Thank you for registering for the NGS 2026 Family History Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We look forward to being together, spending time with friends, meeting new people who share our interest in family history, attending outstanding presentations, and enjoying all the terrific networking opportunities.
Please take the time to read through all of the information below as part of your preparation for the conference.
Location for the In-Person Conference
The conference takes place at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Floor plans are available on the Whova app at the bottom of the Home page by clicking "Floormap." There are several workshops and events taking place at the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) on Tuesday and Wednesday, in addition to the tours of the Genealogy Center taking place there throughout the conference. The ACPL is one block away from the Convention Center on the corner of W. Washington Blvd. and Webster Street.
Whova App
Please download the Whova app for the latest conference program. You can download the Whova mobile app or access the web platform on a computer.
Use the Whova app to check each session's speaker, topic, title, time, and room. The app also includes floor plans, exhibitor information, giveaways and discounts, the names of conference attendees, and numerous ways to connect with attendees in Fort Wayne and online.
We encourage you to sign in to Whova, update your profile, upload your photo, and start connecting with other attendees. Please visit the Registration Desk if you need assistance with Whova on-site.
Speaker Handouts and Compendium
You can access speaker handouts in two
ways:
- NGS
has shared a link to the Compendium with conference registrants. You'll be
able to download the PDF to your computer. You may print one copy for your
personal use.
- Each session listing in the Whova app or web portal will have the speaker's handout available for download in the coming weeks. You can open the handout right on your laptop or mobile device. The speaker often references websites and resources in the handout, which requires less note-taking.
Please note that capturing, transmitting, or redistributing materials from either the Compendium or the individual handouts in the app, or taking photos, videos, or screenshots of the presentations in a lecture, infringes on the intellectual property rights of the speakers. Review the NGS Social Media Policy in the Compendium.
NEW: RSVP and Add to my Agenda for Sessions
The interactive sessions with an
"RSVP" button in Whova have limited seating and are NOT being
recorded. RSVP for those now if you are sure you want to attend. If you change
your mind and decide not to attend, please un-RSVP so someone else can have
your spot.
All other sessions with an "Add to My Agenda" button are open seating until the room is full. Those sessions ARE being recorded and you will find the recordings in the Whova app within 24-48 hours of the live session.
Session Recordings
Conference session recordings will be available in Whova 48-72 hours after a session concludes to complete post-production processing. Recordings are available to watch through 11:59 p.m. ET on 15 July 2026.
PDF Schedule
If you prefer to view the main conference schedule as a PDF or print a copy, you can find it in Whova under Resources > Documents. Please print the PDF before you leave if you need a printed copy. We will post any last-minute speaker cancellations or changes to the Whova app.
Badge Pickup and On-Site Registration
On-site registration and badge pickup are located at the registration desk in the lobby of the Grand Wayne Convention Center near Convention Hall A on the Ground Floor. Materials will be released only to the person named on the registration and upon presentation of a valid ID consistent with the name of the person who pre-registered.
Registration Hours:
- Tuesday,
26 May | 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday,
27 May | 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
- Thursday,
28 May | 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
- Friday,
29 May | 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
- Saturday, 30 May | 7:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Expo Hall
The Expo Hall in Fort Wayne is open to all conference participants with a badge. Exhibitor information is available in the Compendium and the Whova app.
Expo Hall Hours:
- Wednesday,
27 May | 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Expo Hall Opening Event
- Thursday,
28 May | 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
- Friday,
29 May | 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
- Saturday, 30 May | 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Tours
If you registered for a tour, you should meet at the bus loading area 30 minutes before your tour begins. Tour groups will meet in the hallway between Convention Hall A and the Harrison meeting rooms, near the Washington Blvd. entrance. Please be sure you pick up your badge before your tour departure. You need a badge for every session or event. For workshops taking place on Tuesday before registration opens, there will be a registration list at the workshop room entrance, and you will be admitted without a badge.
Buy/Sell/Trade Tickets
All ticketed events are sold out, or registration is closed. You may sell or trade your tickets with other attendees via the BUY/SELL Conference Event Tickets discussion in the Community section in Whova.
Wi-Fi
There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotels and convention center.
Clothing
Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes and clothing. You will do a lot of walking and sitting. NGS cannot control the temperatures in the facility, and event rooms may be hot or cold, so prepare for both. Please remember, temperature is subjective. You may be chilly, but others may be warm. If temperatures are highly uncomfortable, please notify a room monitor, who will contact event management.
Food and Beverage
There are water stations throughout the hotel. We encourage you to bring a refillable bottle to use throughout the week.
There will be concessions available in the Exhibit Hall 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Parking
Please visit https://www.visitfortwayne.com/plan/tools/transportation/parking/ for more information on parking in Fort Wayne. Make sure you have license plate information with you for times that may be needed in a parking app.
Have Fun, Be Kind
We want everyone to have the best experience possible in Fort Wayne. NGS does not tolerate inappropriate behavior in any form. Inappropriate behavior includes but is not limited to abuse, discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or sustained disruption. Email us or stop by Registration if you need to discuss a concern or ask for staff assistance.
See You Soon in Fort Wayne and Online
If you have any questions, please
email conference@ngsgenealogy.org. Enjoy the NGS 2026 Family History
Conference, America at 250!
