Attendees at the 2026 Joint Annual Conference will find much that is new, as the presenting organizations work to enhance the premier training event for Illinois school leaders. Here’s another “What’s New?” for 2026.

IASB has made a few changes to its annual Delegate Assembly to make it easier for delegates to participate in this important member function, and still miss as little as possible of the other Conference activities.

The location of the Delegate Assembly has changed for 2026. It will now take place in the Grand Ballrooms (Hyatt East Tower Ballroom Level). This is the same space that hosts the General Sessions each day of Conference. The larger venue will allow additional seating for non-delegate school board members interested in viewing the Delegate Assembly.

The day is the same, but the time has changed. The Delegate Assembly for 2026 will take place at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, November 21. New this year, delegates and Resolutions Committee members will be provided with a box lunch. With these changes, delegates will be able to attend more Saturday Panel Sessions.

Delegate check-in and packet pickup = have relocated to the Grand Ballroom Registration Desk, across the hall from the Grand Ballrooms and next to the Bookstore. IASB continues to recommend that delegates be registered online in advance of the Delegate Assembly, and delegate registration will open in September. However, onsite delegate registrations will be available.

In the first “What’s New,” IASB shared info about a new look for the Hyatt Regency and a new date and times for the equity workshops. In the second “What’s New,” a second Exhibit Trade Show was announced, to be held at the Sheraton Grand on the Saturday of the Conference.

Some things haven’t changed: The 2026 Joint Annual Conference will take place during the same timeframe as usual: November 20-22, the weekend before Thanksgiving. Headquarters hotels are the Hyatt Regency Chicago and Sheraton Grand Chicago, plus events at the Swissôtel and housing blocks reserved at several other downtown hotels. Registration opened June 1.

Visit the Joint Annual Conference webpage for details and updates.