We’re heading to ATD26, May 17–20, in Los Angeles, California, and this year, the conversation is impossible to ignore. Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we learn, work, and develop talent at a pace none of us has seen before. So what does that mean for a room full of learning professionals gathered in one place?

It means the most powerful thing you can do at ATD26 isn’t download a session recording or scan a QR code. It’s show up, be present, and connect—human to human.

We’ll be at Booth #2624 in the Expo Hall and can’t wait to see you there. But before you arrive, here’s how to make this conference count.

1. Come with a Purpose, Not Just a Schedule

With 300+ exhibitors and hundreds of sessions built around the theme Embrace Disruption. Direct the Future., it’s easy to fall into passive consumption mode, bouncing from session to session, collecting swag, and calling it networking.

Don’t do that.

Before you arrive, ask yourself: What’s the one challenge I’m trying to solve right now? Let that question guide your session picks, your booth visits, and your conversations. When you lead with a real problem, you have real conversations. Those are the ones people remember.

2. Rethink What “Networking” Means

In a world where AI can draft your follow-up email, schedule your meetings, and summarize a session you didn’t attend, the value of in-person connection has never been higher or clearer. People don’t remember the business card. They remember the conversation.

Set a simple daily intention: have three genuine conversations. Not pitches. Not elevator speeches. Conversations where you ask something real and actually listen to the answer. What’s keeping you up at night? What’s working that nobody’s talking about?

You’ll walk away with more than contacts. You’ll walk away with perspective.

3. Be Deliberate About Where You Spend Your Energy

Conferences are exhausting in the best way. There’s always another session, another happy hour, another “you have to meet this person.” This year, resist the pull to do everything.

Pick the sessions that challenge your current thinking, especially the AI-focused ones. With 35+ sessions dedicated to how technology is reshaping L&D, there’s no shortage of opportunities to stress-test your assumptions. But balance those with the hallway conversations, the impromptu lunches, and the moments that don’t appear on any agenda.

Those unscheduled moments? Often the most valuable ones.

4. Practical Tips for Staying Sharp All Week

The human element doesn’t work if you’re running on fumes. Drink water. Sleep. Take five minutes between sessions to actually process what you heard before jumping into the next one.

Keep a running note (digital or analog) not just of key takeaways, but of names, ideas, and follow-up questions. The goal isn’t to capture everything; it’s to capture what actually moved you.

And give yourself permission to leave a session that isn’t serving you. Your time is finite. Spend it where you’re genuinely engaged.

5. The Work Starts After You Land Back Home

The real ROI of ATD26 gets decided in the two weeks after the conference. Block time before you leave LA to review your notes while they’re fresh. Identify two or three ideas worth bringing back to your team. Send the follow-up messages you meant to send from the airport.

AI can help you do all of that faster. But the relationships you built? Those need a human touch to stick.

This year’s conference is a mirror held up to our industry: as AI handles more of the what and how of learning, the who matters more than ever. Come ready to be curious, be generous with your ideas, and be genuinely present.

See you in LA!