NDACo Annual Conference

2026 NDACo Annual Conference & Expo

Counties: 250 Years in the Making

The Next 250 Starts Here.

 

October 11-13, 2026

Bismarck Event Center  |  Bismarck, North Dakota

We will see you in Bismarck. The registration desk opens Sunday, October 11 at 3:00 PM.

View the Schedule Find an Exhibitor

The Next 250 Starts Here

This year's theme celebrates the counties and local leaders who have helped shape America for two and a half centuries - people willing to serve their communities, solve problems, and build a better future for the generations that follow.

Many of the decisions that have shaped our nation did not begin in Washington, D.C. They began in local communities - in county courthouses, commission chambers, sheriff's offices, road departments, and public meetings where neighbors came together to address challenges and seize opportunities. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026, county leaders have an opportunity to look beyond the milestones of the past and focus on the possibilities of the future.

What to Expect

The NDACo Annual Conference & Expo is North Dakota's premier gathering for county officials - elected and appointed officials, staff, state agency partners, and vendors from all 53 counties, together for three days of education, collaboration, and community.

• Keynote Speaker - Danny Adams brings Laughter Is Medicine to Monday's Opening General Session. Full details below.
• Educational Workshops - Concurrent breakout sessions on the most pressing issues facing county government, all ILG-credit qualifying
• Exhibit Hall & Expo - 84 exhibitors serving county government across the Main Level halls on Monday
• Awards & Recognition - ILG awards and graduation, Excellence in County Government Awards, and scholarship presentations
• NDACo Board Elections - Official election of NDACo Board of Directors leadership
• Legislative Resolutions - Discussion and voting on resolutions shaping county policy heading into the next legislative session
• Networking - The Sunday Welcoming Social, the Monday Exhibit Hall Evening Social, and time built in to connect with fellow officials, state partners, legislators, and vendors

Venue

Bismarck Event Center

315 South 5th Street
Bismarck, ND 58504

Free surface parking is available on the north, south, and east sides of the building. Allow extra time Monday and Tuesday mornings.

Registration

Online attendee registration closed September 30, 2026. Need to register late or make a change to your registration? Call the NDACo office at 701-425-0808.

2026 Keynote Speaker

Session Details

Monday, October 12

9:00 - 10:00 AM

Main Level, Hall A

The Opening General Session begins at 8:20 AM with welcome messages and the Excellence in County Government Awards. Danny takes the stage at 9:00 AM.

Opening General Session

Danny Adams

Laughter Is Medicine

Danny Adams is an entertainer, speaker, actor, and author with more than 30 years in performance and improvisational comedy. He built a national following through viral video work that drew hundreds of millions of views, and now travels the country as an emcee and keynote speaker.

County work is not short on hard days - difficult meetings, long agendas, and decisions that leave somebody unhappy no matter which way they go. Laughter Is Medicine makes the case that shared laughter is not a break from that work but a tool for getting through it. Danny has brought the show to county audiences in other states, including recorders, clerks, and county officials associations.

Through shared laughter and interactive moments, I help create an atmosphere where people open up, engage, and walk away remembering both the experience and the message.

- Danny Adams

Expect character comedy, real stories, audience-driven games, and a room that does not stay quiet. This is not a sit-and-listen keynote.

More about Danny Adams

Opening General Session Sponsor

North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund

2026 Workshops & Presenters

Concurrent workshops are held in the Upper Level Prairie Rose Rooms. All sessions qualify for ILG credit.

ATTENTION State's Attorneys: 6.0 ND CLE Credits Approved! Event # 20261012NDAC

Conference Schedule

Here is how each day runs, including registration desk hours, session start times, and when each day wraps up. All times are Central. The conference app and the pocket agenda in your registration packet carry the final version. Sponsored sessions, breaks, and socials are credited inline below - our thanks to the organizations making them possible.

NDDOT County Meetings

The ND Department of Transportation (NDDOT) meets with counties throughout Monday and Tuesday in 15-minute appointments. Find your county below to see your scheduled time.

2026 Exhibitors & Sponsors

84 organizations are exhibiting at the 2026 Expo and 26 are sponsoring the conference. The Exhibit Hall is open Monday, October 12. Search the interactive map for any exhibitor, tap a booth to see who is there, or tap a name in the lists below to jump to its spot on the map.

Interactive Exhibit Hall Map Main Level, Bismarck Event Center - Monday, October 12

Download the Map (PDF)

Find an Exhibitor

 

 

Tap any booth to see who is there. Booths marked ★ belong to exhibitors who also sponsor the conference - stop by and thank them.

Exhibiting Sponsor E1-E31 Elite LE1-LE7 Large Equipment T1-T47 Traditional On a phone, swipe the map sideways to see the whole hall.

Exhibitor Quick Reference

Shipping and freight follow Bismarck Event Center policy, and Jobbers Convention Freight Services is the venue's exclusive freight provider - preregister at jobberswarehouse.com/cfs and review the Event Center exhibitor information before sending materials. Full space details are on the Exhibit Space Details & Costs page. Questions go to NDACo at ndaco@ndaco.org or 701-425-0808.

Frequently Asked Questions