The Accessible Events Show (AES), the world's only conference focused entirely on accessibility in the events industry, will make its U.S. debut on December 4, 2026, at United Way Worldwide headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, with a simultaneous online experience. The timing coincides with new federal web accessibility requirements that are set to take effect in April 2027, mandating that state and local governments—and the vendors that serve them—bring their websites and apps up to WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
According to the CDC, one in four U.S. adults lives with a disability, underscoring the need for accessible event planning. The new Department of Justice rule makes accessibility a compliance issue for much of the events industry, not just a values statement. '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, the company producing the show.
AES launched in London in 2025, drawing 600 delegates from more than 15 countries and earning industry recognition, including the EN Awards Diversity & Inclusion Award and a Silver at the Cool Event Awards for Disruptor Attitude. The U.S. edition 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 virtual experience will include live captions, multilingual support, sign language interpretation, screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and interactive engagement features designed to make the program accessible to every attendee.
More information is available at www.aesusa.org. Registration details, speaker announcements, and sponsorship opportunities will be released in the coming months.
