Conference Information

Join IRC at the 57th Annual IRC Conference from March 12-13, 2026 at the Bank of Springfield Center and President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield, Illinois.  IRC will be excited to learn from the following featured speakers who will help teachers, specialists, and administrators from every grade-level and content area.

SCROLL DOWN TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE UPCOMING CONFERENCE!

• Registering?  You can register for the 2026 IRC Conference by returning the Registration Form by Mail/Fax or on the secured Online Conference Registration System. Please note that early registration with discounted prices ends on February 5, 2026!  Onsite registration is recommended for those registering after March 1, 2026.  If registering with a purchase order, please see the instructions detailed above.  Please note that the meal functions require pre-purchased tickets and will not be available for purchase on-site. Individuals who need special accommodations must make specific requests in writing to the IRC Office at least three weeks prior to the conference. Please take a moment to read the complete General Conference Information Policy.

• Not an IRC Member?  When you register for the conference as a non-member, it automatically includes one-year of IRC Membership. From the IRC Membership Form, please choose one local or special interest council. Otherwise, you can join via the separate IRC Membership Form today.  If you are already a member and register as a non-member, it will extend your membership for another year.
  
  

• Interested in Group Rates?  Discounted rates are available for groups of 10+ participants. For more information, please see the Group Registration Form.
  

• Conference Scholarships?  IRC will be awarding five (5) recipients with a scholarship for complimentary conference registration and membership.  Apply online before January 15th.

• Housing Reservations?  Special rates have been negotiated at Springfield area hotels. To obtain these special rates visit the Reserve Housing Online Webpage, reservations must be made directly with the hotels either by phone or online by February 15, 2026. Please note there will not be a shuttle service from the off-site hotels to the Bank of Springfield Center.  Downtown Springfield also has many public parking options that cost anywhere from $5 to $10 a day to park. Please download the Springfield Parking Map to help you locate parking options in Springfield.
  
  
• Interested in Presenting?  Program Proposals are being accepted via the Online Program Proposal Form.  The deadline has been extended until December 15, 2025.  Please also take a moment to review the criteria for selection and general information about the IRC Conference including that presenters must register for the conference by February 1, 2026.

• Order a Conference Shirt?  Preorder your conference merchandise by February 1, 2025!  Conference merchandise can be ordered via online order form or by mail/fax.  Only preorders will be available for pick up at the Registration Area in the Bank of Springfield Center.  Merchandise will not be available for purchase at the conference.
  
  

• Join the IRC Book Club?  To find out more about the latest book clubs, visit the IRC Book Club webpage for more information.
  

• Interested in Volunteering?  IRC is looking for volunteers to work at the 2026 IRC Conference in the registration booth, at conference events, and in many other areas. If interested, please take a moment to fill out the Conference Volunteer Form by mail or the Online Volunteer Form by February 1, 2026. Thank you! Your help is much appreciated!
  
  
• Reserve an Exhibit Booth? Visit the Exhibitors Information Webpage to find out about exhibiting at the IRC Conference.

• Interested in PD Clock Hours?  Following the conference, registered attendees can print and submit the PD Clock Hour Forms or submit the Online PD Clock Hour Form. It is recommended to submit your forms within one week of the conference.  If you are a presenter, you can also submit your Presenters Acknowledgement and Clock Hour Forms with the online form only.
  
  

For more information, contact us at [email protected].