This premier gathering of festival and event professionals, suppliers, and industry partners from around the world offers unparalleled opportunities for education, inspiration, and meaningful connection. From those taking their first steps toward a new event, to those advancing long-standing, globally recognized experiences, there is something for everyone as we explore emerging trends, address real-world challenges, and identify new opportunities. Mark your calendar. Step Forward. The future of festivals and events starts here.
Sign up or log in to add sessions to your schedule and sync them to your phone or calendar.
Project management is the management of the project to deliver the event. It concerns integrating all the areas of management such as marketing, design and operations so they efficiently use the event resources and satisfy the objectives of the event stakeholders. It produces an accountable system used to report to the event stakeholders, delegate tasks to the event team and establish a control timeline. In particular it employs the tools of project management to manage the phases of the event from the concept through the planning and preparation to the event close down.
CEO, Ira L. Rosen, LLC, Festival and Event Consulting
Ira L. Rosen is the President and CEO of Ira L Rosen, LLC, a consulting firm providing strategic services to the worldwide festival and event industry. He is a highly regarded global leader whose decades of experience specialize in core areas of event risk assessment, creative event... Read More →
The IFEA Staff and Volunteers are here to make your convention experience an easy and rewarding one. Stop by the Registration Desk to check in, ask questions, or locate/contact selected staff members.
The giant parade and decorative inflatables displayed outside and around the El Conquistador Tucson Resort grounds add the same fun and eye-catching ambiance to our event as they can to your own! Stop by the Expo or contact our IFEA friends at Fabulous Inflatables/Dynamic Displays and Big Events for more information!
Come enjoy a display of classic western wagons, that you may remember from a variety of iconic television shows and movies, courtesy of our friends at the Tucson Rodeo Parade and the Tucson Wagon & History Museum.
CEO, Ira L. Rosen, LLC, Festival and Event Consulting
Ira L. Rosen is the President and CEO of Ira L Rosen, LLC, a consulting firm providing strategic services to the worldwide festival and event industry. He is a highly regarded global leader whose decades of experience specialize in core areas of event risk assessment, creative event... Read More →
Before you hit the ground running, stop by to meet some new IFEA friends at our “First-Timer's Roadmap” session. Designed to give our first-time convention attendees, as well as our long-time IFEA ‘family’ attendees, an opportunity to meet some valuable new friends, share some insider tips and advice on how to maximize the days ahead, find some dinner partners, and get your convention experience off to a fun start. Then, join us in the dfest® Hospitality Suite (Casita Suite 1576) to meet more new friends and let the networking conversations begin!
Founder & CEO / Professor of Practice, The ART of Events, LLC / Kansas State University
Cindy Lerick is an educator, consultant, and event industry leader with a passion for creating meaningful experiences and inspiring future professionals. As an instructor in the Department of Hospitality Management at Kansas State University, Cindy brings decades of hands-on experience... Read More →
The perfect opportunity to join up with your IFEA friends and professional peers for an evening of dining and networking in one of Tucson's great local restaurants, on-site or off. The El Conquistadoe will provide free shuttle service within a 3 to 5 mile radius.
Sunday October 4, 2026 6:00pm - Monday October 5, 2026 12:00am PDT On Own
The DFEST® Hospitality Suite, sponsored by long-time IFEA supporter DFEST®, is as much a part of the IFEA Convention as our breakout sessions, and we look forward to extending a warm Tucson welcome to everyone! Open Sunday night, October 4th (beginning at 7:00 p.m.) to meet up with old friends and new, the DFEST® Hospitality Suite (Casita Suite 1576) provides convention attendees with a time and a place to unwind, relax and connect outside of scheduled sessions and functions. For more than 35 years the DFEST ® Hospitality Suite has been recognized as the hub of the IFEA’s convention networking system.
