From integrating new technologies to adapting to new policies, government professionals need opportunities for collaboration and learning now more than ever. The event market has been adapting to all of these changes; here are some key trends we're keeping an eye on for 2026.

Shutdown and Travel Restrictions

The disruption of extended government shutdown threw a wrench in carefully crafted event plans. The annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), drawing 40,000 attendees, was scheduled as always, in the middle of October. Alex Brody, AUSA's director of events, shares, "We had 12-14 months to plan the event and then had two weeks to create alternatives and contingency plans." In the end, the event had full participation in terms of speakers and attendees. Brody is thankful that they now have solid contingency plans in place for any future disruptions, stating, "We now know how to operate in a shutdown."

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Checking Up on Digital Health Solutions

The health industry has always leaned into emerging technologies to help it become more efficient and effective in delivering patient care. Like a doctor's stethoscope or an X-ray machine, today's digital solutions are part of a continuing evolution of medical tools that enhance and inform provider care. Of course, this use of technology must be thoughtful and careful not to replace doctors or their decisions with computer-generated suggestions.

The government's role of oversight into healthcare delivery is a careful balancing act of encouraging innovation while ensuring patient safety. From medical devices to artificial intelligence (AI), regulations are evolving to ensure healthcare gains efficiencies and insights from digital solutions while maintaining patient protections. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration recently created a new Digital Health Advisory Committee to help support the development of digital health technologies and their regulation. This committee will examine a wide variety of technologies and issues, including AI, cyber security, and equity in healthcare delivery. Continue reading