With close to 5,000 attendees from across the globe, the 2024 ICMA Annual Conference, held September 21–25, in Pittsburgh/Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was an unforgettable event! Each year, we strive to create a space for attendees to connect with friends and colleagues, learn from leaders and trusted voices on all things local government, visit with exhibitors, and share their passion for the profession with each other—and this year was no exception. #ICMA2024 was one of our best yet.

The sights, sounds, and spirit of Pittsburgh were everywhere at #ICMA2024, from the immersive ‘Burgh attendee lounge to local sports mascots making an appearance, like Iceburgh of the Penguins hockey team. Famous Pittsburgh natives Andy Warhol and Fred Rogers were captured in live paintings done onstage by artists during general session seating, all to the tune of a local band. 

PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, played host to the ICMA Opening Party, complete with hometown favorites like pierogies. The Tuesday night networking event at the Heinz History Center showcased the city's evolution and cultural heritage, complete with Heinz ketchup girls handing out fries and ketchup.

Walking through the convention center, attendees couldn’t help but notice all the anniversary celebrations being recognized in 2024. The ICMA Code of Ethics turned 100 this year and was woven throughout all aspects of the conference, including the ICMA Pavilion, which was decked out in celebration. ICMA is also celebrating 100 years of the “I” in “ICMA.” Our global engagement efforts were seen everywhere at #ICMA2024, including 23 global sessions and events. Attendees from 15+ global local government associations represented more than 20 countries. In addition, the ICMA Senior Advisor program is celebrating its 50th anniversary, with 112 senior advisors in 30 states, all dedicated to helping ICMA members in need.

#ICMA2024 had a record-breaking 262 educational offerings, which wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing roster of speakers and presenters—over 500 in total. This year’s keynotes were especially inspiring. Kicking off the event on Sunday was Shawn Kanungo, who spoke about the infinite leverage of AI, saying, “The ability to innovate and act boldly within your own community—and empowering your staff to do the same—will truly be a game-changer for local government.” Following him was Jaime Wascalus from the GovAI Coalition, who gave us the latest on the coalition's tremendous work in bringing responsible and purposeful AI to the public sector. 

On Monday, crowd favorite Jason Dorsey helped us separate fact from fiction when it comes to generational differences in the workplace. Tuesday’s keynote Brigid Schulte taught us how to achieve a better work-life balance, emphasizing that you can be a great leader and still have a life. Closing out #ICMA2024 on Wednesday was Lindsay Shookus, who shared her late-night lessons in leadership gleaned from 20 years as an Emmy-winning Saturday Night Live producer. 

This year, more than 200 exhibiting companies joined us in the exhibit hall. ICMA is also grateful to Title Sponsor MissionSquare for their support of the conference, along with our sponsors (Association of Pennsylvania Municipal Management, Comcast, First National Bank, National Association of State Procurement Officials, and Profit.co). 

For their ongoing guidance, enthusiasm, and hard work, ICMA thanks the members of the 2024 Conference Planning Committee, the 2023 Conference Host Committee, and the many volunteers who helped to make the conference a huge success. 

Our 2025 conference committees are already hard at work planning for next year’s conference, being held October 25–29, 2025, in Tampa/Hillsborough County, Florida. Interested in speaking at #ICMA2025? The Call for Presentations opens October 14.  Submit your proposal by November 22, 2024, for consideration.

Whether or not you were able to join us in Pittsburgh, you can extend the professional development with ICMA On-Demand. Get access to 30+ sessions on a range of topics: community engagement, public safety trends, climate action, strategic planning, generative AI, and more! 

Want to see more? Watch the #ICMA2024 conference recap video, along with episodes of ICMAtv, to relive this year’s event and immerse yourself in the electrifying atmosphere of #ICMA2024 in Pittsburgh. See you next year!