Annual Meeting 2026

Save the date

IOA Annual Meeting 2026

August 27-29, 2026

President Abraham Lincoln Hotel & BOS Center

Springfield, IL

Join colleagues from across Illinois in downtown Springfield, IL for the IOA Annual Meeting. Complete all 12 hours of tested CE for the 2026-2028 CE cycle in one convenient weekend.

Make plans now to learn, reconnect with peers, and celebrate Illinois optometry at the IOA Annual Meeting. 

Click here to register

2026 Award Nominations

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 Optometrist of the Year, Young Optometrist of the Year, Student of the Year, and Paraoptometric of the Year. Click on the lins below to review the criteria and submit your nomination. Nominations are due by July 1, 2026. 

OD/Young OD of the Year

Paraoptometric of the Year

Student of the Year

Book Your Stay

IOA has secured a discounted room rate of $150/night at the President Abraham Lincoln DoubleTree Hotel. Follow the link below to book your stay. The room block rate expires on August 6, 2026. 

Book Your Stay Here

2026 Golf Classic & Gray Cup

Registration is now open for the 2026 IOA Golf Classic and Gray Cup. The golf outing will be held at the Rail Golf Course in Springfield, IL, on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. 

Golf Registration

Golf Sponsorship

Download the App

Download the app to stay connected before and during the Annual Meeting! Create an event schedule, view the exhibitors, and read about the speaker lineup. Click on the link below and scan the QR code to download the app. 

Click here to download the app

Exhibitor Registration

Exhibitor registration is now open online. Follow the link below for additional information and registration. 

Exhibitor Registration

Student & New Grad Poster Session

The Poster Session creates an opportunity for students and clinicians to display and share interesting cases and research with fellow optometrists. Posters will be presented at the 2026 IOA Annual Meeting on Saturday, August 29, from 11am-1pm in the Exhibit Hall. All abstracts must be complete and unpublished at time of submission. Abstracts will be considered within the submission period from May 26, 2026, to July 10, 2026 (11:59 CDT).

Learn More