The Peoria Civic Center has updated their security protocols for the building which we want to share as you plan for your time in Peoria later this month at the 2026 Illinois Music Education Conference.

We will be utilizing four entrances the building:

Great Hall Lobby (arena entrance)
Marquee entrance of the theater (skywalk lobby entrance to the Peoria Civic Center)
Terrazzo Registration Lobby entrance
Loading Dock (exhibitors only)

There will be metal detectors at each entrance for everyone to pass through. The Civic Center will utilize these detectors to look for firearms and other prohibited items of this nature. There will be security staff at each of these entrances, but attendees will not have their bags searched unless the detector picks up on a possible prohibited item. Civic Center staff members have assured us that this will not impede the functions of IMEC or cause our attendees any delay in entry and is only being put in place to ensure a safe experience for everyone at the Civic Center.