The Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition (IFFC) announced that U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) will headline its 26th Annual Fall Banquet on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines.
Kennedy, one of our nation’s most recognizable conservative voices, is known for cutting through Washington jargon with clarity, humor and common sense. He will deliver the keynote address at the annual banquet, which brings together conservatives from across Iowa for an evening focused on faith, family and freedom.
“Faith, family and freedom are not just fancy political slogans; they’re core principles of this country. I am looking forward to joining Iowa conservatives in Des Moines to talk plainly about defending those important values and bringing a little more common to Washington,” said Kennedy.
“If you’ve ever watched Senator Kennedy on TV, you know he doesn’t use standard, sterilized Washington-speak. He cuts straight through the noise with absolute clarity. This won’t be some dry, sleepy policy lecture — you’re going to leave deeply challenged, re-energized, and with a smile on your face,” said Steve Scheffler, President of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition.
The banquet will take place at the Airport Holiday Inn, 6111 Fleur Drive in Des Moines. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., dinner begins at 5 p.m. and the program begins at 5:45 p.m. Attire is business casual.
Due to a massive surge in early demand, the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition is expanding its footprint within the venue to maximize capacity. The main stage will be hosted in the Iowa Room, while the adjacent Ballroom will be fully equipped with high-definition big screens to provide an additional high-energy viewing experience.
“We packed the room with 1,100 folks at our Spring Kickoff, and the momentum has only grown since then. We fully expect to blow past that number on Saturday, Sept. 19, which is why we’re opening up every inch of space the Holiday Inn has to offer. You’ll want to secure your seats early,” Scheffler continued.
