Annual Conference 2026 fees, hotel, and schedule details are announced for Fort Wayne next summer

A release from the Annual Conference office

Annual Conference will be held Sunday, June 28, through Thursday, July 2, at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Ind. Annual Conference registration and housing reservations will open to the public on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

Because our schedule is varying from the normal Wednesday to Sunday schedule and in recognition of the significant number of Brethren living in and around Fort Wayne who may want to join us on Sunday afternoon, not only will the exhibit hall open at noon as usual that day but the Program and Arrangements Committee also is scheduling some equipping sessions that afternoon. We hope many of our brothers and sisters who may not be able to join us for the full week, but live within easy driving distance, will register to join us that day as we seek to “imagine new possibilities” and “unite, strengthen, and equip the Church of the Brethren to follow Jesus.”

In addition, since the officers are anticipating a lighter business agenda, Program and Arrangements Committee is planning a special morning of “sparking, stirring, and serving” on Tuesday. The morning will feature a keynote presentation, equipping sessions, and opportunities to serve our host city. More information will be forthcoming as we continue to imagine and shape this special morning.

Fees

As you work on your 2026 budgets, we want to provide this information from the recent Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee meeting.

As we continue to wrestle with the sometimes competing values of increasing attendance and balancing our budget, you will note that some fees will remain the same for 2026, some fees have been increased, and some fees have been reduced.

— The registration fee for virtual nondelegates will be higher. This increase offsets the rebate we get from the hotels for each room night booked by an in-person attendee. These rebates help cover rental costs at the convention center, so virtual nondelegates are being asked to contribute to these costs as well.

— The daily registration fee for nondelegates has been reduced and will not increase during onsite registration. We hope this will encourage brothers and sisters who live in, or within easy driving distance of Fort Wayne, to join us for a day.

Registration fees:

Advance registration (March 4-June 7)
Delegate: $350
Nondelegates adult-full Conference: $175
Nondelegates adult-daily: $55
Post-high school to age 21-full Conference: $50
Post-high school to age 21-daily: $20
Current high school and younger: free (age group activity registration fee is additional)

Onsite registration (opens June 27)
Delegate: $425
Nondelegates adult-full Conference: $210
Nondelegates adult-daily: $55
Post-high school to age 21-full Conference: $50
Post-high school to age 21-daily: $20
Current high school and younger: free (age group activity registration fee is additional)

Virtual registration (nondelegate only)
Adult (until June 10)-full Conference: $220
Group/institutional-full Conference: $500

Hotel information

There are three Conference hotel options this year:

— The Hilton Fort Wayne is located at 1020 S. Calhoun St. and is seamlessly connected to the convention center on two floors. Our Annual Conference room rate is $128 plus tax and fees (15 percent) totaling $147.20 per night. This room rate is only accessible through the Annual Conference registration process, not by contacting the hotel directly. Complimentary airport shuttle to and from Fort Wayne International Airport.

— The Hampton Inn and Suites is located at 223 W. Jefferson Blvd. and is directly across the street from the front of the convention center. Our Annual Conference room rate is $135 plus tax and fees (15 percent) totaling $155.25 per night. This room rate is only accessible through the Annual Conference registration process, not by contacting the hotel directly. Rate includes a complimentary hot breakfast.

— The Courtyard by Marriott is located at 1150 S. Harrison St. and is across the street from the convention center and also connected by two skywalks. Our Annual Conference room rate is $132 plus tax and fees (15 percent) totaling $151.80 per night. This room rate is only accessible through the Annual Conference registration process, not by contacting the hotel directly. A discounted daily parking fee of $8 has been negotiated for Church of the Brethren guests. In-room wi-fi is complimentary for all hotel guests.

— Rhonda Pittman Gingrich is director of Annual Conference. Debbie Noffsinger is Conference assistant. Find out more about Annual Conference 2026 at www.brethren.org/ac2026

#cobac26

———-

Find more Church of the Brethren news: