Day 1: October 20, 2026
12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Registration Open
2nd Floor Concourse and
Grand Hall Corridor
Check in and pick up your badge before heading into meetings, sessions, and networking opportunities.
Plan your arrival to make the most of your time at M&A East. Registered DealSource participants arrive early for a kickoff networking lunch beginning at 12PM.
General Attendees are invited to begin using open DealLounge tables informal meetings and networking at 2PM and programming beginning at 4PM.
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
PE/IB Kickoff Lunch
Grand Hall Overlook
Enjoy a relaxed setting to connect with industry leaders, hold key conversations, and meet those you couldn’t schedule during the conference. Don’t miss this chance to expand your network and maximize your dealmaking opportunities!
Open to Private Equity investors and Investment Banks participating in DealSource
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
DealSource
Ballroom AB
Your most efficient path to sourcing deals! Private equity and investment banking professionals will engage in a series of 20-minute, 1:1 meetings—all pre-arranged through our exclusive scheduling tool.
Open to private equity investors and investment banks.
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM DealLounge
Grand Hall
Host an impromptu meeting! Grab a numbered table and connect at your convenience, or stop by a Sponsor Exhibit Table to explore new opportunities.
Open to all conference attendees.
Afternoon snack
Refuel and connect with fellow attendees before the next round of meetings and sessions
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
ACGWomen's Networking
Happy Hour
202B
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Value Creation Summit
202A
Kick off your M&A East experience with an evening of networking alongside fellow women dealmakers. Enjoy great conversation and a glass of wine before the conference officially begins.
Open to conference-attending women dealmakers.
Explore how leading investors and operators are driving growth beyond the deal. This session brings together practical insights on operational improvement, AI and technology enablement, and strategies to accelerate value creation across the portfolio.
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Open to operators, corporate acquirers, private equity-backed executives at a discounted conference rate
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Opening Party
Grand Hall
Raise a glass and celebrate 24 years of M&A East! Join over 1,000 leading dealmakers from PE firms, investment banks, and the middle-market M&A community for a lively, high-energy networking event where meaningful connections begin.
Open to all conference attendees.
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Registration Open
for All Attendees
2nd Floor Concourse and
Grand Hall Corridor
Check in and pick up your badge before heading into meetings, sessions, and networking opportunities.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
201ABC
Kick off the day with casual conversation and meaningful connections, giving attendees a chance to engage with peers before sessions begin and the conference gets underway.
8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
DealLounge
Grand Hall
Your go-to space for impromptu meetings—whether at a numbered table or a Sponsor Exhibit Table, find the right people and the right opportunities.
Open to all conference attendees.
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
DealSource
Ballroom AB
The fastest way to maximize your deal pipeline! Engage in scheduled 20-minute, 1:1 meetings with top PE and IB professionals, ensuring no time is wasted.
Open to private equity investors and investment banks.
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Featured Sessions
202AB
These sessions feature senior investors, operators, and advisors sharing timely insights on market dynamics, capital flows, deal activity, and emerging trends. Designed to be substantive and forward-looking, Featured Sessions provide big-picture perspective and practical takeaways for today’s deal environment.
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Coffee Bar
Grand Hall
Stop by for a specialty coffee drink in the DealLounge
12:20 PM - 1:20 PM
Networking Lunch
201ABC
Connect in a relaxed setting while continuing conversations, building new relationships, and engaging with peers across the middle-market deal community.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Closing Happy Hour
Grand Hall Overlook
Close out M&A East with one final opportunity to connect. Whether you are following up on conversations or making new introductions this reception is the perfect way to end on a high note.
Day 2: October 21, 2026
Ready to connect, learn, and source deals? See you at M&A East 2026!
