ACG All Around: Recapping Fall 2026 Chapter Events
An on-the-ground review of recent ACG chapter events from August through October, 2026
ACG Utah & ACG Denver | Adventure Summit: Dealmaking in the Desert
Aug. 27-28, 2026
The annual Adventure Summit: Dealmaking in the Desert event offers an exclusive, experiential networking event designed to merge business connections with adrenaline‑filled activities. Set against Moab’s iconic red rock canyons, this year’s gathering welcomed its most curated list of private equity professionals, deal advisors, lenders, and C-suite operators to date.
Marking the third year the event was co-presented by ACG Utah and ACG Denver, the 2026 Adventure Summit drew more deal professionals from across the Intermountain West while still keeping it intimate and focused on meaningful relationships. This year also saw horseback riding join the lineup of events and activities for attendees alongside annual favorites including whitewater rafting and rock climbing.
ACG Dallas/Fort Worth | Wine Tasting & DealSource
Sept. 3, 2026
The Frontiers of Flight Museum offered a unique setting for this year’s 21st Annual Wine Tasing & DealSource gathering, welcoming over 750 attendees from across the middle-market M&A community. Investment bankers, private equity professionals, corporate executives, partners, and guests gathered for an evening of networking, relationship-building, and dealmaking at one of the chapter’s signature conferences.
The 2026 event showcased the strength of the ACG DFW community and the value of bringing industry leaders together. ACG Dallas/Fort Worth extends its sincere appreciation to its partners, attendees, participating firms, and volunteers whose support made this annual tradition possible. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to connect the people shaping middle-market M&A in North Texas.
ACG Indiana | Great Lakes Capital Connection
Sept. 8-10, 2026
The 2026 Great Lakes Capital Connection showcased the Midwest as a premier destination for business and investment, with more than 1,000 dealmakers from across the middle market attending.
A highlight of the conference was a keynote fireside conversation featuring professional IndyCar driver and entrepreneur Graham Rahal, moderated by CBS4’s Chris Hagan, which explored leadership, entrepreneurship, competition, and business success.
Attendees participated in DealSource meetings, educational programming, networking receptions, and sponsor engagement opportunities designed to foster meaningful business connections and potential transactions. Over 5,000 connections occurred throughout the conference.
The Great Lakes Capital Connection reflects the strength of the middle-market community and ACG Indiana‘s commitment to connecting professionals who drive economic growth. Through corporate partnerships, sponsorship support, and dedicated volunteer leadership, the conference continues to create valuable opportunities for business development while generating positive economic activity for the host city.
ACG Los Angeles | M&A SoCal®
Sept. 14-16, 2026
As one of the nation’s premier middle-market dealmaking conferences, this year’s M&A SoCal brought together more than 1,200 executives, investors, and advisors in Beverly Hills for three days of high-value networking, insights, and dealmaking.
ACG Los Angeles clocked 5,765 DealSource meetings that took place throughout the conference, with attendees connecting across 534 investment baking and private equity firms for unparalleled networking, relationship-building, and deal origination opportunities. The event also featured keynote conversations with leaders from JetZero and Delta Air Lines, delivering insights on innovation, growth, and the trends shaping the future of business.
Beyond the conference sessions and meetings, attendees connected through a diverse lineup of signature experiences that showcase the best of Los Angeles, including a LACMA tour, private dinner at the Magic Castle, Run Club in Beverly Hills, a surfing excursion at Manhattan Beach, and countless off-site happy hour events that helped turn introductions into lasting relationships.
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CG Boston & ACG Connecticut | Lower Middle-Market Dealmaking Conference
Sept. 22-23, 2026
Hosted by ACG Boston and ACG Connecticut, the ACG New England Lower Middle Market Conference welcomed over 300 deal professionals from across the region for a memorable mix of connections, market insights, and quintessential New England experiences.
From tennis, croquet, and sailing to our signature clambake and 1:1 dealmaking meetings, the conference offered countless opportunities to connect, strengthen relationships, and engage with the lower middle-market community.
ACG Kansas City | Capital Connection & Wine Tasting
Sept. 23, 2026
As ACG Kansas City’s premier dealmaking event, this year’s ACG Kansas City Capital Connection & Wine Tasting continued to build momentum, increasing overall attendance with particularly strong growth among key dealmaking audiences—including a 25% increase in private equity firms and 72% growth in investment banking attendees.
One major enhancement to this year’s event was the introduction of ACG Access, allowing participants to pre-schedule one-on-one meetings and create more targeted, productive conversations around deal sourcing, capital and relationship building. The Wine Tasting capped off the day, giving attendees the opportunity to continue conversations and make new connections with sponsors over a curated selection of fine wines.
ACG Denver | Dealmakers’ Forum
Sept. 28, 2026
Held at the Davita World Headquarters in Denver, the Dealmakers’ Forum brought together middle-market professionals for a three-part event with DealMatch for investment banking and private equity professionals—a new feature of the 2026 event.
This year, attendees were also presented with a panel of M&A peers for “The Art of Closing Through 11th Hour Complexities,” moderated by ACG Denver Advisory Board President Brett Cunningham. He was joined by Eide Bailly and panelists Sarah E. Kaehler, partner at BCLP; Daniel Gallagher, principal at Lion Equity Partners; and Ryan Heckman, cofounder and managing partner at Rallyday Partners.
The Dealmakers’ Forum closed with an Oktoberfest-style beer and whiskey tasting as an opportunity for further conversation and networking. The event welcomed 45 capital providers; 39 buyers, investors, and investment bankers; 76 advisory professionals; and two local university students for a total of 150 registrants.
ACG Denver would like to thank presenting sponsor BCLP and beer table hosts Crowe, Fifth Third Bank, Forvis Mazars US, Goodspeed Merrill, RSP, and Weaver.
Explore all upcoming ACG events at acg.org/events.
ACG Insights is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit acg.org.
