Getting here is easier than you think!

Join the National Waterways Conference for our 2026 Annual Meeting in Moline, Illinois. Connect with water and waterways leaders, federal partners, and industry stakeholders for three days of policy discussion, networking, and on-the-water learning along the Upper Mississippi River system.

Moline sits in the heart of the Quad Cities, where water resources infrastructure, agriculture, freight movement, flood management, water supply, ecosystem restoration, recreation, and regional economic priorities come together in a nationally significant watershed. 

Thank you to our local co-hosts!

Event Details

Dates: August 25-27, 2026
Meeting Venue: Vibrant Arena at The Mark, Moline, Ill.
HQ Hotel: Wyndham Moline on John Deere Commons (a 2-minute walk to the Vibrant Arena)

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Meeting Agenda

View the draft agenda here.

Joining us for opening night? Register for the Take Me to the Ballgame reception here – open to attendees, guests, and spouses; separate signup required.

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Registration

Registration Link: https://nwc.memberclicks.net/am26registration

If you are a federal employee, please email [email protected] for the discount code prior to registering.

Registration Fees

Registration Type	Early Bird June 1 – July 10	Regular July 11 – August 14	Last Call August 15 – August 27
Member	$799	$1,025	$1,195
Non-Member	$1,175	$1,349	$1,549
*Federal Government Employee	$450
One-Day Pass – Member	$495
One-Day Pass – Non-Member	$695
Guest/Spouse	$175
Baseball Game Ticket Tickets are included for meeting attendees and guest/spouse registrations. Additional tickets are available for purchase.	$100

Day Pass: Includes access to one day of sessions and meals. Does not include receptions or mobile tours. Day passes cannot be combined.

Guest/Spouse: Includes meals, the baseball game on Tuesday, and Wednesday’s reception. Does not include sessions or tours.

Please Note: All open invoices must be paid prior to the start of the conference.

*The Federal Government Employee rate is only available for federal government employees.

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Take Me to the Ballgame – Opening Night Reception & Game

Tuesday, August 25  |  4:45 PM – 9:30 PM  |  Modern Woodmen Park

Quad Cities River Bandits vs. Beloit Sky Carp | First pitch at 6:30 PM

We’re mixing things up for opening night. Join NWC at Modern Woodmen Park as the River Bandits (a Kansas City Royals affiliate) take on the Beloit Sky Carp (a Miami Marlins affiliate) for a casual evening of baseball, burgers, hot dogs, and conversation with old and new friends. Buses will be provided from the Wyndham.

Already registered for the Annual Meeting? Sign up for the ballgame here.

Timeline
4:45 PM                                         Shuttle loading begins at the Wyndham
5:00 PM                                          First shuttle departs from the Wyndham
5:15 PM – 6:15 PM                          Reception
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM                        All you can eat buffet
6:30 PM – approx. 9:30 PM           Game
8:45 PM                                          Return shuttles begin

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Venue & Hotel Accommodations

Meeting Venue

All sessions, and the expo will be held at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, located next to the Wyndham Moline in the heart of downtown Moline, Ill. along the Mississippi River. The venue offers easy access to dining, riverfront walking paths, and the hotel block.

Address: The Vibrant Arena at the MARK, 1201 River Drive, Moline, Ill. 61265

Hotel Accommodations

NWC has secured a discounted room block at the Wyndham Moline on John Deere Commons, Moline, Ill. for Annual Meeting attendees. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis and the block typically sells out in advance of the cutoff date. Reserve early to secure the group rate.

Hotel: Wyndham Moline on John Deere Commons, 1415 River Dr, Moline, Ill. 61265

*NWC Rate: $110 (plus applicable fees and taxes)

Reserve your room: https://tinyurl.com/52hb24fj

*Cut-off Date: August 3, 2026

*Group rates apply while inventory lasts or until August 3, whichever occurs first. Reservations after this date are subject to availability and standard rates.

Note: Hotel reservations are managed directly with the hotel. NWC’s cancellation policy does not govern hotel bookings (see Cancellation & Refund Policy below).

WARNING – Important Notice Regarding Annual Meeting Hotel Reservations

If you are contacted by someone asking if you need a room reservation for the 2026 NWC Annual Meeting, or if they represent themselves as the “NWC Housing Provider,” please capture the name, phone number and/or email of the individual, and send to [email protected]. NWC is NOT working with a housing bureau or third-party reservation system.

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Getting to the Quad Cities

The 2026 Annual Meeting takes place in Moline, Illinois, in the heart of the Quad Cities region along the Mississippi River. Located in the center of the country, the Quad Cities are remarkably easy to reach whether you’re flying or driving. More than 37 million people live within a comfortable drive, and the region connects to virtually every major U.S. city through nearby airport hubs.

Flying In

The closest and most convenient option is Quad Cities International Airport (MLI), located right in Moline just minutes from Vibrant Arena and area hotels. MLI offers daily nonstop service to major hubs including Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Denver via American, Delta, and United, which means easy one-stop connections from nearly anywhere in the country. Rental cars, rideshare, taxis, and hotel shuttles are all available at the terminal.

Prefer more flight options or want to compare fares? Three additional airports are within easy driving distance:

• The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) in Cedar Rapids, about 1 hour 20 minutes away
• General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA) in Peoria, about 1 hour 30 minutes away
• Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW), both roughly 2.5 to 3 hours away, with the widest range of nonstop flights nationwide

Driving In

The Quad Cities sit at the crossroads of Interstates 80, 74, and 88, making the drive straightforward from across the Midwest and beyond. Approximate drive times: Chicago, 2.5 hours; Des Moines, 2.5 hours; St. Louis, 4 hours; Minneapolis, 4.5 hours; Indianapolis, 4.5 hours.

Parking

Parking at Vibrant Arena is free during meeting hours, so there’s no need to budget for daytime parking at the venue. Overnight parking at the Wyndham is just $5 per night.

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Sponsorship Opportunities

View the Sponsorship Prospectus and the floor plan!

Become a sponsor today!

Sponsoring the NWC Annual Meeting puts your organization in front of the non-federal sponsors, ports, levee districts, water agencies, engineering firms, and public-sector leaders working to advance America’s water resources infrastructure. Our membership spans the full range of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works missions, including navigation, flood risk management, water supply, hydropower, ecosystem restoration, and recreation.

More than a logo on a sign, sponsorship is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership, strengthen relationships, and support the cross-mission conversations that help move projects, policies, and partnerships forward.

Why Sponsor

• Direct access
• Brand visibility across NWC communications, on-site signage, and the conference app
• Speaking and hosting opportunities at select levels
• Networking with NWC members across the inland navigation, ports, and water resources sectors

Become a Sponsor

To request a sponsorship prospectus or discuss customized opportunities, contact [email protected].

Confirmed Sponsors

NWC gratefully acknowledges the following organizations for their support of the 2026 Annual Meeting:

Local Co-Host:

Agriculture Partner:

Tributary Partners:

Confluence Partners:

Riparian Partners:

                    

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Cancellation & Refund Policy

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to [email protected].

Registration Refunds

• On or before July 13, 2026: Full refund less a $75 administrative processing fee.
• July 14 through August 3, 2026: 50% refund of registration fees paid.
• After August 3, 2026: No refunds will be issued. No-shows are not eligible for refunds.

Substitutions

Registrations may be transferred to another individual from the same organization at no charge. Substitution requests must be submitted in writing to [email protected] no later than August 21, 2026. Note that member rates apply only when the substitute is also an NWC member; rate adjustments may apply.

Hotel Reservations

NWC’s refund policy does not govern hotel reservations. Attendees are responsible for canceling hotel reservations directly with the hotel in accordance with the hotel’s cancellation policy.

Event Modification

NWC reserves the right to modify, postpone, or transition the event to a virtual format in response to circumstances beyond its control. In the event of such a change, registrations will be honored for the rescheduled or modified event. Refund eligibility in these circumstances will be determined by NWC and communicated to registrants.

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Questions?

Contact our team at [email protected].