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Coralville expects waves of visitors in 2026; CVB projects $21.1M in visitor spending through August
Summary
Think Iowa City/CVB president Josh Schamberger told the council Coralville will host numerous large events (state and national wrestling championships, the Savannah Bananas and multiple tournaments) that together could bring about 81,000 visitors and $21.1 million in expenditures through Aug. 31, not counting the Savannah Bananas demand.
Coralville’s Convention & Visitors Bureau outlined a busy 2026 events calendar that city and business leaders say will bring substantial tourism revenue to the community.
Josh Schamberger, president of Think Iowa City and the CVB, briefed the council on a string of regional, national and international events booked in Coralville and nearby facilities. Highlights include state and national wrestling championships (including the first NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships in Coralville), the National Middle School Basketball Association tournament with roughly 240–250 teams, a Summit League Swimming and Diving championship, the Universal Ballet Competition and national conferences. Schamberger said Coralville will host the United World Wrestling senior international event with athletes from about 31 countries and expects substantial international delegations.
Schamberger provided cumulative figures through Aug. 31: roughly 81,000 visitors, about 29,000 hotel room nights and $21.1 million in estimated visitor expenditures (these numbers do not include the additional, large effect expected from the Savannah Bananas event, which drove extraordinarily high ticket demand). He noted Coralville does not track hotels outside Johnson County but that most bookings are in Coralville because it has the largest share of local rooms.
Councilmember Katie Freeman asked whether hotel-room figures included neighboring communities; Schamberger said the CVB does not track hotels outside Johnson County for these tallies. He said many events will book hundreds of room-nights and that organizers work with the city to coordinate logistics, including potential parades or downtown appearances.
Schamberger said the visitor influx provides opportunities to showcase Coralville and echoed requests for city support to host and manage the events successfully.
