Conference Recap: Geni at NGS 2026 in Fort Wayne

We’re back from Fort Wayne, Indiana, where the energy for family history was truly infectious! From May 27-30, genealogists, historians, and family history enthusiasts from around the country gathered at the Grand Wayne Convention Center for the National Genealogical Society 2026 Family History Conference. With this year’s theme, America at 250, the sessions brought a focus to the diverse stories and communities that have shaped the nation over the last two and a half centuries. Because it was a hybrid event, we loved getting to connect with attendees both in-person and virtually through the conference app.

Located in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne, the convention center was the perfect hub. Just a short walk away sat the famous Allen County Public Library, the second-largest genealogy library in the United States. The library’s genealogy center was bustling with attendees throughout the duration of the conference.

The local history was palpable too. Fort Wayne is said to be the final resting place of American folklore legend John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed!

Over in the exhibit hall, the Geni booth was located right alongside our colleagues at MyHeritage.

MyHeritage drew massive crowds with their daily drawings held by Daniel Horowitz, MyHeritage’s Chief Genealogists, creating a fun and entertaining atmosphere in our corner of the hall. Everyone was eager to win the grand prize, a MyHeritage Omni subscription, the ultimate MyHeritage bundle that includes MyHeritage Complete, OldNews, Legacy Family Tree Webinars, and Geni Pro subscriptions.

We had a fantastic time welcoming visitors to our dedicated conference computers where attendees had the opportunity access Geni Pro features and MyHeritage records for free. It was a wonderful chance to meet a mix of longtime community members and enthusiastic newcomers who were eager to learn how the World Family Tree could advance their own family history research.

Many attendees were thrilled to walk away with one of our famous, handy Geni notebooks. The notebooks were perfect for jotting down quick notes during sessions or grabbing a sticky to keep track of research at the library.

We had a great time in Fort Wayne! Next year, the NGS conference is heading to Madison, Wisconsin. Will you be there?