ABMA Annual Conference

The ABMA is partnering with IAATE (International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators) for a joint conference in Cincinnati in 2026!

The conference theme is Partnering For Success

Dates: 29 March - 2 April 2026

Registration Opens 1 November!

Location: Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza is the conference hotel. Room rate is $169/night.

Our Conservation Partner for the 2026 conference is the Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (NAMCOB).
A portion of your conference registration fee will go towards this amazing organization.

ABMA Merchandise Available!

Upload your conference photos here! **By uploading your photo(s) you agree to the ABMA digital media general disclaimer: The undersigned (the "Photographer") hereby irrevocably grants to the Animal Behavior Management Alliance (the “ABMA") full and complete permission to use the submitted digital media in any ABMA publication, including, but not limited to, use in Behavior Month, Engage, illustrations, internet content, and other outlets of publication and marketing. With the exception of the foregoing, the ABMA makes no claims to ownership of the submitted digital media and ownership rights are retained by the Photographer.

Conference Policies Conference Policies ABMA-IAATE Conference Code of Conduct The Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA) and the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE) are committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all. All participants, including attendees, speakers, volunteers, and exhibitors, are expected to understand and follow this conference code of conduct. These expectations apply to all ABMA and IAATE events. Personal Safety and Security ABMA and IAATE will work with venue staff to make sure participants are safe. We ask that all attendees report any questionable activity to any ABMA or IAATE board member. No concern is too small – if you see something, say something. • Be aware of your surroundings at all times. • Regardless of where you are, use the buddy system when walking to and from the conference location, networking event locations, etc. – especially during early or late hours. • Do not wear your meeting badge on the street. Take it off as soon as you leave the venue. • Do not carry a lot of cash or credit cards. • Do not leave personal property unattended anywhere at any time. Responsible Drinking At many ABMA and IAATE networking events, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are served. ABMA and IAATE expect participants at our events to drink responsibly. ABMA, IAATE, and conference host event staff, have the right to deny service to participants and may require a participant to leave the event. Unacceptable Conduct Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to: • Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form. • Any abuse, including physical, verbal, or non-verbal abuse. • Disruption of presentations at sessions, in the exhibit hall, or at any events organized by ABMA and IAATE at the meeting venue, hotel, or other ABMA and IAATE contracted facilities. • Comments related to gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, or political affiliation. • Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations. • Threatening or stalking any person. Sexual Harassment Sexual harassment is unacceptable conduct of a sexual nature which makes a person feel uncomfortable, offended, humiliated, and/or intimidated. Examples of conduct or behavior which constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to: Physical conduct • Physical violence, including sexual assault. • Unwelcome physical contact or inappropriate touching. • The use of threats or rewards to solicit sexual favors. Verbal conduct • Comments or insults based on appearance, age, private life, etc. • Sexual comments, stories, or jokes. • Sexual advances. • Repeated and unwanted social invitations for dates or physical intimacy. • Condescending or sexist remarks. • Sending sexually explicit messages. Non-verbal conduct • Display of sexually explicit or suggestive material or images. • Sexually-suggestive gestures. • Whistling or “cat calling”. Reporting Unacceptable Conduct If you or anyone else is in immediate danger at any time, please contact local law enforcement by calling 911 and immediately notify facility security. ABMA and IAATE have zero-tolerance for any form of discrimination or harassment. If you experience or observe harassment, or if you hear of any incidents of unacceptable behavior, please inform any ABMA or IAATE board member so that action can be taken. Listed below are the joint planning committee executive board members for this conference: • Heather Samper, ABMA President • Lacey Zeno, IAATE President • Kit Lacy, IAATE Past President • Julie Grove, ABMA President-Elect • Tricia Dees, ABMA First Vice President • Kelly Elkins, ABMA Virtual Vice President • Helen Dishaw, IAATE Vice President • Erin Katzner, IAATE CFO Please alert ABMA or IAATE to any unacceptable conduct regardless of the offender’s identity or job title. Incidents will be handled with respect for the privacy of the victim and will remain confidential to the extent practical given the circumstances. The ABMA or IAATE board member receiving the report will respond appropriately and promptly. Upon receiving a complaint, the matter will be recorded and addressed confidentially. If the complaint is of a criminal nature, legal authorities will be notified. Reports made will be handled with one or more of the following actions towards the offender: • Verbal or written warning. • Suspension from the current ABMA-IAATE joint conference. • Denied registration for future ABMA and IAATE events. • Report of unacceptable conduct to employer. For more information on other ABMA policies, see the website- www.theabma.org/documents. For more information on other IAATE policies, see the websites- https://iaate.org/code-of-ethics/ and https://iaate.org/position-statements/ . By initialing, the attendee acknowledges and agrees that they have reviewed and understand the ABMA-IAATE Conference Code of Conduct. Further, by initialing, the attendee assumes all risk and accepts sole responsibility for any injury (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense, of any kind, that the attendee may experience or incur in connection with attending the ABMA-IAATE joint conference in Cincinnati in 2026. The attendee hereby releases, covenants not to sue, discharges, and holds harmless the Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA), the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE), and their respective employees, agents, and representatives, of and from any such claims, including all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating thereto (including with respect to COVID-19). Age Requirements No one under the age of 18 is permitted to register and attend the conference sessions, meetings, or social events, unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the entire conference. That parent or guardian must be a registered attendee and over the age of 18. Children under the age of 18 must be registered and accompanied by a registered parent/guardian over the age of 18 at all times. Media Photographers will be taking pictures at the conference, which may be used for promotional and educational purposes. Registration or participation in the meeting and other activities constitutes an agreement to allow ABMA and/or IAATE to use and distribute attendees image or voice in photographs and recordings of the meeting- now and in the future. BMF Scholarship BMF TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP Did you know that ABMA’s Behavior Management Fund (BMF) committee will provide a travel scholarship for the 2026 annual conference? The purpose of this scholarship is to assist a conference attendee whose institution is unable to provide them financial support. The Travel Scholarship will help the award recipient by giving them the ability to present their work and it will help the organizations by giving attendees the opportunity to hear presentations that the memberships otherwise would not have the opportunity to hear and as such, the Travel Scholarship supports our goal of sharing the knowledge. The scholarship will provide: Complimentary Conference Registration A $500 travel reimbursement BMF will pay for the presenter's hotel room Applicant Requirements: Applicant may not have received this scholarship in the previous year Applicant is required to submit one letter of reccomendation Submit your abstract here! Timeline for Abstract Submissions: Deadline for submissions- 1 November Authors notified- 29 November Accept/Deny presenting- 4 December Congratulations to Sarah van Herpt from Animals Asia as the winner of the 2025 BMF Scholarship! Healing Traumatised Bears: A Case Study Abstract Submissions If you have a behavior management accomplishment, an intriguing case study, a research project, or an innovation for the field, especially one that resonates with the theme of the conference, please come share it with your colleagues! The abstract submission details for the 2026 joint ABMA-IAATE conference are detailed below. Submit your abstract here! Abstracts are evaluated on the following parameters: quality of the abstract, content and subject matter of the paper, application of the ABMA mission statement, and incorporation of the theme of the conference. Please keep in mind that we receive a number of quality submissions each year, and not all abstracts can necessarily be accepted for presentation. When your abstract is accepted for either a poster or presentation you are required to submit a paper for the conference proceedings prior to presenting. This submission deadline is one week before the conference. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Conference Content Advisory Committee Co-Chairs or the 2026 1st Vice President. Presentation slots are 30 minutes total. There are a few 60 minute time slots available. Q&A after presentations will be exclusively on the Whova app; however, we encourage all presenters to be available for questions throughout the remainder of the conference. Poster presentations will be part of the conference as well. Details on your presentation will be emailed to you if you are selected as a presenter. Submit your abstract here! Timeline for the 2026 Abstract Submissions: Deadline for submission- 1 November Authors notified- 6 December Accept/Deny presenting- 20 December Conference Registration Conference Pricing: Registration opens 1 November. Get Excited! Reciprocity Registration: All IAATE members should have received a coupon code to register at the member rate. Contact IAATE if you need this code. Contact ABMA you have issues registering for the conference. If you want to utilize your reciprocity membership from AAZK or IMATA, you must contact us first to receive a coupon code to register. The ABMA reserves the right to deny the member rate upon verifying your member status- if you are not a member of AAZK or IMATA you will be charged the non-member rate. CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS: Your credit card transaction will appear on your credit card statement from PayPal as either THEABMA or THEANIMALBEHAVIOR. If you file a dispute over an ABMA transaction, either with your credit card company or PayPal, which turns out to be an approved ABMA transaction, you will incur any PayPal fees (~$20) associated with resolving this error for which the ABMA was charged. EARLY Registration: This registration is at a discounted rate. Deadline to purchase these items is 31 January unless otherwise noted. Early weekly member $395 Early weekly non-member $495 Daily member $130 (until 22 March) Daily non-member $165 (until 22 March) Zoo Day (1 April) is not included as a Daily rate. You will need to provide your own transportation to/from the zoo and purchase your zoo ticket at the zoo. Zoo Day is included in the weekly rate- transportation to and from the zoo will be provided, with multiple end-of-day departure times to choose from. REGULAR Registration:* This registration is at a higher rate. Deadline to purchase these items is 22 March. Regular weekly member $425 Regular weekly non-member $525 Daily member $130 Daily non-member $165 Zoo Day (1 April) is not included as a Daily rate. You will need to provide your own transportation to/from the zoo and purchase your zoo ticket at the zoo. Zoo Day is included in the weekly rate- transportation to and from the zoo will be provided, with multiple end-of-day departure times to choose from. Virtual Conference Registration: Yes, this option is available for the 2026 conference! Deadline to purchase these items is 22 March. Virtual weekly member $200 Virtual weekly non-member $250 Virtual weekly facility $750 (4 logins) Virtual weekly facility $1000 (6 logins) ON SITE Registration:* We will accept On Site registrations for weekly and daily registrations. On Site weekly member $525 On Site weekly non-member $625 On Site Daily member $150 On Site Daily non-member $175 A la Carte Items: The icebreaker, silent auction, and banquet ARE included in the weekly registration costs and you do not need to purchase them again. Daily Registrations do not include these extra events and will need to be purchased separately. The pre-conference workshop and trip, post conference trip, and Zoo Day workshops are an additional cost for any registration. Pre Conference Workshop- Sunday, 29 March 8:30am-4pm. Lunch on your own for 90 minutes. The Fine Art of Training Animals and Producing Inspirational Public Programs by Steve Martin, Natural Encounters, Inc. Cost- $100. Available for purchase until 29 March. This workshop will go beyond conventional positive reinforcement training lectures to describe the intricate details that trainers may not know or could overlook. This workshop will help attendees see how insightful observations, adjustments in perspective, and important changes to training strategies can produce extraordinary training outcomes that exceed expectations and promote better welfare for animals. This workshop will also describe how to empower animals to do what nature built them to do and stage these natural behaviors for our guests to experience. Producing inspirational educational programs is a critical aspect of our relationship with our guests. After attending this workshop, attendees will understand how: 1. Knowing and using the science of behavior change principles makes for a better trainer. 2. To dramatically improve their use of positive reinforcement to shape behavior. 3. To use positive reinforcement to replace unwanted behavior with desirable behavior. 4. To create trusting relationships with animals, including human animals. 5. To solve behavior problems and challenges. 6. To operationalize the terms ‘choice’ and ‘control’ and use these concepts to train desirable behavior, reduce stress, and promote enhanced welfare. 7. To gain voluntary participation from their animals in husbandry and medical behaviors. 8. To give animals a voice through their body language, and a vote in how we interact with them. 9. To shape behavior at the animal’s pace, which may be much faster than many think possible. 10. To produce engaging presentations that inspire caring emotions that lead to conservation action. Pre Conference Trip- Sunday, 29 March 8am-5pm. Visit the Louisville Zoo! Cost- $55 (max 56 people). Available for purchase until 29 March. Kick off your conference experience with a pre-conference trip to the Louisville Zoo, home to more than 1,100 animals. Explore habitats like Glacier Run, Gorilla Forest, and the Islands exhibit. The zoo combines conservation, education, and fun, offering an opportunity to connect with colleagues to start an exciting week ahead of learning and networking. The cost of the trip covers your admission and transportation to the zoo. Louisville Zoo will also generously be offering 50% discount on food and 40% discount on merchandise! Icebreaker- Sunday, 29 March 6-10pm at the Newport Aquarium with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Cost- $65. Available for purchase until 29 March. Enjoy an evening of catching up with old friends and a chance to meet new ones. Our Icebreaker is always a great opportunity to make new contacts and meet fellow IAATE and ABMA members and like-minded people. Start the conference on a splashy note at the Newport Aquarium! Connect with colleagues while wandering through fantastic exhibits, from colorful tropical fish to curious penguins. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, fun activities, and the opportunity to meet new friends in the heart of Newport, KY. The views are stunning, and this is just the place to get off on the right flipper for an unforgettable conference! Silent Auction- Tuesday, 31 March 6-9pm with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Cost- $65. Available for purchase until 29 March. Join us for an evening of food, music, and great conversation while browsing and bidding on exciting auction items. All proceeds from the auction benefit the ABMA’s Behavior Management Fund, supporting continued learning and innovation in our field. This event is the perfect opportunity to relax, connect, and enjoy time with both new and longtime friends. Workshops*- Wednesday, 1 April. Two identical, concurrent sessions are available- AM at the zoo; PM at the hotel. You can register for up to two (2) workshops. Cost- $35/workshop. Available for purchase until 22 March. The proceeds from these workshops benefit IAATE's Walt Crawford Memorial Scholarship.* Flying Free Workshop (max 30 people)- This workshop will focus on free flying birds, with a solid foundation in safety and welfare. Beginning with prerequisites and skills needed before you ever step foot outside, we will discuss the steps it takes to set birds up for success. There is much to consider when flying birds in an outdoor environment, from understanding what success looks like and how to measure it, evaluating the individual bird and the evaluation of trainer skill sets, to safety, consistency and more. Add in a few more challenges when flying multiple birds outdoors at once! We will aim to cover as much as possible with a focus on the challenges of free flight and lessons learned over years of experience. This 2-hour workshop is facilitated by Arianna Bailey, Natural Encounters, Inc. Cooperative Care Workshop (max 30 people)- All of us working with animals under human care know that they will all have to undergo various forms of medical treatment at some point during their lives. Some of them multiple times. We acknowledge that this medical intervention is often essential for the survival of the animal, but that sometimes the medical procedures are stressful (for us as well as the animal in question). There are however, a huge number of behaviors we can train our animals to be voluntary participants in, whether we are talking about injections, ultrasounds, footcare, dental or beak care, wound treatment, nebulization, x rays, and more. This workshop focuses on ALL species and aims to inspire creativity in your training sessions and encourage you to come up with clever antecedent arrangement solutions to teaching complex veterinary care behaviours. The workshop will feature video examples, discussion, and group work to get you thinking ‘outside the box’ and get some fresh ideas to take back to your facility, whatever species you work with. This 2-hour workshop will be facilitated by Nicky Plaskitt, Shaping Behaviour. Spread Wing Specimens Workshop (max 20 people)- Using natural history specimens or biofacts in programming can help increase the impact and accessibility of your center’s education by creating a multisensory experience for guests and helping them notice details difficult or impossible to see on a living ambassador. Preparing your own specimens is practical, affordable, and helps you learn more about the birds we work with. In this hands-on introduction to specimen preparation, you will make a spread wing specimen, learning skills you can take back to your center and build new specimen collections. Spread wing specimens are great for teaching feather groups, different wing shapes & functions across birds, exploring patterns & colors, demonstrating size differences, and so much more. This 2-hour workshop will be facilitated by Kit Ellsworth, University of Washington: Museology Masters Program, and Helena Echenique, Oakland Zoo. Banquet- Thursday, 2 April 6:30-10pm. Dinner will be a buffet and a cash bar. Cost- $100. Available for purchase until 2 April. To close out an unbelievable conference join us for the conference banquet. Awards, recognitions, conference highlights, and dancing will make for a memorable evening. Post Conference Trip- Friday, 3 April 8am-8pm. Visit The Wilds! Lunch will be provided. Cost- $120 (max 56 people). Available for purchase until 29 March. Extend your conference experience with a visit to The Wilds in Ohio, one of the world’s largest wildlife conservation centers. Explore expansive, natural habitats home to rare and endangered species from around the world and learn about groundbreaking conservation and research programs. This trip offers the opportunity to connect with wildlife up close while enjoying the beauty of Ohio’s open landscapes. Lunch will be provided during your visit. Space is limited, so don’t miss out on this experience. Sign up for this trip and have a WILD time! If you want to drive on your own and meet the bus of excited attendees, please contact us. General Schedule of Events: details will be posted as they are finalized* Sunday, 29 March- pre-conference workshop with Steve Martin, pre-conference trip to Louisville Zoo, registration, icebreaker, hospitality suite open Monday, 30 March- presentations, professional development night, hospitality suite open Tuesday, 31 March- presentations, silent auction, poster night, hospitality suite open Wednesday, 1 April- Zoo Day, workshops, hospitality suite open Thursday, 2 April- presentations, banquet, hospitality suite open Friday, 3 April- post conference trip to The Wilds See program for a more detailed schedule Contact us if you have any questions. REFUND POLICY: 100% until 30 days before the start of the conference 50% from 29 days until 8 days before the conference No refunds starting the week before the conference CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS (CEU’s): We typically offer CEU’s for a variety of organizations. Once the program is finalized we will submit for credits and post here. These are the organizations we typically provide CEU's for. If you need CEU's for another organization just let us know. IAABC- IATCB- CCPDT- We look forward to seeing you in Cincinnati! Hotel The Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza is the conference hotel. Rate: $169/night Reservations: Reserve your room! Deadline to book your room is 9 March 2026. Check in is 4pm; check out is 11am. Looking for a roommate? We can help! Send us an email to lodging@theabma.org and we will provide you with a list of other conference attendees looking for roommates. By providing a resource to assist conference attendees with their lodging finances, the conference attendee hereby agrees to not hold liable The Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA) for any of the roommate choices attendees may consider, pursue, and/or agree upon. It is the sole responsibility of the conference attendee to communicate with and research a potential roommate for the annual conference. The ABMA is merely providing a means to communicate, which will only be released via electronic media to the individual conference attendee requesting the aforementioned assistance. Transportation The Cincinnati Airport (CVG) is actually in Kentucy. Not to worry, Cincinnati is a just a short drive across the river! Click here for more information about this airport. Uber and Lyft will service both airports. Sponsors Our annual conference would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring, the Cincinnati sponsorship packet is available to view and download- click on the photo. Vendor booth space will be available! You can also contact us for more information. Thank you to our conference sponsors! This conference would not happen without you. Pre and Post Conference Details Pre-Conferece Workshop Sunday, March 29 8:30am- 4:00pm The Fine Art of Training Animals and Producing Inspirational Public Programs by Steve Martin, Natural Encounters, Inc. Cost- $100 Lunch (90 minutes) is on your own (there's a lot of options within a block!) This workshop will go beyond conventional positive reinforcement training lectures to describe the intricate details that trainers may not know or could overlook. This workshop will help attendees see how insightful observations, adjustments in perspective, and important changes to training strategies can produce extraordinary training outcomes that exceed expectations and promote better welfare for animals. This workshop will also describe how to empower animals to do what nature built them to do and stage these natural behaviors for our guests to experience. Producing inspirational educational programs is a critical aspect of our relationship with our guests. After attending this workshop, attendees will understand how: 1. Knowing and using the science of behavior change principles makes for a better trainer. 2. To dramatically improve their use of positive reinforcement to shape behavior. 3. To use positive reinforcement to replace unwanted behavior with desirable behavior. 4. To create trusting relationships with animals, including human animals. 5. To solve behavior problems and challenges. 6. To operationalize the terms ‘choice’ and ‘control’ and use these concepts to train desirable behavior, reduce stress, and promote enhanced welfare. 7. To gain voluntary participation from their animals in husbandry and medical behaviors. 8. To give animals a voice through their body language, and a vote in how we interact with them. 9. To shape behavior at the animal’s pace, which may be much faster than many think possible. 10. To produce engaging presentations that inspire caring emotions that lead to conservation action. Pre Conference Trip- Sunday, 29 March 8am-5pm. Visit the Louisville Zoo! Cost- $55 (max 56 people). Available for purchase until 29 March. Kick off your conference experience with a pre-conference trip to the Louisville Zoo, home to more than 1,100 animals. Explore habitats like Glacier Run, Gorilla Forest, and the Islands exhibit. The zoo combines conservation, education, and fun, offering an opportunity to connect with colleagues to start an exciting week ahead of learning and networking. The cost of the trip covers your admission and transportation to the zoo. Louisville Zoo will also generously be offering 50% discount on food and 40% discount on merchandise! Post Conference Trip- Friday, 3 April 8am-8pm. Visit The Wilds! Lunch will be provided. Cost- $120 (max 56 people). Available for purchase until 29 March. Extend your conference experience with a visit to The Wilds in Ohio, one of the world’s largest wildlife conservation centers. Explore expansive, natural habitats home to rare and endangered species from around the world and learn about groundbreaking conservation and research programs. This trip offers the opportunity to connect with wildlife up close while enjoying the beauty of Ohio’s open landscapes. Lunch will be provided during your visit. Space is limited, so don’t miss out on this experience. Sign up for this trip and have a WILD time! If you want to drive on your own and meet the bus of excited attendees, please contact us. Keynote We are excited to announce Thane Maynard as our 2026 keynote speaker! Thane Maynard is Executive Director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. The mission of his work mirrors that of the zoo - to celebrate and share the story of wildlife and conservation. Thane has authored more than a dozen books, the most recent, “Hope For Animals & Their World,” was coauthored with Jane Goodall. He has also shared science and environmental news nationwide through his longtime public radio program, “The 90Second Naturalist.” Maynard’s travels have spanned five continents in promoting biological diversity, natural history, and wildlife conservation, earning him a membership in the Explorers Club. He is an active member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Margo Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, a primate conservation fund headquartered in Washington, D.C. Born and raised in central Florida, Thane earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL., and his master’s degree in wildlife ecology fork the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources. Featured Speakers Featured speakers for the 2026 ABMA-IMATA joint conference will be announced soon. Entertainment Conference Entertainment* The Queen City provides some unique opportunities for networking and entertainment throughout the conference. We have several evening events planned as well so there's no shortage of opportunites to network. Evening Entertainment After the day's papers have concluded, we have something for everyone to be social and continue the networking! The hotel lobby has a beautiful art deco bar. Fountain Square is next to the hotel and has easy access to transportation and local restaurants. Plus, there are many restaurants within short walking distance from the hotel. Sunday night (29 March): Icebreaker Enjoy an evening of catching up with old friends and a chance to meet new ones. Our Icebreaker is always a great opportunity to make new contacts and meet fellow IAATE and ABMA members and like-minded people. Start the conference on a splashy note at the Newport Aquarium! Connect with colleagues while wandering through fantastic exhibits, from colorful tropical fish to curious penguins. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, fun activities, and the opportunity to meet new friends in the heart of Newport, KY. The views are stunning, and this is just the place to get off on the right flipper for an unforgettable conference! Transportation will be provided. Monday night (30 March): Professional Development Night Bring your resume and interview questions and take advantage of this opportunity to gain valuable insights from hiring managers and leaders in the field. This session provides time to connect, network, and share experiences— whether you’re seeking your first position or eager to offer guidance from your own career journey. Tuesday night (31 March): Silent Auction Night Join us for an evening of food, music, and great conversation while browsing and bidding on exciting auction items. All proceeds from the auction benefit the ABMA’s Behavior Management Fund, supporting continued learning and innovation in our field. This event is the perfect opportunity to relax, connect, and enjoy time with both new and longtime friends. Hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. Sunday-Thursday night: Hospitality Suite will be open! Site Visits There will be one site visit for the 2026 ABMA-IAATE conference. We will be visiting the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens on Wednesday 1 April. While at the zoo, lunch will be provided and there will be several opportunities for behind-the-scenes and special programs. There will also be three (3) bird-themed workshops (registration required). Transportation to and from the zoo will be provided, with multiple end-of-day departure times to choose from. *If you are a daily registrant and want to participate in Zoo Day, a Wednesday daily ticket is NOT available for purchase. You will need to provide your own transportation to/from the zoo and purchase your zoo ticket at the zoo. Silent Auction There will be a silent auction AND raffle during the conference. Get Excited! Start brainstorming on some great items- doesn't have to be animal related- and you can either bring them with you to the conference or mail to us. If you prefer to mail your item(s), please let the conference chair know. Proceeds from the silent auction benefit ABMA's Behavior Management Fund (BMF); proceeds from the raffle benefit IAATE's conservation and education grants. Yes, you can donate to both the silent auction and the raffle. Badge Entries We are excited to offer complimentary badge entries before and after the conference for five (5) nearby facilities. If you are interested in visiting one of these before the conference, email us so we can send you a virtual badge for complimentary entry. If you are interested in visiting after the conference, please take your conference badge with you for complimentary entry. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Akron Zoo Louisville Zoo Indianapolis Zoo Conference Details There are many questions you may have about the upcoming annual conference in Cincinnati. If we have not addressed your question here, please contact us. The 2026 conference will be 5 days, including the icebreaker the evening before the conference officially kicks off. Each day will filled with learning and networking opportunities. There will be a zoo day at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. What's the weather like in Cincinnati in March? Weather for early spring in the northern United States is still cool, typically in the 50's with overnight temperatures near freezing. March can also be rainy so bring a rain jacket. What should I wear to the conference? The ABMA and IAATE conferences are casual event. Keep in mind the ballroom where presentations are held will most likely be cold, so bring a jacket. Or you can buy one at the merchandise table! Presenters typically wear business casual on the day of their presentation. The banquet can be a little more formal but it's not required to wear a suit and tie or evening dress. Will food be provided? Yes, there will be snacks at most breaks but feel free to bring your own. The icebreaker and silent auction will have hors d'oeuvres and the banquet will have a buffet dinner. Zoo Day will also have lunch provided. If more meals are provided, we'll note that on the schedule. What do I need for registration? Registration will be Sunday at the hotel. We will need your name to verify you registered for the conference. If you're paying upon arrival, a payment method will be needed. We accept cash and credit cards (AMEX, Discover, MasterCard & Visa). If you're presenting you'll need to stop at the AnimalProfessional.com tabe to get details about your presentation timeslot. If you have a poster, we have a table you can drop that off at. If you have a silent auction item or raffle item (or more than one!) we will have a table so you can drop that off too. Electricity in the United States runs on 110. If you're an international traveler, please bring your appropriate converters. Questions? Contact us or the first VP directly. We look forward to seeing you soon! Program Whova is our conference app! When the program is ready we will post a link to the conference app here. The ABMA-IAATE Conference Program times will be listed in Eastern (EST). The schedule is subject to change. Details will be posted as they are finalized.

Details will be posted as they are finalized. If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact us. We look forward to seeing you in person in Cincinnati!

ABMA-IAATE Conference Code of Conduct

Personal Safety and Security

Responsible Drinking

Unacceptable Conduct

Sexual Harassment

Physical conduct

Verbal conduct

Non-verbal conduct

Reporting Unacceptable Conduct

Pre-Conferece Workshop

Featured speakers for the 2026 ABMA-IMATA joint conference will be announced soon.