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

Bev Mason filling the need for convention mugs, tumblers
Those of us who collect such things might have noticed there was not a convention mug for preorder when we registered.

Never fear. Bev Mason's Paper N Press will be filling our need.

Bev Mason, owner of Paper N Press and the convention’s marketing coordinator, will be making mugs, tumblers and Koozies on site with the convention logo and any custom message you might want.
Places to Explore: DeBrand Fine Chocolates
I’m not going to tell you that DeBrand Fine Chocolates is the best chocolate I ever put in my pie-hole, but, if I’ve ever had better, I can’t remember where. DeBrand has two locations in Fort Wayne, one at 4110 W Jefferson Blvd. in the Jefferson Pointe Shopping Center, an 8-minute, 3.4-mile drive from the convention center, and the factory, where you can take a tour, is at 10105 Auburn Park Dr., a 16-minute, 7.7-mile drive from the convention center.
Places to Explore: Davey's Delicious Bagels
Today we will introduce you to Davey’s Delicious Bagels. Located at 1006 Broadway, a short six-block, 11-minute walk from the convention center, Davey’s Delicious Bagels has become one of Fort Wayne’s most talked-about breakfast and lunch spots thanks to a mix of creative food, neighborhood character, and a strong sense of local identity.
Places to Explore: Ophelia's
Today, we are going to introduce you to Ophelia’s, one of the most talked-about dining spots in Fort Wayne, and for good reason. Ophelia’s is located at 1603 N Wells Street, on the Wells Street Corridor (near Hyde Brothers Books), which makes the trip even more enticing. Pop into Hyde Brothers to satisfy the mind, then up to Ophelia’s to satiate the belly.
Places to Explore: Mad Anthony's Brewing Company
Next, we will be exploring the legacy and craft of the Mad Anthony Brewing Company, located at 2002 Broadway, a 23-minute, one-mile walk from the convention center. Mad Anthony’s is one of our favorite watering holes here in Fort Wayne.