2026 ICC Leadership Week + Hearings Headed to the Connecticut Convention Center

The Connecticut Convention Center has brought a unique mix of business and fun to Hartford, Connecticut since the day it opened in June 2005.   

Dubbed the largest convention facility between New York and Boston, the Connecticut Convention Center has hosted a number of boxing matches that aired on Showtime, HBO and ESPN. 

Panic! at the Disco is among the recording artists that have performed at the Connecticut Convention Center. 50 Cent had one of his birthday parties there as well; the event featured multiple boxing matches and an afterparty with live music. 

Numerous conventions, trade shows and charities return to the venue year after year, including ConnectiCon, the Aerospace Component Manufacturers Tradeshow and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Annual Fundraising Gala.  

“We’re along the Connecticut River, and you can walk from the building along the river and go downtown without ever having to get on the streets,” said Mike Costelli, General Manager for the Connecticut Convention Center. “It’s very attractive for guests from that perspective.” 

The Connecticut Convention Center will soon host the 2026 International Code Council (ICC) Leadership Week + Hearings, which is scheduled to kick off on April 18 and will run through April 24. 

A World of Entertainment and More, Right Next Door 

The Connecticut Convention Center is conveniently located in the heart of Hartford and is just footsteps from the Wadsworth Museum of Art, which was ranked among the nation’s top 20 art museums by the Washington Post. The PeoplesBank Arena is within walking distance, and Meadows Music Theatre is just a few miles away. Both venues have welcomed a wide variety of performers, including Sabrina Carpenter, Lizzo, AJR, Cardi B, Pitbull and Post Malone. 

Dave Matthews Band, Jason Aldean and Ne-Yo & Akon are among the artists coming to Meadows Music Theatre later this year. 

“We have a really diverse arts and culture scene,” said Nicole Lucas, Convention Services Manager for the Connecticut Convention Center. “A walk around downtown will showcase dozens of murals, including the amazing Reawakening Wonder mural. It was completed in 2023 by artist Michael Rice and stands a whopping 170 feet/18 stories tall!” 

Reawakening Wonder is the tallest mural in New England and features a local boy, Sam Gonzalez, opening a jar of fireflies. The goal of the mural is to brighten people’s day and attract more art projects to the city. 

Hartford is also a hotspot for good food. The adjacent Front Street District is home to the Capital Grille, Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, El Pollo Guapo, Infinity Bistro and more. Local and national recording artists can be found performing at the nearby Arch Street Tavern and Infinity Music Hall. 

“Despite our city’s small footprint, we’ve got surprising access to high-level sports and entertainment,” said Lucas. “There’s Dunkin’ Park, home of [the Hartford] Yard Goats AA Minor [League] baseball (we’ve been lucky enough to host the Savannah Bananas franchise twice!). Trinity Health Stadium, home of Hartford Athletic USL soccer. [And] PeoplesBank Arena, home of [the Hartford] Wolf Pack AAA hockey, and UConn men’s and women’s basketball. So much to do, all downtown!” 

For those who would like to venture out for additional entertainment options, Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort and Foxwoods Resort Casino are both less than one hour away. 

Help Shape the Future of Building Safety 

The 2026 ICC Leadership Week + Hearings provide building safety professionals with an outstanding opportunity to make an impact on code safety. Future codes and code changes are introduced, refined and carefully considered at these hearings. Building safety professionals can earn up to 1.0 CEUs for attending the Public Comment Hearings. 

There are also pre-hearing member events that give attendees the opportunity to network and learn from each other.  

Other events include the Chapter Leadership Academy (scheduled to take place in conjunction with the 2026 ICC Leadership Week + Hearings on April 17 and 18), which offers a unique collaborative experience. This forum is the perfect opportunity for chapter officers to build leadership skills, brainstorm with peers and share best practices to benefit their chapters. 

This year’s Women Leaders in Code Enforcement (WLCE) Symposium will begin just a couple days prior on April 15 and will run through April 17. The event empowers women to connect, network, train and grow as code enforcement officials, and helps to elevate women into leadership roles. 

The 2026 ICC Leadership Week + Hearings will take place at the Connecticut Convention Center from April 18 through April 24. Learn more here.