The Accessible Events Show (AES), the world's only conference dedicated entirely to event accessibility, will make its U.S. debut on December 4, 2026, at the United Way Worldwide headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, with a simultaneous online experience for global attendees. The event comes at a critical time as new federal web accessibility requirements take effect, impacting government, education, and the vendors that serve them.
According to the CDC, one in four U.S. adults lives with a disability. A new Department of Justice rule now requires state and local governments to bring their websites and apps up to WCAG 2.1 AA standards starting April 2027. That mandate also extends to vendors and contractors, making accessibility a compliance issue for much of the events industry.
"Event planners across the U.S. keep asking us the same thing: How do we make our events truly accessible? The appetite for practical guidance is real, and the new federal rules make it urgent," said Peter Hackes, President of Performedia, which is producing the U.S. edition.
The Accessible Events Show launched in London in 2025, drawing 600 delegates from more than 15 countries and earning industry recognition for its impact on diversity and inclusion. The show received the EN Awards Diversity & Inclusion Award and a Silver at the Cool Event Awards for Disruptor Attitude—two industry honors rarely achieved by debut events.
AES USA will bring industry leaders together to explore how accessibility can be built into every stage of the event journey, from planning and registration to live production, digital engagement, and post-event content. Panels, keynotes, and hands-on workshops will cover digital accessibility, hybrid production, assistive technology, and WCAG conformance. Speakers include accessibility experts, event organizers, and disabled professionals sharing lived experience. A sponsor showcase will connect planners with captioning providers, ASL interpreters, and accessible design consultants.
The event will also be available online, with features including live captions, multilingual support, sign language interpretation, screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and interactive engagement tools designed to make the program accessible to every attendee.
Registration details, speaker announcements, and sponsorship opportunities will be released in the coming months. More information is available at www.aesusa.org.
