Greeting Card Association announces first-ever combined Annual Conference and Louie Awards

The Greeting Card Association (GCA) announced that the 37th Annual Louie Awards and the 2026 GCA Annual Conference will take place together for the first time in the organization’s history. The co-located event will be held Aug. 17–19, 2026, at the historic Seelbach Hilton in Louisville, Kentucky. The Louies have officially landed in Louisville — and they’re bringing the entire GCA community with them. This innovative “crossover” event will open with the celebrated Louie Awards ceremony on the evening of Aug. 17, setting the stage for a dynamic multi-day Conference experience. “This marks an exciting new chapter for the GCA,” said Carlos Llanso, executive director of GCA. “By bringing the Louie Awards and Annual Conference together under one roof, we’re creating new opportunities for inspiration, networking, and celebration across our creative community.” Submissions for the 37th Annual Louie Awards are open until Jan. 14. “The Louies have always been about celebrating creativity, but this takes that celebration to a new level,” said Michele Byrne, chair of the Louie Awards Committee. “Opening the Conference with the Awards sets an exciting tone for the week and gives the entire community a shared starting point to connect, learn, and be inspired together. It also creates a bigger stage for our finalists and winners, with greater visibility for their work.” The co-location model allows for flexible attendance options to meet the needs of the entire industry. Guests may:

• Attend the Louie Awards ceremony only on Aug. 17
• Join the Louies and stay for a condensed, short-track version of the Conference
• Participate in the full GCA Annual Conference through the evening of Aug. 20

The combined format enhances accessibility while offering a rich, expanded program of education, connection, and celebration — all in a single, conveniently structured event. “I’m thrilled to chair the GCA Conference in Louisville. I LOVE greeting cards and the positive impact they have connecting people. Drawing on the experiences from my last two conferences, my hope is that we turn those insights into meaningful takeaways that inspire growth for your business and strengthen our collective industry,” said Doris Webb, GCA Conference Committee Chair. More details on registration, programming, hotel booking, and sponsorship opportunities will be released in the coming months.