This alert contains information on the conventions and sporting events that will be arriving in June and July 2026. We hope you find this information useful for scheduling and to help welcome attendees.
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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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U.S. Senior Open 2026 | July 2-5 |
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The U.S. Senior Open is the 46th edition of the event and features golfers from the PGA Tour Champions. Columbus previously hosted the event in 2016. A total of 156 golfers will compete in 72 holes of stroke play. Attendees can choose from multiple ticket packages through the USGA, including Trophy Club, Gallery, Gallery Flex 5-Pack and Group Tickets.
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2026 PBT Great Lakes Summer Championship | July 2-5 |
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The PB Great Lakes Summer Championship returns to the Columbus area July 2-5, 2026, bringing together 72 teams across the 14U-18U divisions for a four-game-guarantee tournament at Jennings Sports Park. Hosted by Prep Baseball Report, the event features high-level regional competition, championship bracket play and extensive college and professional scouting coverage throughout the holiday weekend.
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2026 NORCECA Women’s U21 Pan American Cup | July 7-12 |
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The 2026 NORCECA Women’s U21 Pan American Cup is an elite international volleyball tournament that will bring eight of the top junior women’s national teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean to Ohio State’s Covelli Center from July 7–12, 2026. Hosted by USA Volleyball, the event showcases many of the sport’s rising stars and future Olympians through six days of high-level international competition, including pool play, quarterfinals, semifinals and championship matches.
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Buckeye Elite Baseball Tournament | July 9-12 |
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The Buckeye Elite Showcase Tournament is one of the Midwest’s premier high school baseball showcase events, bringint together top travel teams from across the U.S. and Canada for four days of elite competition in Central Ohio. Held on more than 55 high school and college fields, the tournament offers athletes major exposure to college recruiters and scouts while featuring championship play at Ohio State’s Bill Davis Stadium.
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2026 PB Columbus Invite | July 9-12 |
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The PB Columbus Invite is a multiday youth travel baseball tournament in the Columbus area featuring approximately 39 teams across several age divisions competing in pool play and bracket-style games. Teams compete at multiple local fields throughout the weekend in a structured schedule designed to guarantee several games per team while providing a showcase environment for players to be evaluated by scouts and recruiters.
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2026 Buckeye Showdown RecruitFest | July 10-12 |
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The Buckeye RecruitFest is a multiday fastpitch softball tournament held in Columbus featuring teams across several age divisions competing in pool play and bracket-style games at Lou Berliner Sports Park. The event serves as both a competitive tournament and recruiting showcase, with college coaches in attendance to evaluate players and provide exposure opportunities.
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Goodguys Summit Racing Nationals | July 10-12 |
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The Goodguys Summit Racing Nationals is one of the largest classic and custom car shows in the country, held annually at the Ohio Expo Center. The event brings together thousands of hot rods, muscle cars, trucks and custom builds, typically model year 1999 and older, for a weekend celebrating automotive culture and community.
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2026 Columbus Book Festival | July 11-12 |
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The Columbus Book Festival is a free annual two-day literary festival hosted by the Columbus Metropolitan Library and the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation. The festival features more than 200 national and Columbus-based authors, along with panel discussions, author talks, a marketplace and other literary programming.
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Cultivate'26 Presented by AmericanHort | July 11-14 |
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AmericanHort is the leading national association for the green industry. The organization is committed to connecting the industry and providing opportunities to expand networks and resources so businesses can perform better, grow faster and prepare for the future.
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Institute of Catholic Liberal Education’s (ICLE) 2026 National Conference | July 14-17 |
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Their largest annual event, the National Conference inspires and equips a growing community of Catholic educators to reclaim the Church’s full vision of education and to bring it to life in their classrooms. Hundreds of Catholic educators come together to deepen their understanding of the nature and purpose of Catholic education and its roots in the liberal arts tradition.
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NOAHCon 2026 | July 16-19 |
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The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH) serves as a conduit for accurate, authoritative information about all aspects of living with albinism and to provide a place where people with albinism and their families in the U.S. and Canada can find acceptance, support and fellowship.
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2026 PBT Mid Ohio Summer Championships| July 16-19 |
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The PB Mid Ohio Summer Championship is a multiday travel baseball tournament held in the Columbus area featuring 55 teams across several age divisions competing in pool play followed by bracket and consolation games. Teams compete at multiple high school and college venues throughout the region, with each team guaranteed several games over the course of the event.
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2026 North America All Sanctioned World Series 14U | July 17-19 |
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The North American All Sanctioned World Series is a multiday youth fastpitch softball tournament held in Columbus at Lou Berliner Sports Park. The event brings together teams across multiple age divisions for pool play and bracket competition, while also offering opening ceremonies, skills competitions, all-star games and recruiting opportunities for athletes.
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2026 National Convention of Free Will Baptists | July 19-22 |
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This event features worship, preaching, discussion, fellowship and celebrations, along with breakout sessions designed for learning and connecting with fellow attendees.
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Attendance: 2,500
Meals: Attendees are on their own for meals. Expect a large rush between 4-6:30 p.m.
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center
Facebook: facebook.com/NAFWB
X: X.com/NAFWB
Group Contact: Ryan Lewis
Experience Columbus Contact: Zach Wellman
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2026 Beyond The Read Author Convention | July 23-26 |
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The Beyond The Read Author Convention is a multiday book event that connects readers with more than 150 independent authors, narrators and cover models. The event includes a day of book signing, panel discussions and social activities, attracting book lovers and literary vendors from around the world.
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2026 USAV All-Star Championships | July 23-26 |
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The USA Volleyball All-Star Championships is a high-level national junior volleyball event hosted in Columbus by the Ohio Valley Region of USA Volleyball. Held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, the event brings together elite boys and girls athletes from across the country to compete in multiple age divisions while training under top coaches and gaining exposure to college recruiters and national team pathways.
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2026 PBT Ohio Summer World Series | July 23-26 |
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The PB Ohio Summer World Series is a multiday travel baseball tournament held in the greater Columbus area that brings together teams across several age divisions, from 14U-18U, for pool play and bracket-style championship games. Hosted primarily at Jennings Sports Park and surrounding venues, the event features scouting coverage, player evaluations and showcase opportunities for athletes seeking recruiting exposure.
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2026 North American All Sanctioned World Series 9-12 | July 31-August 2 |
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The 8U, 10U and 12U All Sanctioned World Series is a multiday youth fastpitch softball tournament held at Lou Berliner Sports Park. The event brings together teams from multiple sanctioning organizations for pool play and championship brackets, along with opening ceremonies, skills competitions and all-star games that create a World Series-style experience for athletes and families.
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2026 Premier Lacrosse League Tour | July 31-August 2 |
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The Premier Lacrosse League Columbus Weekend is a three-day professional lacrosse event taking place July 31-Aug. 2, 2026, at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium. Part of the Premier Lacrosse League national touring schedule, the weekend features professional matchups, fan experiences, youth activities and nationally televised games.
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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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