Media Alert: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. to Announce Impact of 85th Grand Conclave in Cincinnati

Omega Psi Phi Conclave Expected to Drive Major Citywide Activity

CINCINNATI, OH (For Immediate Release) – Visit Cincy, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and regional leaders will host a press conference on Thursday, February 19, to share details surrounding the organization’s upcoming 85th Grand Conclave and the broader citywide impact expected during one of the region’s busiest weekends of the summer.

Held every two years, the Grand Conclave is Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.’s International gathering and business meeting. The 85th Grand Conclave will take place in Cincinnati July 30 – August 3, 2026, and is expected to bring approximately 10,000+ registered attendees to the city. It will be the largest convention hosted in the region in the past three years and the largest fraternal organization welcomed in the past five years.

In addition to registered attendees, tens of thousands of additional fraternity members and their families are expected to travel to Cincinnati to participate in events and celebrations taking place throughout the city during the conclave. The gathering coincides with a Cincinnati Reds home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, an FC Cincinnati home match against the San Jose Earthquakes, and the Chris Stapleton concert at Paycor Stadium, creating a high-impact weekend for tourism, hospitality, and the local economy.

Event Details

What: At the press conference, media will learn more about the expected economic impact of the 85th Grand Conclave, hear directly from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity leadership about why Cincinnati was selected to host the event, and gain insight into the scale of visitors expected throughout the city during conclave.

When: Thursday, February 19, 2026
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Where: First Financial Center (formerly the Cincinnati Convention Center)
525 Elm Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2^nd Floor

Speakers Include

• Ricky Lewis, 42^nd Grand Basileus, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
• Stan Williams, Grand Marshal, 85th Grand Conclave, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
• Mayor Aftab Pureval, City of Cincinnati
• Stephanie Summerow Dumas, President, Hamilton County Board of Commissioners
• Scotty Johnson, President Pro Tem, Cincinnati City Council and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Member
• Julie Kirkpatrick, Interim President & CEO, Visit Cincy

About Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is an international, historically African American fraternity founded in 1911 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The organization has initiated more than 250,000 members across over 750 chapters worldwide and is committed to uplifting communities through scholarship, service, leadership development, mentoring, and social action.

About Visit Cincy

Visit Cincy connects the Cincinnati region’s people and experiences with visitors and meeting attendees from around the world through sales, marketing, communications, and community-building strategies. The destination marketing organization is supported by nearly 500 businesses working together to position the Cincy Region as a premier destination for visitors, conventions, and meetings. For more information, visit VisitCincy.com.

Media Contacts: