The best HVAC conferences and tradeshows in 2026 combine hands-on exposure to new technology with serious education and networking, making them powerful growth levers for both contractors and manufacturers. Below is a revised 800–1000 word overview of the top events to consider in 2026, now including EPIC2026 and direct links to each event.
Official site: https://www.ahrexpo.com
In 2026, the show took over the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central and South Halls and featured the latest in high‑efficiency equipment, controls, refrigerants, and ventilation solutions. Attendees had access to live product demos, new launches, and an education program spanning decarbonization, IAQ, electrification, workforce trends, and more.
If Las Vegas wasn’t in the cards for you this year, use the downtime after the show to review the exhibitor list, recorded sessions, and show news, then block your calendar for Chicago 2027. Getting your team to AHR next year is one of the most efficient ways to see where the HVACR market is going and ensure your product and service offerings keep up.
Conference page: https://www.ashrae.org/conferences/2026-winter-conference
This year’s conference delivered 100+ technical sessions across tracks like decarbonization, low‑GWP refrigerants, energy resiliency, and advanced HVACR design and controls. Attendees also benefited from committee meetings, networking events, and direct access to the people shaping key standards and guidelines.
Because ASHRAE coordinates closely with AHR, attending both in the same city gives you deep technical training plus hands‑on exposure to products on the Expo floor. If you missed Las Vegas, watch for ASHRAE updates later this year and budget now so your technical team can attend the next Winter Conference cycle.
Official site: https://epic2026.com
EPIC brings together home services contractors—especially HVAC, plumbing, and electrical—for high‑energy keynote sessions, CEU‑eligible education, and targeted business training. The agenda blends sales, pricing, leadership, marketing, and customer experience, making it an ideal event for owners and leadership teams who want to sharpen their business model and increase profitability. Distributor‑focused programming and invite‑only workshops give distributors and OEM partners a place to align with contractors and understand market trends.
Networking is a central part of the EPIC experience, with structured breakfasts, breaks, happy hours, exhibitor showcases, and a signature evening party. If you want an event that combines practical business playbooks with big‑stage inspiration and entertainment, EPIC2026 deserves a prime spot on your 2026 calendar.
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Session tracks typically cover pricing, profitability, recruiting and retaining technicians, leadership development, and regulatory updates affecting contractors. This makes ACCA especially valuable for owners, general managers, and service managers who need practical, immediately applicable insights to run and grow a profitable HVAC business.
The Expo component brings in vendors focused on the contractor experience—from field service software and financing partners to distributors and training organizations. Many attendees report that the most impactful moments come from networking with peers, hearing what’s working in similar markets, and joining roundtable discussions where challenges like pricing, callbacks, and hiring are openly discussed. If you’re serious about sharpening the business side of your HVAC company in 2026, ACCA is a must‑attend.
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This conference bridges the gap between traditional HVAC work and whole‑home performance, emphasizing topics like envelope improvements, ventilation strategies, and health‑focused IAQ solutions. If your business offers—or plans to offer—services such as home energy assessments, duct sealing, or high‑performance retrofits, the education here can help you deepen your expertise and expand your service offerings.
The trade show showcases tools, materials, and software for diagnostics and measurement, such as blower door systems, thermal imaging tools, and performance‑oriented HVAC equipment. Because the audience includes utilities, program implementers, and policy stakeholders, it’s also a useful place to understand which incentives and programs may drive demand in your market in the next few years.
Official site: https://www.installershownyc.com
Unlike some events that lean heavily toward theory or management, InstallerSHOW emphasizes live demos, workshops, and real‑world product applications. It’s an ideal event for training your team on new installation methods, controls, and diagnostic tools in a highly tactile environment.
Tickets are advertised as free, making this an accessible option for smaller shops or those wanting to bring multiple techs without a large registration budget. For East Coast businesses, the location at the Javits Center also limits travel time and cost while still providing access to a wide range of manufacturers and experts.
The HARDI Annual Conference is the flagship event for HVACR wholesale distribution professionals, bringing together distributors, manufacturers, and vendors each December. In 2026, the conference is scheduled for December 7–10 in San Diego, California (final venue details to be announced).
Official Site: https://hardinet.org/annual-conference
HARDI’s four‑day program focuses on economic outlooks, policy changes, technology shifts, and best practices specific to the distribution channel. The audience is heavily weighted toward executive, director, and VP‑level leaders from distribution companies, manufacturers, and service partners across North America.
If your business sells into or through distribution, HARDI is where strategic conversations about pricing, inventory, digital integration, and growth happen. It’s an ideal setting to deepen distributor relationships and understand how top wholesalers are thinking about the next fiscal year.
Official site: https://www.womeninhvacr.org
The event typically includes keynotes, technical and leadership sessions, panel discussions, and networking built around mentorship, career growth, and industry visibility for women. Topics often span leadership development, technical education, business growth, and work‑life sustainability in a still‑male‑dominated field.
For companies, sending emerging and established women leaders to this conference signals a commitment to inclusion and provides them with a strong peer network and practical tools. For individuals, it’s a chance to build confidence, find mentors, and stay plugged into opportunities and trends shaping the industry.
When planning the rest of your 2026 travel and starting to shape 2027, use AHR and ASHRAE as technical anchors, layer in business‑focused events like EPIC, ACCA, and HARDI, and add targeted experiences like Women in HVACR, NHPC, and InstallerSHOW based on your role and growth priorities. This mix ensures you’re investing in both the technical and business sides of your HVAC operation—and in the people who make it run.