Travel/Airport
Fort Wayne International Airport is the closest, about 9 miles, 16 minutes from the convention center.
A couple of the hotels provide shuttles. We are checking whether, and when, they would be available for our attendees. If you don't rent a car from the airport, most major ride sharing services and four taxi services operate from the airport.
Hotel Accommodations
See the Hotels page.
Which hotels charge for parking and how much is listed on the Hotels page.
No, there is not a shuttle between the hotels and the convention center. The Hilton, Courtyard and Hampton Inn are all connected to the facility by walkways and the Bradley is a short walk away.
Registration
Yes, you must be an IPMS/USA member to register for the full convention, and you can both join IPMS and register online at myipmsusa.org or in person. You can purchase a day pass to the convention without being a member, but that will also have limited access to the event.
March 1, 2026, 10 a.m. CST.
Yes, registration will open at 11:00 AM on August 5th. Remember there is a discount for pre-registering and some of the convention sale items might not be available.
- $55.00 for pre-registered
- $65.00 for on-site registration
- $25.00 for juniors
Family pre-registration includes up to TBD family guests.
Schedule
On the Schedule page.
| Vendor Room | Open to Vendor | Open to Public |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 8 am – 7 pm | 1 pm – 7 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am – 5 pm | 9 am – 5 pm |
| Friday | 8 am – 5 pm | 9 am – 5 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am – 4 pm | 9 am – 4 pm |
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 11 am – 9 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am - 9 pm |
| Friday | 9 am - 6 pm (closes for Judging at 6 pm) |
| Saturday | 9 am - 4 pm |
Vendors
For these questions, check the Vendor page contact John Fluck at 2026_vendor@ipmsusa.org
Not until close to the show, likely early July.
No, but we have ample hotel space. Vendor Coordinator John Fluck (2026_vendor@ipmsusa.org) will be able to assist with parking trailers and larger vehicles.
Shipping
- UPS Store: 3645 E Main St., Richmond, IN 47374
- FedEx: has several drop boxes nearby
- USPS: 1501 S Clinton St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802
TBD
ATMs
The Grand Wayne Convention Center has an ATM, which the convention center is working to ensure will be replenished daily. There are also several bank branches with ATMs near the convention center. A growing number of vendors also take credit and debit cards and other electronic payments.
Contest
Yes, with some improvements. Registration will open May 1.
The system is intuitive and there are drop down menus that should make registering fairly simple for most. If you have questions, there will be staff on-site to assist during the convention.
Information on special accommodations is available on the Contest page.
Yes, you must be a member to participate in the contest, however you can both join IPMS and register online at myipmsusa.org, or in person once the convention opens.
Yes. We have a Tiger Meet where individuals or groups can display their models. Contact Tiger Meet Coordinator Chris "Fishstick" Long at 2026_tiger_meet@ipmsusa.org if you need to reserve space.
You do not have to be a member of IPMS/USA to participate in Tiger Meet, but you will need to pay for a day pass for the days your models will be on display.
They will be posted under the Contest tab of the website once they are finalized.
Information on judge and photographer sign-up and requirements is posted on the Judges page.
The special categories and their criteria are listed under the Contest tab. There are checkboxes on the registration form to indicate you want your model to be considered for one or more of those categories.
All models must be registered and in the contest room by noon Friday.
Models cannot be removed from the contest room until after the awards ceremony Saturday evening. If you need to remove your model before that, please let us know when you register and we can make arrangements.
You can under exceptional circumstances and by pre-arrangement with the contest coordinator. Please let us know as soon as possible that you need to leave early.
Seminars
Contact Seminar Coordinator John Martin at 2026_seminars@ipmsusa.org.
The paid events are available when you register for the convention.
Tours/Activities
Tours are listed on the Tours page as they are finalized. You can sign up and pay for your desired tour when you register. All tours are first-come-first-served.
Select attractions and eateries are listed on the Places to Explore page. Other suggestions are available on the Visit Fort Wayne website.