Inside Indianapolis: FDIC International 2026 returns this week with hands-on training, summits and large-scale exhibition
Iain Hoey
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As FDIC International returns to Indianapolis for 2026, IFSJ looks at the event that combines specialist summits, operational training and an exhibition of more than 800 exhibitors
FDIC International 2026 will take place at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with registration beginning on Sunday 19 April and the main event running through Saturday 25 April.
FDIC is widely regarded as the largest training event for the fire and rescue industry in North America, and the 2026 exhibition will feature products and services from more than 800 exhibitors.
The 2025 event drew more than 37,000 attendees and over 850 exhibitors, offering a useful indication of the scale expected in Indianapolis this year.
That scale matters because FDIC’s appeal has always rested on range as much as size.
The 2026 programme stretches from offsite Hands-on Training evolutions and pre-conference workshops to classroom sessions and partner sessions.
It also includes specialist summits, exhibit halls and live activity zones in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Across the week, attendees can build a visit around command and rescue operations.
The programme also addresses EMS, industrial response and aviation firefighting, while further sessions explore recruitment and leadership.
Topics such as health and wellness, data use, artificial intelligence, building risk and practical company-level tactics also appear across the schedule.
Meet the IFSJ Team at FDIC: Visit Booth 11038
Pre-conference training emphasis
The event opens with a strong pre-conference emphasis.
On Monday 20 April and Tuesday 21 April, attendees can move between Hands-on Training evolutions, workshops, the Mid-Rise/High-Rise Symposium and the first specialist summits.
H.O.T. bus loading will take place from the Wabash lobbies, while all-day workshops run in the Indiana Convention Center and the new mid-rise and high-rise programme is split across two days.
That layout gives departments a way to front-load practical education before the exhibit hall opens later in the week.
The hands-on programme remains one of FDIC’s main draws.
The 2026 guide highlights all-day live fire and tactical classes on subjects including first-arriving crew actions and operation mayday.
Other sessions address RIT under fire and truck company skills.
Training also includes tower rescue rope operations, auto extrication and forcible entry.
Additional sessions focus on hose and nozzle work, rural water movement and residential primary search.
Later in the week, further H.O.T. opportunities include aggressive interior operations alongside multi-discipline search and rescue, with urban rigging and rescue also included.
For readers planning attendance, the practical programme is not confined to one or two headline sessions.
It runs across the week and covers core structural operations, rescue practice and command disciplines in depth.
Workshop content is similarly broad.
The schedule includes sessions on fire officer development and incident command, alongside thermal imaging and lithium-ion battery fires.
The programme also covers firefighter rescue training systems and technical rescue operations.
Additional sessions examine explosive gas emergencies and modern fire protection, while data use through NERIS is also explored.
That breadth gives FDIC 2026 a practical edge for both operational firefighters and those with responsibility for policy, training design or organisational development.
Mid-rise high-rise symposium launch
One of the clearest additions for 2026 is the Mid-Rise/High-Rise Symposium.
The programme addresses the risk of building failure during fire conditions, with a focus on complex buildings that range from skyscrapers to so-called groundscrapers.
Sessions cover construction hazards and smoke control panels.
Other presentations explore FDNY high-rise officer training as well as the legacy of World Trade Center codes.
Further sessions examine standpipe design and tactical command.
Speakers confirmed for the symposium include Gerald Tracy, Jim Kane, Jimmy Davis, Mike Gagliano, Dr Rodger Reiswig, Michael Meyers, Katherine Lamb, Charles Jennings, Glenn Corbett, Tom Burke, Terin Hopkins and Brent Brooks.
FDIC is also expanding high-tempo education through its High Intensity Training Sessions, or HITS, which run from 22 to 24 April.
The 2026 guide describes four four-hour HITS blocks built around rapid 20-minute presentations delivered by firefighters and researchers.
Some sessions also examine firefighter wellbeing.
Confirmed contributors include Sam Hittle, Justin McWilliams, Corley Moore and Todd Edwards, alongside Frank Viscuso and Sara Jahnke.
Megan Lutz and Dena Ali also appear on the programme, together with Mike Ciampo and Sean Duffy.
Additional speakers include Candace Ashby and Eric Wheaton, while Bassel Ibrahim and Dan Shaw complete the line-up.
For attendees who want a faster format than a traditional classroom block, HITS offers a concentrated way to sample tactical topics and leadership discussions while also engaging with wellbeing themes.
Another notable addition is the return and expansion of Spanish-language training.
Two dedicated sessions are scheduled for 2026: a four-hour workshop on basic engine and truck operations on Wednesday 22 April, followed by an eight-hour H.O.T.
practical session on Thursday 23 April.
These sessions are intended to widen access to training for Spanish-speaking fire service professionals.
Expanded EMS leadership programme
EMS content appears more visible in this year’s programme.
The EMS Innovation Summit runs on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 April at the Indiana Convention Center, positioning the event as a leadership forum for EMS executives and decision-makers.
The summit will cover succession planning and operational readiness.
Sessions also examine recruitment challenges and workforce retention.
Further discussions explore systems integration alongside technology adoption, while presentations address finance and legislative change.
The programme also includes peer-led presentations, roundtables and networking opportunities, with meals included for participants.
The 2026 guide adds that EMS attendees will have access to more than 230 hours of CAPCE-accredited continuing education, while Mike Brown of Fort Wayne Fire Department and JEMS is identified as the curator of the reworked EMS offering.
Cadaver Labs are scheduled for Wednesday 22 April and are open to Paramedic and Critical Care Paramedic certifications.
Advanced Practice Paramedic and AEMT qualifications are also eligible to attend.
The week will also include networking activity in the JEMS Lounge and a new Sim Yard in Lucas Oil Stadium from Thursday to Saturday, focused on immersive scenario-based EMS training that includes airway management and incident command.
Sector focused summits
Beyond EMS, FDIC 2026 is using its summit structure to target defined professional groups.
The programme includes the Metro Officers Innovation Briefing together with the EMS Innovation Summit.
Additional forums include the NextGen Fire Rescue Tech Summit and the Industrial Fire Summit.
The schedule also features the Officers Club and the Women in Fire Conference.
The Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Summit completes the group.
The common thread is peer exchange around sector-specific problems, with registration requirements varying by event and some forums remaining invitation only.
The NextGen Fire Rescue Tech Summit, scheduled for 21 and 22 April, is likely to stand out for departments trying to move from interest in technology to operational use.
The programme will focus on tools shaping the future of firefighting.
Topics include trusted AI together with digital ethics.
Sessions also examine on-scene technology and the National Emergency Response Information System.
Additional discussion addresses immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality.
The programme also explores robotics and the operational use of drones.
Confirmed keynote speakers include Dr Lori Moore Merrell and Fire Chief Dan Munsey of San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.
The Industrial Fire Summit brings together industrial safety leaders and fire service personnel dealing with high-risk industrial environments.
The programme includes cross-sector panels covering pharmaceuticals and power generation.
Other sessions examine petrochemical operations alongside heavy manufacturing environments.
Case studies will be presented alongside technical discussions, while a tabletop scenario explores the municipal-industrial interface.
That makes the summit particularly relevant for readers working where industrial risk and municipal response overlap.
For aviation specialists, the ARFF Summit runs across 21 and 22 April and is aimed at firefighters, chiefs and airport directors from A, B and C level airports.
The programme combines educational sessions with peer exchange, while networking events also form part of the schedule.
Key topics include aviation fire protection and prevention, aircraft rescue and firefighting operations, and emergency planning between airports and surrounding communities.
The Women in Fire Conference returns on Tuesday 21 April.
The one-day programme begins with an opening ceremony and continues with educational classes focused on training, support and advocacy for women in the fire service.
The Officers Club, by contrast, is reserved for senior leaders from departments and EMS agencies with 125 or more career personnel, offering breakfast roundtables alongside sponsor meetings.
Participants will also have access to a dedicated lounge on 23 and 24 April.
Exhibition and stadium activations
The exhibition side of FDIC 2026 runs from Thursday 23 April to Saturday 25 April.
The Lucas Oil Stadium and connector open from 10:00am to 5:30pm on Thursday, 9:00am to 5:00pm on Friday and 9:00am to 1:00pm on Saturday.
The Indiana Convention Center and Outdoor Exhibits & Demo Area open from 11:00am to 5:30pm on Thursday, 10:00am to 5:00pm on Friday and 9:00am to 1:00pm on Saturday.
Lucas Oil Stadium is being used as more than an exhibition hall.
It functions as an immersive skills environment built around several activations.
These include the Drill Yard for tactical instruction and a Health & Wellness zone with discussions alongside complimentary cancer screenings.
The Sim Yard will host EMS scenario training.
Central Park will act as a social and recharge space for attendees.
Remembrance Square provides a place for reflection connected to the legacy of 9/11, while IGNITE will highlight start-ups and smaller businesses presenting emerging technologies.
This environment is designed to give attendees reasons to spend time in the stadium beyond product browsing alone.
The wider experience also extends into the Outdoor Exhibits & Demo Area.
The Firefighter Challenge Championship Series will run alongside the main programme, including open practice sessions and qualifying rounds.
Tandem and relay competitions will follow before the individual championship finale.
On Friday afternoon, the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is scheduled in the Lucas Oil Stadium connector, while remembrance activity linked to the 25th anniversary of 9/11 will continue throughout the week.
Ceremony recognition and remembrance
FDIC’s opening ceremony will take place on Wednesday 22 April from 8:00am to 10:00am in the Sagamore Ballroom.
The keynote speaker will be Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
The ceremony will also recognise the late Lieutenant Andrew A.
Fredericks of the Fire Department of New York with the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award.
The wider programme will include remembrance events and personal testimonials.
The Tunnel to Towers 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit will also appear during the week, alongside the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in collaboration with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Beyond the opening ceremony, the programme includes a large and varied speaker base.
Confirmed names across the week include Sean Gray, Bassel Ibrahim, Ray McCormack and Jerry Knapp.
Additional contributors include Chase Sargent and David McGrail, alongside Tom Bouthillet and Justin McWilliams.
Anthony Avillo and Billy Goldfeder will also appear.
Eric Wheaton joins Mike Gagliano among the presenters, while Michael Dugan, Adam Barowy and Paul Banerjee are also scheduled to speak.
Bob Page is also part of the programme.
This spread reflects FDIC’s emphasis on practical instruction and combines frontline firefighters with chief officers, researchers and specialist practitioners.
Planning registration and attendance
Registration and attendee housing are already open through the event’s platform.
FDIC is offering a Training All-Inclusive package that includes up to 20 hours of hands-on training and workshops.
Additional options include conference passes and single-day conference access.
Exhibits-only packages are also available.
Discounted group plans apply for departments sending three or more people.
Connections Housing is the official housing partner and Indianapolis International Airport serves as the primary airport for attendees travelling to the event.
For those planning their week in detail, the event’s mobile app will support navigation and scheduling.
Users can build a personalised planner and navigate the exhibition floor.
The app also helps attendees locate exhibitors and track sessions across the week.
Onsite registration opens on Sunday 19 April from 3:00pm to 7:00pm at the Indiana Convention Center.
Registration continues daily through Saturday morning, with dual-site registration at both the convention centre and Lucas Oil Stadium from Wednesday onward.
Operational training remains central
FDIC International 2026 looks strongest where operational training meets specialist forums and product access.
Departments sending crews for hands-on training can pair that experience with building risk education or EMS leadership sessions.
Specialist forums also address industrial risk alongside aviation firefighting and technology implementation.
Suppliers and buyers will also encounter a substantial exhibition environment, with more than 800 exhibitors across the venue footprint.
For fire and safety professionals reading ahead of the show, the clearest themes are practical readiness and more tailored summit pathways.
The programme also expands the presence of EMS, industrial and aviation audiences within the week.
The result is an event that continues to centre hands-on firefighting and rescue training while giving chiefs, instructors and EMS leaders opportunities to exchange experience and develop strategy across the profession.
