Key Dates:
| Date | Item |
|---|---|
| June 29 | Pre-Event Attendee List Distributed |
| July 14 | “Know Before You Attend” Email Sent |
| July 21–23 | PDT 2026 Event Dates |
| July 28 | Final Attendee List Distributed |
| Sponsors | Exhibitors | |
| May 22 – June 19 | 1.- Submit speaker/moderator forms & session materials to Stephanie Shaer 2.- Submit complimentary registrations | 1.- Order booth furnishings (discount window) 2.- Submit complimentary & paid exhibitor registrations |
| June 22 – July 10 | 1.- Ship Bag Stuffers to AGA National Office 2.- Submit commercial video | 1.- Ship booth materials to advance warehouse 2.- Optional opportunity to include one bag stuffer in attendee bags — limited availability. Contact me as soon as possible for details. |
| June 29 | Hotel discount rate deadline | Hotel discount rate deadline |
| July 3– July 6 | N/A | 1.- Finalize furniture orders (discount deadline) 2.- Order AV & Lead Retrieval Services (discount deadline) |
| July 21 | N/A | Exhibitor move-in (onsite setup) |
Registration– June 20th
Ensure all registrations are submitted prior to “Know Before You Attend” communication is sent to all attendees.
| Category | Sponsors | Exhibitors |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Allotment | Platinum: 6 in-person / 12 virtual Gold: 4 in-person / 10 virtual Silver: 2 in-person / 8 virtual Bronze: 1 in-person / 5 virtual SBC Gold: 3 in-person / 3 virtual | 3 complimentary in-person booth staff Up to 3 additional paid ($230 each) |
| How to Register | Submit Sponsor Complimentary Registration Form | Submit Exhibitor Complimentary Registration Form Submit Exhibitor Paid Registration Form |
| In-Person Benefits | Solutions Hall access, lunch included, up to 20 CPE credits per attendee | Solutions Hall functions only (no lunch or CPEs are included) |
| Virtual Benefits | Up to 20 CPE credits + access to two pre-selected sessions | NA |
*In-person and Virtual registrations are assigned based on sponsorship level and cannot be exchanged or converted. Additional full registrations may be purchased online.
Commercial Video (All Sponsor levels) by July 10
- Showcased in the Virtual platform. This video is optional.
- Length: No time limit, however, shorter videos have more chances to be viewed
- Content: Commercially produced video or any other company video you would like to be showcased in the virtual player
- Format: .mp4
- Filename: “CompanyName_PDT26“
Bag Stuffers (Sponsors only) – July 1-10, 2026
Ship to:
AGA National Office
Attn: PDT 2026 Bag Stuffer
2208 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
Guidelines & Requirements:
- There is no exclusivity on giveaway items, except for notebooks and bags, which are reserved for AGA
- Sponsors are responsible for tracking and confirming delivery to the AGA National Office
- Limit of one (1) item per attendee bag, unless otherwise approved by AGA
- All giveaway items and bag stuffers (excluding company literature) must be pre-approved by AGA
- Please plan to provide 1,100–1,300 items to ensure sufficient distribution to all attendees
- Items received after July 10 will not be included—no exceptions
Hotel Reservation Deadline – June 29, 2026
- Hotel Reservation Link– The PDT 2026 hotel reservation link is included in the registration confirmation emails. You may also click here to reserve your room
- The Westin DC Downtown (Headquarter hotel, located across the street)
- Location: 999 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 Map/Directions
- $279 per night plus 15.95% city tax & fees. Discounted rate is not guaranteed after June 29 or after the room block is full.
- AGA has the right to cancel your room if you are not registered for PDT 2026.
- Visit the PDT 2026 Training Location & Hotel Information
Exhibitor Services
Standard Booth Package includes:
- One 8’ deep x 10’ wide booth, with 8’ back drape and 3’ side drape (show colors)
- Each booth will be provided with two (2) side chairs, one (1) wastebasket, and an 11″ x 14″ one-line identification sign displaying the exhibiting company name and booth number.
- The Exhibit Hall is carpeted. Table is not included and may be ordered separately. For additional furnishing, or custom booth enhancements, please refer to the Exhibitor service manual shared by ARATA expo
Exhibitor Service Manual Access:
- Login credentials for accessing the PDT 2026 Exhibitor Service Kit will be sent to you and or your designated company representative via email and are unique to each exhibitor
Booth Materials Shipping:
- Ship booth materials between Monday, June 22 and Friday, July 10, 2026. Arata will continue receiving freight at the advanced warehouse through Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Freight received from Monday, July 12 through Wednesday, July 15, will incur an additional 25% late surcharge
- Due to venue constraints, all shipments must be sent in advance to the Arata Expositions warehouse. Materials will be delivered to your booth prior to your setup on Tuesday, July 21.
- Exhibitor Support: For questions or assistance with orders or the Exhibitor Service Kit, please contact: Patrick Thurston, Arata Expositions – pthurston@arataexpo.com. Phone: 301-921-0800
| Download Advance Shipping Label | Download Show Site Shipping Label |
| Ship booth materials between Monday, June 22 and Friday, July 10 9:00am-3:00pm. | Direct show site shipments will be accepted ONLY between Tuesday, July 21 and Thursday, July 23 |
Additional Exhibitor services:
- Lead Retrieval Orders –Order here. Discount deadline is July 6
- AV Rentals – Order here. Discount Deadline is July 6
- Electrical –Order here
- Internet, Telephone & Cable TV orders – Order here
Solutions Hall Schedule (Ballroom C):
| Tuesday, July 21 | Wednesday, July 22 | Thursday, July 23 |
| 9am – 4:50 pm Booth Set-Up | 7:30am – 5pm Solutions Hall Open (Closed from noon-1pm) | 7:30am – 2pm Solutions Hall Open (Closed from noon-1pm) |
| 4:55-7:00pm Welcome Reception in Solutions Hall | 7:30-8:30am Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors | 7:30-8:30am Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors |
| 10:35 – 11:20am Coffee Break in Solutions Hall | 10:35 – 11:20am Coffee Break in Solutions Hall | |
| 3:20 – 4:05pm Coffee Break in Solutions Hall | 1:10 – 2pm Dessert in Solutions Hall (Last chance to network with attendees) | |
| 2:30 – 5:00pm Booth Dismantle |
Attendee Lists:
Pre- and post-event attendee lists (Excel) will be provided on June 29 and July 28 respectively. Each list is only for one time use and may not be harvested, sold to others or incorporated into any database. Failure to comply with this policy will affect future sponsorship participation.
Scam Awareness:
Please be aware that you may receive unsolicited emails from third-party vendors offering to sell or share attendee lists for PDT 2026 or any other AGA National Events. These messages are not legitimate and are often phishing or scam attempts.
AGA does not authorize any external organizations to distribute attendee lists. The only official source for attendee lists is directly through AGA National Office communications.
Promotion:
Sample Social Media posts:
Maximize visibility through pre-event outreach and social sharing. The official hashtag for PDT 2026 is #PDT26.
We’re proud to sponsor AGA 2026 Professional Development Training!
Join us at #PDT26 as leaders from across government come together to learn, innovate, and collaborate.
See you in July! @agacgfm
We’re gearing up for #PDT26!
Stop by Booth [XX] to meet our team, see what’s new, and explore solutions that can help drive your mission forward.
Heading to AGA 2026 Professional Development Training #PDT26!? Make sure to catch our sponsored session on [Topic] and swing by our booth in the Solutions Hall to continue the conversation.
Visit the Sponsor & Exhibitor Promotion Guidelines to help you present a consistent and professional image. Please review the document to ensure your promotions align.
PDT 2026 Experience Challenge:
Step into an interactive adventure designed to connect, engage, and inspire. The PDT Experience Challenge invites attendees to participate in a dynamic mix of scavenger hunts, trivia, and real-time activities. As participants explore PDT, they will complete challenges, answer questions, and uncover key insights while building meaningful connections with fellow attendees and exhibitors. This immersive experience encourages collaboration, friendly competition, and deeper engagement—making every moment of PDT more impactful, memorable, and fun. Additional details and instructions will be shared in advance.