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The inaugural DIY CON took place in Dallas Nov. 6-8, 2026, bringing DIY creators, HGTV personalities, makers and product exhibitors together for three days. Its program paired onstage conversations with practical workshops, product demonstrations and opportunities for attendees to meet creators and vendors.
The inaugural DIY CON brought HGTV personalities, online creators, makers, retailers and DIY enthusiasts together in Dallas from Nov. 6-8, 2026, with a program combining stage conversations, hands-on workshops and a showfloor featuring more than 75 vendors and manufacturers. The event aimed to give attendees practical opportunities to learn about projects and products, not just watch DIY content online.
Event director Hector Morfin-Chong described the show as a response to a crowded online advice environment. He said consumers now have abundant project inspiration but must decide which advice to trust, which tools suit their needs and whether a project is realistic. DIY CON’s format brought creators and experts into direct contact with attendees, according to Morfin-Chong.
The Main Stage featured HGTV personalities including Drew and Jonathan Scott, Ty Pennington, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, and Cole and Chelsea DeBoer. Workshops covered topics including deck-building fundamentals, live-edge charcuterie boards and pocket-hole techniques. The event also offered creator-led activities, product demonstrations, a Kids Zone and spaces for attendees to meet makers.
The showfloor included more than 75 vendors and manufacturers, who demonstrated products and offered show deals and discounts, according to the report. The North American Hardware and Paint Association brought products recognized in its 2026 Retailers’ Choice Awards. The event also drew participants from the hardware retail sector: Sterling Cherry and Caitlin Driscoll of Madison Lumber & Hardware in Ketchikan, Alaska, attended to seek ideas for the store’s DIY workshop and ways to attract more DIY customers.
From Online Advice to Hands-On Skills
The event’s significance lies in its attempt to connect DIY inspiration with practical instruction. Attendees could ask questions, try products and learn techniques in person, while vendors could put products before consumers and make connections with retailers and other businesses. Those opportunities may help people judge whether a project fits their skills and resources before they begin.
For independent hardware retailers, the show also offered a way to learn what DIY customers are looking for. Driscoll said her store’s customer base is currently about 60% professionals and contractors, and that the business wants to bring in more DIY customers. She said she and Cherry hoped to take ideas back for workshops and customer outreach. The report does not establish whether the event produced lasting changes in sales or customer behavior.
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A New Show for DIY Consumers
DIY CON was presented as a new, three-day event bringing together personalities from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, HGTV and the maker community. Lifestyle expert Kathryn Emery compared its mix of creators and fans to Comic-Con, while describing the atmosphere as warm and social. She said one attendee told her they arrived for inspiration but left feeling capable of attempting projects at home.
The program combined celebrity-led Main Stage discussions with workshops intended for beginners, intermediate DIYers and experienced makers. In addition to instruction, organizers included social and family-oriented areas such as The Den, a Backyard beer garden and hangout area, and a Kids Zone. These details show the event was designed as both a learning program and a place for fans and industry participants to meet.
“Today, the challenge is deciding which advice to trust, which tool is right, whether a project is realistic and how to get started.”
— Hector Morfin-Chong, DIY CON event director
Attendance and Results Not Reported
The source report does not give attendance totals, event revenue or a full evaluation of the show’s results. It also does not say whether DIY CON will return, when another edition might take place or whether organizers plan changes to the format. Morfin-Chong described the event’s goal, but the available material does not measure whether attendees gained lasting skills or whether retailers saw an increase in DIY customers.
Exhibitor Rick Goren said the event helped him connect with vendors and the independent hardware channel and put his products in front of consumers. The report’s final sentence about his sales during the three days is cut off, so it does not provide a complete sales figure or a clear comparison with other periods.
Awaiting a Return Announcement
The next confirmed milestone is not stated in the report. Organizers have not announced a future date or venue in the available source material, so whether the inaugural show will become an annual event remains unclear. Any assessment of its commercial or educational impact will also depend on information not included here, such as attendance, exhibitor results and feedback from attendees.
For now, the first edition’s documented outcomes are its three-day program, hands-on activities, creator appearances and vendor participation. A future announcement from organizers would establish whether another show is planned and what lessons they draw from the Dallas event.
Key Questions
When and where was DIY CON 2026 held?
The inaugural event took place in Dallas, Nov. 6-8, 2026.
What could attendees do at DIY CON?
Attendees could join hands-on workshops, watch Main Stage conversations, meet creators and makers, see product demonstrations and visit a showfloor with more than 75 vendors and manufacturers.
Which HGTV personalities appeared?
The report lists Drew and Jonathan Scott, Ty Pennington, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, and Cole and Chelsea DeBoer among the Main Stage guests.
Has another DIY CON been announced?
The source report does not state whether a future edition has been scheduled. A return date and venue are not confirmed in the available information.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
