This alert contains information on the conventions and sporting events that will be arriving in May and June 2026. We hope you find this information useful for scheduling and to help welcome attendees.
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2026 OVR Girls Junior National Championships #2 | May 2-3 |
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The Ohio Valley Region Girl’s Junior National Championships will be a two-day tournament May 2-3 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. OVR includes teams from Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. Admission is $15 per day. Doors open at 7 a.m., and pool play begins at 8 a.m. Subsequent matches will begin after the conclusion of the previous match. Bracket play begins at approximately 2:30 p.m.
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SkillsUSA Ohio 2026 Skills Ohio Championships | May 5-6 |
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The SkillsUSA Ohio State Championships brings more than 5,000 competitors, business and industry partners, instructors, and vendors together across more than 100 contests to showcase career and technical education in Ohio. Students compete for the title of best in Ohio in their respective career fields.
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Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption 2026 Wendy's Wonderful Kids Summit | May 5-7 |
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Through its signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption supports the hiring of adoption professionals, known as recruiters, who are dedicated to finding permanent families for the longest-waiting children in foster care.
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2026 OVR Girls Junior National Championships #3 | May 9-10 |
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The Ohio Valley Region Girl’s Junior National Championships will be a two-day tournament May 9-10 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. OVR includes teams from Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. Admission is $15 per day. Doors open at 7 a.m., and pool play begins at 8 a.m. Subsequent matches will begin after the conclusion of the previous match. Bracket play begins at approximately 2:30 p.m.
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World Cup Base Camp 2026| May 15- July 19 |
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The Ecuador men’s national soccer team will use ScottsMiracle-Gro Field as its base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team will live and train in Columbus for the duration of the tournament. The base camp will provide training facilities and accommodations for the team. Columbus will host World Cup–related events and fan activities.
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2026 OVR Girls National Championships #4 | May 16-17 |
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The Ohio Valley Region Girl’s Junior National Championships will be a two-day tournament May 16-17 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. OVR includes teams from Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. Admission is $15 per day. Doors open at 7 a.m., and pool play begins at 8 a.m. Subsequent matches will begin after the conclusion of the previous match. Bracket play begins at approximately 2:30 p.m.
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2026 Division I Men’s Golf Regionals | May 18-20 |
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The NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Regionals will be held at The Ohio State University Golf Club from May 18-20. A practice round will take place May 17, followed by competition rounds May 18-20. Athletes will compete for a spot in the NCAA Championship.
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2026 Great History Challenge National Championship | May 22-24 |
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A nationwide competition designed to be accessible for teachers, engaging for students and memorable for all participants.
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AnthroOhio 2026 | May 22-24 |
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AnthrOhio is an annual furry convention located in Columbus, Ohio, featuring a relaxed atmosphere, nightly dances and a variety of events.
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2026 JVA SummerFest | May 30-31 |
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This two-day volleyball tournament features more than 500 teams across the Midwest, Mideast, and Mid-South. Tickets are $20 for a single day or $35 for an all-event pass.
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Sports ETA Chief Executive Summit | June 1-3 |
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The Chief Executive Summit brings C-suite sports destinations, industry partners and sports events executives. This three-day Summit incorporates mixers, roundtable discussions, keynote speakers and breakout sessions.
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2026 OHSAA Jesse Owens Track & Field State Championships | June 4-7 |
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The Ohio High School Athletic Association is hosting a four-day track and field state championship at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Divisions 4 and 5 will compete on the 4th and 5th; Division 3 will compete on June 5th and 6th; and Divisions 1 and 2 will compete on the 7th. Competition on June 4th will begin at 1pm, while all other days will begin at 9:30am.
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2026 USAV Girls Club Championship | June 5-7 |
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The 2026 USAV Girls Club Championship is an inaugural event that will host approximately 450 teams in the 10U-17U divisions. Day 1 will be pool play, Day 2 will feature challenge rounds by division and Day 3 will be bracket play with awards across all levels.
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2026 Boys and Girls State Lacrosse Championships | June 6-7 |
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The Ohio High School Athletic Association will host the boys lacrosse state finals June 6, followed by the girls lacrosse state finals June 7. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults. Parking is $10 for attendees.
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International Public Library Fundraising Conference (IPLFC26) | June 7-9 |
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Now in its 10th year, the International Public Library Fundraising Conference unites foundation leaders, development professionals and library executives from across the U.S. and Canada.
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Galaxycon Animate! Columbus | June 12-14 |
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Animate! Columbus 2026 is a multiday anime convention celebrating Japanese pop culture, gaming, cosplay and fandom. The event features celebrity guests, voice actors, panels, an expansive vendor hall, artist showcases and interactive programming. Highlights include cosplay contests, gaming tournaments, live entertainment and themed evening events, creating an engaging and energetic experience for fans of all levels.
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Plexus Worldwide 2026 Annual Convention | June 12-14 |
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Founded in 2008, Plexus Worldwide is a pioneer in the gut health space, providing products that support whole-body wellness from the inside out. This network of Brand Ambassadors works to bring these products directly to people, families and communities seeking sustainable transformation.
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Buckeye Country Super Fest | June 12-14 |
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Country music festival and concert held at Ohio Stadium.
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Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) 2026 Origins Game Fair 30th Anniversary | June 17-21 |
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GAMA attracts more than 20,000 attendees over Pride Weekend. Origins features five days of open gaming, tournaments, cosplay, special events and a robust exhibit hall showcasing the latest in board games, RPGs, card games and accessories. The convention draws a diverse, multi-generational audience from across the country.
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Barrett-Jackson Auction Company | June 25-27 |
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The Barrett-Jackson Columbus Auction will take place June 25–27, 2026 at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds, bringing one of the world’s premier collector-car auctions to Columbus. The multi-day event will feature hundreds of classic, exotic, and custom vehicles, rare automobilia, exhibitor displays, and interactive automotive experiences for collectors and fans alike.
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2026 NWSL Challenge Cup | June 26 |
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On Friday, June 26, at 8 p.m., Scotts Miracle-Gro Field will host an NWSL Challenge Cup match between Gotham FC and Kansas City Current. This is the first NWSL game to be hosted in Columbus. The match will also be streamed on Prime Video, giving audiences everywhere the opportunity to watch.
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League of Women Voters of the U.S. (LWVUS) 2026 Convention | June 26-28 |
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Now in its 10th year, the International Public Library Fundraising Conference unites foundation leaders, development professionals and library executives from across the U.S. and Canada.
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National Emergency Number Association 2026 Annual Conference & Trade Show | June 27-July 2 |
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This event brings together public safety professionals, dispatchers, emergency managers, technology vendors and policymakers to improve emergency communications systems, especially 9-1-1 services across North America.
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The Convention and Sports Alert is published monthly to assist area restaurants, hotels and other facilities in anticipating their staffing and supply needs. To add a recipient to receive this email, have them fill out this form. To change or delete an email recipient, please contact Jenese Tchokouani at jtchokouani@experiencecolumbus.com.
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