2026 Public Pension
Funding Forum

Research-Driven Solutions for Fiscal Sustainability

Thank you for joining NCPERS in Chicago for the 2026 Public Pension Funding Forum, where pension leaders came together to explore the factors shaping public pension fiscal health.

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This Event Has Concluded | August 17–19, 2026 — Chicago, IL

Highlights from the 2026 Public Pension Funding Forum

The 2026 Public Pension Funding Forum brought trustees, administrators, finance professionals and leading academics to the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago for three days of research-driven dialogue on public pension fiscal health. Attendees dug into current research, evaluated funding models, and examined case studies revealing what’s working — and what isn’t — at plans across the country.

Join us next: August 23-25, 2027 in Chicago — sign up here for event updates!

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NCPERS Research: The Latest Data on Critical Public Pension Issues

NCPERS research explores the issues shaping the public pension industry — from funding strategies and economic impact to healthcare and accounting — so you can make informed decisions backed by data. Sign up here to be notified of new research.

Measuring the Fiscal Sustainability of Public Pensions

NCPERS analyzed more than 20 years of data to evaluate the relationship between long-term pension obligations and the economic capacity that supports them. The findings reveal significant progress nationwide, with 48 states now meeting or outperforming their historical sustainability benchmarks.

AI Adoption and Strategy in Public Pension Administration

Public pension systems are navigating an inflection point with artificial intelligence. While AI tools are entering the day-to-day operations of some funds, primarily in administrative efficiency and member communications, the sector remains in early stages of adoption.

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Congratulations to the Winner of the 2026 Pension Lab: NextGen Competition!

The Pension Lab: NextGen Competition invites University of Chicago students to help tackle the funding challenges facing public pensions. Teams were paired with public pension leaders before their ideas were put to the test in a live competition, where Public Pension Funding Forum attendees voted alongside an expert panel to select the winner.

Congratulations to this year’s winner, Jason (Zezheng) Lin, for taking first place with Breaking the Procyclical Trap! His proposal examined how a three-layer reform framework can create more resilient pension funding across economic cycles.

Thank you to all the students, mentors, and judges for their work towards making public pensions more fiscally sustainable!

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