Home | 2026 IPMS/USA National Convention

August 5-8, 2026

Grand Wayne Convention Center
120 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802

Welcome to Fort Wayne and the 2026 IPMS/USA National Convention

On behalf of the International Plastic Modelers' Society/USA, it is a distinct honor and genuine pleasure to welcome you to the 2026 National Convention to be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, August 5-8.

Whether you are a first-time attendee, a rising young modeler, or a long-time champion of our craft, we thank you for joining us in this remarkable gathering; a celebration of the ingenuity, camaraderie, and passion that define our modeling community.

We are a team of eleven IPMS/USA Region 4 Chapters dedicated to give you the best convention experience we possibly can.

The three rings of the circus -- the National Contest, our esteemed vendors, and the raffle -- will all be in place along with other side shows such as the Tiger Meet, family make and take, tours, and seminars to sharpen your skills and learn more about our craft.

As a group, we wrestled with the five Theme Awards for the convention. The first is Happy Birthday America - The American Revolution (the U.S. semi-quincentennial is only one month prior to the convention). The others are Gundam RX-78 - Back to the Beginning, Truck Town USA – International Harvester, the 60th Anniversary of Star Trek, and the 110th Anniversary of the Battle of Jutland. I will explain each of these awards in greater detail and provide our thoughts as to why we chose these five in subsequent posts.

We will be posting frequently here and on the Convention Facebook page to give you all the information you need in a timely manner, and to answer questions you might have.

We’d also like to be kept abreast of what it is you are planning to bring to the convention, be it for the contest or for the Tiger Meet (display only, more on that later). Show us your work and share updates on your builds with us.

We are very excited to have been chosen to host you in Fort Wayne. I will be posting opportunities for family outings, short trips, and items of interest for modelers and their families. There is so much that we want to share with you, so check back often.

Gracias amigos…

John Figueroa
IPMS/USA
2026 National Convention Chairperson

News and Announcements

Places to Explore: Sweetwater Sound
Good afternoon, today I’m going to talk to you about our Fort Wayne community and one of the key benefactors that is having a lasting influence on our community: Sweetwater Sound.

Sweetwater Sound is more than a business in Fort Wayne, its presence and leadership have transformed our town and the way we see the musical arts. If you are a musician, Sweetwater needs no introduction. However, for people like me (I love music, but I can barely clap my hands), here is the low down.
Places to Explore: Hyde Brothers Books
Today I’d like to tell you about another Fort Wayne institution: Hyde Brothers Books.
Places to Explore: Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Museum
Today I'd like to introduce you to the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Museum, one of my favorite places in or around Fort Wayne.

In my humble opinion, the distinctive magic of the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Museum cannot be overstated.

Nora and I are “museum people”; that’s what we love. On our first trip to the ACD Museum (during our first expedition to our future hometown of Fort Wayne in 2021), we were not expecting much. We went up to Auburn, about 30 minutes north of the Grand Wayne Convention Center, to see what we thought would be a hand-full of nice cars.
Places to Explore: Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
The Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne is a pillar of family history research in America. Only one block from the Grand Wayne Convention Center, the Genealogy Center stands as one of the premier destinations for family history research in the United States.

Known for its comprehensive resources, expert staff, and commitment to accessibility, the Genealogy Center attracts thousands of visitors each year, from amateur genealogists just beginning their family trees, to seasoned researchers tracing centuries-old lineages.
Hotel Reservations Still Available
The first step to your 2026 IPMS/USA Convention adventure is having a place to stay.

There are still rooms available at Courtyard by Marriott (about 15, more on some days) and The Bradley (14). The Hilton and Hampton Inn rooms are sold out.

Information regarding the hotels can be found on our Hotels page.

Questions regarding the Hotels and the reservation process may be addressed to: 2026_chair@ipmsusa.org.

We look forward to seeing you in Fort Wayne.