The Three Days
The American Dental Association holds its 2026 Scientific Session at the Indiana Convention Center from 8 to 10 October. The venue forecasts 4,000 attendees. The association publishes a clock for each day.
Thursday 8 October runs registration from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The General Session runs 7:45 to 9 a.m. Continuing education courses and hands-on workshops run 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 5 p.m. The Exhibit Hall runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a Happy Hour from 5 to 6 p.m.
Friday 9 October runs registration from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CE courses run 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 5 p.m. The Indiana Dental Association Center for Excellence program runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Exhibit Hall runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Changemakers Celebration Reception runs 5 to 6 p.m.
Saturday 10 October closes early. Registration runs 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The final CE block runs 8:30 a.m. to noon. The Exhibit Hall runs 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Arrival Night
Wednesday 7 October carries one published clock. Attendee registration runs 1 to 5 p.m. The association's registration page tells attendees to collect badges early and avoid the Thursday queue.
Badges are issued onsite at the Indiana Convention Center, Level 1, in the Crossroads Hallway outside Hall D.
Denison Parking operates every Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium lot. The venue counts downtown Indianapolis above 70,000 parking spaces. Parking for people with disabilities sits in the surrounding lots and garages on a first-come basis. Metered on-street spaces for them surround the building.
The venue's dining guide counts more than 200 restaurants downtown. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail runs 10 miles and connects the 6 cultural districts in the centre of the city.
The Route That Stays Indoors
The venue counts 4,700 rooms on skywalk connections to the Convention Center, inside 7,100 downtown rooms. More than half of downtown's 7,100-plus rooms sit within blocks of the Center.
The skywalk schedule changes with the event. The venue's skywalk page gives a rule of thumb. Lock-down comes at approximately 11 p.m. and re-opening at approximately 6 a.m. Confirm the hours for the conference week before you brief a group.
The Signia by Hilton Indianapolis will add 803 rooms on a skybridge to the Center. The hotel takes reservations for stays from 1 February 2027.
The ADA travel page publishes no property rate and no block size. The housing deadline of 18 September has passed. Housing questions go to ADA@maritz.com.
The Saturday Departure Window
Saturday's registration desk closes at 1:30 p.m. The Exhibit Hall closes at the same hour. The last CE block ends at noon.
The building keeps working after the sessions. The ADA House of Delegates meets from 10 to 13 October.
The Run to the Airport
The venue publishes 15 minutes from the Center to Indianapolis International Airport.
United Airlines carries meeting code ZRRK230223 for travel from 4 to 15 October 2026. Southwest publishes 3 percent off Anytime and Business Select fares under company ID 99256010.
Three session days, a Wednesday arrival night and a Saturday checkout match the published clocks. Wednesday and Thursday carry the opening registration window and the General Session. Friday evening carries the Changemakers reception. Saturday afternoon belongs to the airport run.