FUTUREFEST
The future doesn't wait. Neither do we.
Less inspiration. More implementation.
FutureFest is Associations North's flagship experience — where bold ideas meet practical action. One high-energy day blending AI & Innovation, Leadership, and Growth, built so you leave with things to do, not just things to think about.
Experience FutureFest through:
Keynote
We just locked in our FutureFest keynote. You're going to want to be in the room.
Lightning Talks
Quick, actionable learning. Hot takes and even hotter discussions.
The Districts
Four themed districts of partners and solutions. Conversations, not booths.
District Activations
Hands-on sessions inside each district — real problems, real solutions, in real time.
Leaders decide what's next. Teams make it happen. Bring both — team rates make it easy.
See rates.
Why you'll be glad you came
Three reasons this is the association event you don't skip in 2026.
A companion guide for the whole day
Everyone gets the Field Guide — a workbook you carry from session to session: jot takeaways, sketch ideas, find solutions, and leave with a plan you'll actually use, not a stack of notes you won't.
You won't sit in rows all day
Move between Center Stage, the Districts, and a café built for real conversation. You learn something around every corner.
The future of associations, in one room
The people deciding what's next for the field, here for a day. Compare notes, pressure-test ideas, leave with a sharper read on where things are headed.
For the leaders deciding what's next and the teams making it happen. Bring both.
Register here.
The Districts
This isn't an expo hall. The Districts are where ideas, conversations, and solutions come together. Organized around four themes shaping the future of associations, they help attendees explore new perspectives, connect with experts, and discover resources that can move their organizations forward. Center Stage is the heartbeat; the Districts keep it moving.
Explore all four Districts throughout the day to discover new ideas, engage with experts, and connect with organizations helping associations prepare for what's next.
Interested in being a part of the districts? Learn more below.
AI + Innovation
Practical AI, technology, and innovation—what's worth paying attention to, what's changing, and how associations can put new tools to work.
Membership + Community
Recruiting, engaging, and keeping members — community people don't want to leave.
Revenue + Growth
Non-dues revenue, sponsorship, and the value proposition that keeps you relevant and funded.
Leadership + Workforce
Leading through change and generational turnover, building teams that don't burn out.
The FutureFest Field Guide
Every single person walks out with one. The Field Guide is the day's playbook: session takeaways, ready-to-use templates, the map of all four districts, every partner worth a conversation, and room to capture what you'll do Monday. The 2026 Future Priorities go in before you head home.
Not a program you recycle — a toolkit you'll still be using months later.
Partners: you can live in it too. Field Guide ads and sponsorship opportunties amplify your impact.
Agenda
Presented with support from
- Plain-language clarity on AI vs. Generative AI (no tech degree required)
- Tools you can use Monday morning, shown through real examples
- A confident read on what's coming next
Why the dues model won't survive the decade — and what's already replacing it.
AI: What's Real, What's Next, What's Noise? — Jordan Walker AI + Innovation
Third talk — to be announced soon
The four Districts open: AI + Innovation · Membership + Community · Revenue + Growth · Leadership + Workforce
District Activation Sessions sessions to be announced
Reimagining Your Association's Value Proposition — Michael Carr-Tatonetti Membership + Community
The strongest associations don't win with more benefits. They win on something harder to copy.
Third talk — to be announced soon
District Activation Sessions sessions to be announced
Quincy Hall
Along the Mississippi in Northeast Minneapolis, Quincy Hall blends industrial character with modern design — soaring ceilings, natural light, and flexible space built for a day of movement and conversation.
Location
Quincy Hall
1325 Quincy St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Parking
125 complimentary spots in the Keller Building lot, right outside the front doors. Overflow nearby at the Hillcrest lot (269 spots, after 5 PM), plus ample street parking.
Register. Sponsor. Exhibit.
Three ways into the day.
Registration
Opens summer 2026. Team rates available.
| Single | Team 4 | Team 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Members | $399 | $1,400 | $2,000 |
| Allied | $549 | $1,925 | $2,775 |
| Non-mem. | $899 | — | — |
Sponsor
Own a moment that shapes the day.
Premier placements and high-visibility touchpoints:
- Center Stage — $5,000
- Lunch / Breakfast — $4,000
- Unfiltered Happy Hour — $4,000
- Lanyards, Coffee Cart & more
Exhibit
Not a tradeshow — the Districts, where leaders and partners actually talk.
Three ways to show up:
- Be Seen — Standard, from $695
- Be Found — Spotlight, from $1,095
- Be Known — District Activation, $3,500
Be part of what's next.
No rows of booths. The Districts, where you meet CEOs, EDs, and senior staff — the people who say yes.
Step 1 — Choose your FutureFest experience
Standard
High-top in the Districts, one registration, Field Guide listing, District Passport spot.
Only 16 spots available.
Spotlight
Premium placement, two registrations, enhanced visibility, signage, pre-event promo.
Only 8 spots available.
District Activation
Your booth anchors a district all day — a tabletop activation area you teach a dedicated 20–25 min session in both Explore blocks (AM + PM).
Four spots, one per district.
Bringing a bigger team? Add a teammate to any package — $299 each.
Step 2 — Amplify your visibility (member rates)
Premier Moments
- Center Stage $5,000
- Lunch $4,000
- Breakfast $4,000
- Unfiltered Happy Hour $4,000
High-Visibility
- Registration & Badge $2,500
- Lanyards $2,500
- Coffee Cart $2,500
- Entertainment $2,500
- Lightning Learning $2,500
Experience Moments
- District Passport $2,000
- Future Challenge Grand Prize $2,000
- 360 Photo Booth $3,000
- Future Wall $3,000
- Power Up Station $1,500
- Fortune Cookies $2,000
- Trail Mix Bar $2,000
- Future Snapshot Survey $1,000
- Resource Hub $2,000
The Field Guide
- Back Cover $2,000
- Inside Front Cover $1,500
- Inside Back Cover $1,500
- Full Page Ad $750
- Half Page Ad $500
- "Powered by ___" Page $500
Space is limited and the best activations go first. Sponsorships run through Randy Olson.
Become a Partner Purchase a Package
See full details on the sponsor page, or purchase your package straight through registration.
FutureFest Partners
Speakers & Facilitators
Subject to change | More speakers announced soon
Sam Richter
Hall of Fame keynote speaker and one of the foremost authorities on Generative AI for business. Sam helps non-technical pros put AI to work without the hype. He opens FutureFest by cutting through the noise and showing you what's real, what's next, and what to do Monday morning.
Beth Surmont, FASAE, CMP-Fellow, CAE
Beth designs events that actually move people, with 20+ years reinventing experiences for associations. An ASAE Fellow and PCMA Groundbreaker Award winner, she keeps the energy and momentum going all day, then closes FutureFest by turning a room full of ideas into a plan you can act on.
Dr. Michael Carr-Tatonetti, CPP, CAE
The first consultant to hold both the CAE and CPP credentials, Michael has spent 20+ years helping associations price for sustainability, not guesswork. He treats pricing as a value conversation, not a math problem, and shows leaders how to charge with confidence and fairness.
Jordan Walker
Serial founder and AI builder behind Backtrack, the AI assistant that's raised $10M+ from backers like Salesforce. Jordan lives at the front edge of applied AI and cuts straight to what works, helping the room separate the real tools from the noise and see how to actually use them.
Close the gap between imagining the future and preparing for it.
FutureFest isn't just a rebrand of NFusion — it's an evolution driven by our members. You told us you needed less "what" and more "how." We listened. You'll walk away with a practical toolkit, free resources, and concrete strategies you can put to work immediately.