Program

All attendees are required to visit the TEAMS ’26 Registration Center to pick up their credentials, which must be shown for all TEAMS sessions, transportation and social functions.

Need a place to meet up? Connect with business colleagues old and new in a relaxed setting at the TEAMS Welcome Center.

New to TEAMS—or returning after a few years? This session is your insider’s guide to making the most of every moment. Learn how to navigate the expo floor, get the most from your appointments, pace yourself through a busy week, and turn your attendance into measurable business success. Hear firsthand from veteran event organizers, destination representatives and Northstar Meetings Group organizers as they share practical tips, proven strategies and real-world examples of how to thrive at TEAMS. Walk away confident, prepared and ready to make your investment in the conference pay off.

Welcome to TEAMS ’26! In this Opening Session that serves as a kickoff for TEAMS and the USOPC’s SportsLink program, receive welcomes from Jason Gewirtz from the Northstar Meeting Group Sports Division, and local Birmingham dignitaries as we get the conference off to an energetic start.

During this fast-paced reverse trade show, meet with event organizers to fill available spots on your appointment schedule or discuss other times to meet during TEAMS. The marketplace is designed for quick check-ins so make sure you are not depriving others of their time to meet with event organizers, who will be stationed at designated tables.

Open to event organizers, exhibitors and sponsors only.

Enjoy a relaxing, unstructured hour on the TEAMS Expo Floor, getting to know key contacts in the sports-event industry whom you haven’t met and reintroducing yourself to the people you do know.

Buses will run on a loop to and from the TEAMS '26 Opening Celebration.

Celebrate the opening night of TEAMS with your fellow TEAMS '26 attendees!

Start the morning off with a fitness session before the busy day ahead.

All attendees are required to visit the TEAMS ’26 Registration Center to pick up their credentials, which must be shown for all TEAMS sessions, transportation and social functions.

Need a place to meet up? Connect with business colleagues old and new in a relaxed setting at the TEAMS Welcome Center.

Start your day with a fast-paced, information-packed session unlike any other at SportsLink. Leaders from multiple Olympic and Paralympic national governing bodies will deliver rapid-fire updates on upcoming events, membership initiatives and strategic priorities. Speaking for a few minutes each, they’ll share the key insights and opportunities your organization needs to know to plan future events, build partnerships and stay connected to the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Walk away with a wealth of knowledge across a variety of sports—and what your destination can do to attract more events.

SportsLink sessions are open to all TEAMS attendees.

One-on-one appointments will be held on the expo floor.

Join your fellow attendees as we announce the winners of the 2026 SportsTravel Awards in this celebration of the sports-event industry. The National Congress of State Games will also present its Athlete of the Year Awards and lifetime achievement recognitions, and Compete Sports Network will honor recipients for their diversity efforts.

One-on-one appointments will be held on the expo floor.

 

Join us for an offsite experience at the Lakeshore Foundation, the first Paralympic training site in the country. Attendees must RSVP for this event. Sign-up details to come.

Continue your networking by joining us for a networking happy hour near the convention center. 

This is your opportunity to enjoy an open night and discover all that Birmingham has to offer! 

Transportation to and from the Late-Night Lounge will run on a loop.

Complete your night out in Birmingham and rejoin fellow TEAMS ’26 attendees at the TEAMS Late-Night Lounge, the extended-hours networking opportunity pioneered by the TEAMS Conference, including — of course — bourbon from our sponsors at the Kentucky Sports Alliance. 

Start the morning off with a fitness session before the busy day ahead.

All attendees are required to visit the TEAMS ’26 Registration Center to pick up their credentials, which must be shown for all TEAMS sessions, transportation and social functions.

Need a place to meet up? Connect with business colleagues old and new in a relaxed setting at the TEAMS Welcome Center.

One-on-one appointments will be held on the expo floor. 

This session will feature TEAMS Trends Showcase presentations on forward-looking topics of interest to the industry.

TEAMS Trends Showcase sponsored by:

 

SportsLink sessions are open to all TEAMS attendees.

SportsLink sessions are open to all TEAMS attendees. Lunches will be available to attendees of this session.

In our closing session, we'll pass the TEAMS flag from our hosts in Birmingham to our 2027 hosts in Milwaukee — a ceremony you won't want to miss! You'll also get a welcome to TEAMS Europe in Manchester, UK.

One-on-one appointments will be held on the expo floor.

Celebrate the end of TEAMS ’26, courtesy of our future host cities, as we look forward to TEAMS ’27 and beyond! Enjoy one last great time with your TEAMS '26 attendees in a fun and festive atmosphere. And be on hand to see which event organizers come home with prizes in our Event Organizer Incentive Contest!