Join us in Columbus for the

National Cartoonists Society's

80th Anniversary Reuben Awards and NCS Conference!

Open to both NCS members and non-members, we're excited to welcome fellow cartooning professionals for three days of connection, inspiration, and celebration. Enjoy a rich lineup of professional development programming, join us in honoring our Reuben Award nominees, honorees, and winners—and, as always, get ready to have FUN!

We will be highlighting additional details about programs, presenters, nominees, and more over the coming weeks but we encourage you to book by June 1st to secure Early Bird registration rates.​

DATES: August 6th-8th, 2026

LOCATION: The Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel with special sessions at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum at Ohio State. Hotel details below, be sure to use our portal to book your discounted hotel rooms.​



Questions? Please reach our Association Manager, Jessica, at ncs@nationalcartoonists.com or 734-239-8031

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS JUNE 1ST.

REGISTRATION CLOSES JULY 1ST



Session details under the PROGRAM section of this page.

THURSDAY

9am-7pm: Registration and Welcome Station Open

11:00am - Welcome Brunch at the hotel

12:30pm - Busses Depart to the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum at Ohio State

1:00 - Opening Session: Celebrating 80 Years of Excellence [Schulz Auditorium]

2:00 - ComicLab Live: Actionable Advice in a Time of Change  [Schulz Auditorium]

3:10 - Protecting your Work: A Legal Panel of Cartoonists  [Schulz Auditorium]

2-5pm - Free time: Chris Ware exhibit, NCS archives exhibit, movie reels [Billy Ireland]

5:00pm - Buses depart to hotel

5-7pm - Hello Everybody Happy Hour

FRIDAY

8am-7pm: Registration and Welcome Station Open

9:00am - Members-Only Business Meeting

10:15am - Jim Davis on Getting the Word Out, aka Brevity is the Soul of Wit

11:30 - Toon Talks: TED-style Presentations by Cartoonists

12:30 - Toon Talk Table Talks

Lunch on your own; 1pm Chapter Chairs Lunch and Meeting

5:00pm - Reubens Red Carpet Cocktail Reception

6:30pm - Doors open for our Banquet Dinner and the Reuben Awards!

SATURDAY

8-10am Farewell Brunch and Draw and Chill

BONUS OPTIONS--see details below

1-5pm - NCS Cartoonists Showcase, FREE special public event at Billy Ireland

8-10pm - Private afterparty for conference attendees, with Games and Goodies hosted by our partners at CXC.

📢 BONUS OPTION: NCS CARTOONIST SHOWCASE ON SATURDAY

We've partnered with the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum and the team at CXC for a separate FREE special public event starting Saturday afternoon, August 8th. Stick around after the NCS conference to participate!

Hosted by BICLM, this free event includes:

• public signings by cartoonists
• workshops for kids
• exhibits at the museum
• a conversation with special guest Cathy Guisewite, celebrating 50 years of Cathy
• PLUS a private afterparty for conference attendees, with Games and Goodies hosted by our partners at CXC.



👉Free signing tables for full NCS Conference attendees. You will receive a link with tabling details in your registration confirmation email.

Group hotel rate extends through Saturday night. Both first-come, first-served with limited availability. 

Visit the event website at www.nationalcartoonists.com/showcase​

Our hotel room block is now sold out!

Unfortunately, we were unable to secure additional rooms in the block, as hotel availability is becoming limited. However, rooms are still available at the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel​, the host hotel for the event.

To reserve your stay, book directly through the hotel's website or call Marriott Central Reservations at 1-800-228-9290.

Current room rates start at $269 per night, depending on your dates of stay.

OTHER HOTEL OPTIONS IN THE AREA

Courtyard by Marriott Columbus Downtown​

★★★★☆4.0/5 stars | Current room rates start at $188 per night, depending on your dates of stay.

Residence Inn by Marriott Columbus Downtown​

★★★★☆4.3/5 stars | Current room rates start at $225 per night, depending on your dates of stay.

Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection​

★★★★★4.6/5 | Current room rates start at $258 per night, depending on your dates of stay.

⭐CONNECTING AND CELEBRATING THE CARTOONING COMMUNITY

The NCS Conference builds your community and boosts your skills with workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities throughout the three day event. Scroll down for details about special guests, presenters, and topics.

Friday night, we celebrate outstanding achievement in our field with the glamorous and prestigious Reuben Awards, complete with cocktail reception and banquet dinner. See all the nominees and honorees in the AWARDS section of this page.

WHERE TO FIND US

Our registration table and the Moore Than Welcome Station as well as all hotel events are located on the second floor of the Renaissance Columbus Downtown.

🎉THURSDAY, AUGUST 6

Registration opens in the morning – be sure to stop by the Moore Than Welcome Station to get a Goodie Bag and say hello! Programming will start midday with a Welcome Brunch followed by three engaging sessions at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum (buses will be available to transport between the hotel and museum). We will be at the Museum for the afternoon and will return to the hotel for a festive Hello Everybody Happy Hour with hors d'oeuvres.

12:15pm Complimentary Buses to the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum from the hotel 

2-5pm Afternoon Sessions and Billy Exhibits**

Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum

Attendees can join breakout session and/or explore the Billy's exhibits at their leisure.

5pm Complimentary Buses to back to the hotel from the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum 

🎉FRIDAY, AUGUST 7

We start the day with the members' Business Meeting followed by community-building Professional Development sessions. If you'd like to continue conversations or meet up with some pals, you will have time in the afternoon to connect. In the evening we gather for a glamorous Cocktail Reception and then enjoy a three-course dinner and celebrate nominees and award recipients at the prestigious Reuben Awards Banquet.

All events are at our hotel.

 Jim Davis, the man behind the Cat.

In 1978 Garfield made his syndication debut in 41 newspapers. Today Garfield is read by over 200 million people worldwide and holds the Guinness World Record for the "most widely syndicated comic strip".

Davis's peers at NCS have honored him with the Best Humor Strip, the Ezie Segar Award and the coveted Reuben.

When not writing and producing the comic strip, Jim spends his leisure time with his wife (Jill), kids, grandkids, and a golf course or two.

After the session wraps at 1pm, you are welcome to continue the conversation, doodle, play games, or hang out. Lunch is on your own (or with friends!), unless you are a Chapter Chair attending the annual Regional Council's meeting and luncheon at 1:00pm.



✨ Friday culminates in the 80th Annual Reuben Awards 

🎉SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

BONUS: OPTIONAL NCS CARTOONIST SHOWCASE

1 - 5pm - NCS Cartoonists Showcase

FREE special public event at Billy Ireland

8 -10pm - Private afterparty

for Conference Attendees only with Games and Goodies hosted by our partners at CXC

Hosted by the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum and the team at CXC for a separate special public event starting Saturday afternoon, August 8th. Stick around after the NCS conference to participate!

This free event includes:

•  public signings by cartoonists
• workshops for kids
• exhibits at the museum
• a conversation with special guest Cathy Guisewite, celebrating 50 years of Cathy
• PLUS a private afterparty for conference attendees, with Games and Goodies hosted by our partners at CXC.



Free signing tables for full NCS Conference attendees. You will receive a link to sign up in your registration confirmation email.

Group hotel rate extends through Saturday night. Both first-come, first-served with limited availability. 

Visit the event website at www.nationalcartoonists.com/showcase​

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