Downtown Tampa is hosting thousands of visitors this week as the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine (AEAONMS), widely known as the Prince Hall Shriners, convenes for its 2026 Imperial Session at the Tampa Convention Center. Running August 14–20, the event marks the fifth time the organization has chosen Tampa Bay as its national convention home, dating back to its first visit in 2010 and most recently in 2023.
The session encompasses two major gatherings — the Imperial Council Session for the Nobles and the Imperial Court Session for the Daughters — drawing attendees from across the country. City officials project the convention will generate roughly $9.25 million in direct economic impact, benefiting local hotels, restaurants, retailers, and transportation providers throughout the week.
Alongside the convention programming, AEAONMS has a full slate of community service activities planned for Tampa residents. These include Project C.A.R.E., a one-day event offering free haircuts, food, health screenings, and employment services; a bookbag and school supplies giveaway for students heading back to school; a diabetes walk and health fair; a mobile blood drive; and a non-partisan voter registration drive.
One of the week's most visible moments will be the AEAONMS parade through Ybor City on Wednesday, August 19. The procession travels along 7th Avenue from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with Tampa Police closing that stretch of 7th Avenue to vehicle traffic beginning at 2:30 p.m. between Nebraska Avenue and North 24th Street. Attendees and Ybor visitors are encouraged to use the free TECO Line Streetcar. Drivers navigating toward Harbour Island can use Beneficial Drive to sidestep convention-related congestion near the center. Updated parking and road-closure information is available at Tampa.gov/parking and Tampa.gov/road-closures.
This story is based on an official announcement from the City of Tampa.
