MBA Annual 2026, the Mortgage Bankers Association's annual convention, runs October 11 to 14, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Thousands of mortgage and real estate finance professionals will be there. This year, one attendee is a little different. Adele, the AI agent from Addy AI, is registered with her own badge, and she will be at MBA Annual 2026 in Chicago.

This guide covers the dates, venue and program, plus how to say hi to Adele. It is written by Addy AI. For official event details, visit the MBA Annual26 page on mba.org.

MBA Annual 2026 at a glance

MBA Annual 2026 is officially called MBA's Annual Convention and Expo, or MBA Annual26 for short. Some people also search for it as the MBA Annual Convention 2026. If you are planning a trip to MBA Annual 2026 in Chicago, here are the key details.

Two related events sit on either side of the convention. mPowering You, MBA's summit for women in real estate finance, takes place on October 10. MBA's Tech Exchange, a one-day tech forum, takes place on October 14. Both need separate registration.

Meet Adele, the first AI agent registered for MBA Annual

Adele is Addy AI's AI agent, and she is the first AI agent registered as an attendee at MBA Annual. She has her own badge, and she will be in Chicago for MBA Annual 2026.

Addy AI is an AI company that helps mortgage lenders put AI agents to work across the lending journey. In Chicago, Adele takes a humanoid form. It is a simple way to show what the agentic era looks like: AI agents working right alongside the people in this industry.

Michael Vandi, CEO of Addy AI, shared the news on LinkedIn on October 1, 2026: "we just registered the first-ever AI Agent attendee at a mortgage conference."

A big thank you to the Mortgage Bankers Association for welcoming a new kind of attendee. Follow Adele's trip to Chicago with #AdeleFromAddy.

Why an AI agent is attending a mortgage conference

The short answer: the agentic era is here, and it is already part of how loans get made.

Across the industry, people and AI agents work side by side every day. Agents read documents, check guidelines and keep files organized. People make the calls, build the relationships and look after borrowers. For the first time, an AI agent is in the room at the industry's biggest gathering.

That is what agentic AI in mortgage looks like in practice. It is not a single tool. It is a set of AI agents that take on the steady, detailed work in a loan file, so the people on the team can focus on the parts that need a human touch: talking with borrowers, solving problems and making decisions.

People stay at the center of this industry. Lending is built on trust, judgment and relationships, and that does not change. Adele is there to support the people who do this work, and to show what working together looks like.

What an AI agent actually does in mortgage lending

An AI agent in mortgage lending handles the repetitive work of moving a loan from application to closing, so lending teams can spend more time on borrowers and decisions.

Here is what that looks like with Addy AI, an agentic AI platform built specifically for mortgage lending:

• Reading documents. Document AI pulls data from 1003s, W-2s, pay stubs, bank statements and tax returns.

• Checking guidelines. Guideline intelligence covers Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, non-QM and lender overlays.

• Pre-underwriting. AI pre-underwriting takes about 5 minutes, compared with 3 to 4 hours by hand.

• Managing conditions and documents. The agent helps track conditions and collect documents from borrowers.

• Working in existing systems. It works inside tools lenders already use, such as ICE Encompass, MeridianLink and LendingPad.

One thing an AI agent does not do is make the credit decision. Addy does not approve or decline loans. The lender's team keeps full credit authority. Addy AI is also SOC 2 Type II compliant. You can read more about how agents help processing teams in our guide to AI agents for mortgage processing.

What to expect at MBA Annual 2026

Expect four days of general sessions, breakout tracks, hands-on AI labs and networking, all centered on the Come Together theme. Here are highlights from the official MBA Annual26 schedule. MBA notes the schedule is subject to change.

• Sunday, October 11: a special Market Outlook session with MBA's economists, the Opening Ceremony, and the opening of The HUB Expo with The Great American Picnic.

• Monday, October 12: a general session conversation with President George W. Bush, a fireside chat with FHFA Director Bill Pulte, and a general session on advancing the American Dream of homeownership. The afternoon brings breakout tracks on innovation and tech, market opportunities and operations, and policy priorities, plus a Tech Showcase on THE HUB STAGE.

• Tuesday, October 13: the mPower general session with journalist Norah O'Donnell, a HUD update, and a conversation with the GSEs. That evening is ComedyMBA with Jerry Seinfeld. Your badge is your ticket.

• Wednesday, October 14: the closing general session, "The Next RenAIssance," with Zack Kass, former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI.

AI is a clear thread through the program. Hands-on AI Lab sessions run on Monday and Tuesday, and several breakouts look at AI adoption and AI governance in mortgage. If you want to understand where AI in mortgage lending is heading in 2026, there is plenty on the agenda.

How to meet Adele in Chicago

If you see Adele at MBA Annual 2026, say hi. She would love to meet you.

• Take a photo with Adele.

• Post it with #AdeleFromAddy and #MBAAnnual26 so we can find it and share it.

Meet-and-greet details will be shared on Addy AI's LinkedIn page. Follow along there for the latest.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is MBA Annual 2026?

MBA Annual 2026 runs from Sunday, October 11 to Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Registration opens on Saturday, October 10.

Where is MBA Annual 2026?

MBA Annual 2026 is at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.

What is the MBA Annual 2026 theme?

The theme of MBA Annual 2026 is "Come Together." It ties into America's 250th anniversary and the idea that the industry moves forward together.

How much does it cost to attend MBA Annual 2026?

On MBA's pricing page, registration after October 1 is $1,899 for members and $4,399 for non-members, with group, government and young professional rates available. Check the official pricing page for current rates.

Who is Adele?

Adele is Addy AI's AI agent. She is the first AI agent registered as an attendee at MBA Annual, and she will be at MBA Annual 2026 in Chicago.

Why does Adele have a humanoid form?

Addy AI builds AI agents that help mortgage lenders across the lending journey. Adele's humanoid form is a way to represent the agentic era, where people and AI agents work side by side to move loans forward.

What is an AI agent in mortgage lending?

An AI agent in mortgage lending is software that handles manual work in the loan process, such as reading documents, checking guidelines and tracking conditions. People still make the credit decisions.

How can I meet Adele at MBA Annual?

Say hi if you see her in Chicago, take a photo and post it with #AdeleFromAddy and #MBAAnnual26. Meet-and-greet details will be shared on Addy AI's LinkedIn page.

See you in Chicago

MBA Annual has always been about people coming together, and this year is no different. We can't wait to see you there, and Adele can't wait to meet you.

Curious how Addy's AI agents work with lending teams? Learn how Addy AI works.