FAQs

The Honors Gala is on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The event officially begins with a reception from 5:30–7 p.m., followed by dinner and the main awards program from 7–8:30 p.m. Dessert and networking conclude the evening, which will end at 10 p.m.

The 2026 Honors Gala will be held at the Old Post Office, 433 W. Van Buren Street, in Chicago. The Old Post Office is a breathtaking fusion of Chicago’s Art Deco heritage and modern sophistication, featuring soaring marble-clad lobbies and dramatic historic details. Its grand scale and iconic architecture create an unforgettable backdrop that blends Chicago’s bold past with its innovative present.

Parking is available at The Old Post Office garage located at 404 W. Harrison Street. Parking rates are $15 for 12 hours after 4:00 pm. No validation is needed. Upon entrance to the parking garage, guest parking is on the second floor and attendees should look for the sign that says "North Lobby". Taxi and rideshare services will drop off at 433 W. Van Buren Street. Guests should enter on the east side of the building, along the river.

Association Forum’s Honors Gala provides recognition to outstanding association professionals and supporting members for their role in advancing the association management profession. The award categories include:

• Samuel B. Shapiro Award for Chief Staff Executive Achievement
• John C. Thiel Distinguished Service Award
• Inspiring Leader Award
• Association Professional Achievement Award
• Woman of Influence™ Award
• Welcoming Environment Organizational Award

The Honors Gala is the premier fundraising event of the Association Forum Foundation, which was founded in 1987 as a separate 501(c)(3) organization with the purpose of enhancing Association Forum's programs and services through new education, research, and scholarship initiatives.

Turn up the rhythm and bring the style. This evening celebrates the accomplishments of the most influential leaders in our industry, and the vibe is unmistakably jazz. Formal attire is encouraged—but this is not black tie. Feel free to lean into jazz-era flair, vintage elegance, or a modern take on classic glamour. Most importantly, wear something that makes you feel confident, energized, and ready to celebrate.

The entire association community is invited to participate in the Honors Gala. This event attracts association professionals who support and promote the association management profession and those who celebrate the achievements of the Honorees and others. We invite staff at all levels and from all facets of the industry to participate and honor these industry icons...and have a fantastic time networking with their peers (and making new friends!) at this incredible annual event.

Association Forum is committed to a Welcoming Environment® and ensuring that all attendees are supported in having a positive experience. Please contact us at 312-924-7000 or education@associationforum.org so we can make any arrangements necessary.

Click on the “Purchase Tickets” item under the "Tickets" heading on the top menu of the webpage. Next, please enter your email and click the Search button to begin. You must click on Search so your membership record can be found and obtain the proper ticket prices. If you have a profile account with Association Forum, you will need to enter the email address associated with your account to start registration. If an account was not found with your email address, click ‘New Registration’. Tickets may be purchased on behalf of another individual. Registrants will be provided a code to enter the names of the actual event attendees (at a later time).

• Individual Ticket: open seating
• Half Table Supporter: reserved seating at half tables of 5 people each, and includes recognition before, during, and post-event. Note that 5 additional attendees will be seated at the table.
• Table Supporter: reserved seating at full tables of 10 people each, and includes recognition before, during, and post-event.
• Emerging Leader Ticket: see below for description and restrictions.
   

In addition, organizations may choose to purchase an extra ticket to be donated to individuals who do not have the financial resources to participate. For more information about this opportunity (as a donor or a recipient), please see the question and answer below. Or, access our pricing page for additional information.

To make the Honors Gala accessible to all segments of the community, a limited number of tickets are available to Emerging Leaders at a significantly reduced registration fee. Emerging Leaders are those association professionals who hold positions with job titles of Director or below. The goal of this new ticket type is to welcome Association Forum members who wouldn’t typically have the resources to participate in the Honors Gala and we ask for the community’s integrity in ensuring that these tickets are directed to the proper participants. Association Forum reserves the right to deny the Emerging Leader pricing to any attendee, even after purchase, if the purchaser does not meet the intended criteria for this discounted ticket. A limited number of Emerging Leader tickets are available and once they’ve sold out, no additional Emerging Leader tickets will be made available. Please note that the Emerging Leader ticket can only be purchased as an individual ticket. The pricing for reserved tickets (Half Table Supporter for 5 tickets or Premier Table Supporter for 10 tickets) is fixed regardless of whether those tickets are given to someone who might qualify for an Emerging Leader individual ticket.

Yes! Tickets may be purchased through the standard registration process and donated to individuals who do not have the financial resources to participate. Individuals wishing to be considered to receive a donated ticket should add their names to the list here. Adding a name to the list is not a guarantee that a ticket will become available. Association Forum will match the donated ticket with a recipient, and both entities will be notified of the match. Unfortunately, ticket donors are not able to specify to whom their tickets should be donated.

Click on the “Ticket Management Center” in the top menu. To log in, use the email address associated with the registration. You can find your password in your confirmation email. Once inside your registration, edit any details pertaining to your registration and save it.

Using your Honors Gala registration and login and password (which may be different from your general Association Forum credentials and can be found in your confirmation email), login to the Ticket Management Center. At the top of the page, access the Attendee Names portal. Submit each attendee's name by entering their email address and the unique ticket code found in your confirmation email. 

The early registration rate expires on June 4, 2026. Beginning on June 5, prices increase by approximately 15%.

Although we strongly encourage advance registration to ensure a seamless event experience, yes, attendees may register onsite on the day of the program.

Attendees will receive their name badges upon arrival at the venue. Those who are seated at reserved tables will receive instructions about the location of the reserved table.

If you have questions regarding your registration, please contact education@associationforum.org

Payment is due in full at the time of registration. Due to the nature of the event and the fundraising objectives of the Association Forum Foundation, ticket purchases are non-refundable. Refunds will not be issued in the event of a no-show.

Substitution requests can be made through the Ticket Management link on the website through June 18, 2026. After June 18, any substitution requests must be submitted to education@associationforum.org or made on-site.

In advance of Honors Gala, contact membership@associationforum.org. Onsite, you may speak with any Association Forum staff member who would be happy to tell you more about the benefits of membership.

• W City Center, 172 W. Adams St.
• Hyatt Place Chicago/Downtown-The Loop, 28 N. Franklin St.
• JW Marriott Chicago, 151 W. Adams St.