Find Your People at HPBExpo26
Find Your People at HPBExpo26
HPBExpo26 takes place March 18 through 21, 2026 in New Orleans. Exhibits run March 19 through 21.
HPBA
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If you work in the hearth, barbecue, and outdoor living industry, you know the experience of explaining BTUs, venting systems, or draft behavior to someone outside the field. You watch their expression shift from polite interest to quiet confusion. You simplify further, but the gap remains. At a generic trade show, the people around you rarely understand the language of fire, installations, or safety codes—let alone the realities of running a specialty shop or service company.
At HPBExpo26, that gap disappears. Every conversation starts on common ground. The people you meet understand the difference between a roaring flame and a clean burn. They know what it takes to sell, install, or service the products that bring warmth and gathering spaces to life.
“HPBExpo brings together the full hearth, barbecue, and outdoor living community in a way no other event does,” said Jill McClure, President and CEO of the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA). “Attendees share a strong understanding of the products, technology, and challenges, which allows for direct and useful conversations with manufacturers about what their businesses need.”
A Marketplace Designed for the Industry
In 2026, the industry returns to New Orleans for four days of education, discovery, and connection. What sets HPBExpo apart is its singular focus on the hearth, barbecue, and outdoor living market. Every product, service, conversation, and class is tailored to the people who build, sell, install, maintain, and innovate in this industry. Everything is designed for professionals who want to refine their craft and strengthen their businesses.
More than 300 brands will be featured across the exhibit hall and the Outdoor Burn. Within the hall, the New Product Pavilion offers a first look at the technologies and designs shaping the market’s future. This showcase features each product entry along with information on where to find the manufacturer’s booth, helping attendees quickly identify new opportunities and what will matter most in the year ahead.
Where Products Come to Life
No other trade show in North America offers this level of live product demonstration. On the show floor, attendees can see natural gas units running and view electric fireplaces with their flame effects, making it easier to compare flame presentation, heat output, controls, and installation considerations. They’ll also have the opportunity to connect directly with manufacturers as they explore a wide range of hearth, barbecue, and outdoor living products to determine what best fits their stores.
New this year, the Outdoor Burn will be closer to the indoor exhibit hall, creating an easy flow between indoor and outdoor experiences. Attendees can see grills, stoves, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and patio appliances in action throughout the event.
Returning in 2026 is our Outdoor Classroom, where dynamic technical courses and expert-led product education will be available to all attendees. On Thursday, the area hosts the new Industry Street Party, a late-afternoon gathering with food, music, competitions, games, and a biergarten in an open-air setting that encourages easy networking and plenty of fun. Indoor exhibits will close at 4:00pm, while the Outdoor exhibits will remain open until 6:00pm for the party, giving everyone extra time to explore and connect.
Learning That Helps You Lead
Education is a signature feature of HPBExpo26. All sessions are free for attendees and take place on the show floor or within the Outdoor Burn. The program is built around real business and technical needs. Whether you are a retailer, technician, distributor, manufacturer, or independent rep, you will find training that enhances skills and supports growth.
This year, HPBA is introducing a new Business Bootcamp series for small business owners and managers. This six-class program runs Thursday through Saturday and provides focused training in sales, operations, finance, hiring, customer experience, and long-term planning. Companies can send multiple team members who leave with tools they can apply immediately.
The National Fireplace Institute (NFI) will offer review courses and exams for all certification categories. These include NFI Gas Specialist, NFI Woodburning Specialist, NFI Pellet Specialist, and NFI Hearth Design Specialist. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) will also host review courses and exams for the Certified Chimney Sweep (CCS) designation.
This, along with our free education program, allows attendees to earn CEUs and credentials without additional travel, which makes HPBExpo26 an efficient investment in building professional development for small and large teams.
Learning Straight from the Source
One of the most valuable opportunities at HPBExpo26 is the slate of Manufacturer Training Sessions. These sessions give attendees the rare chance to learn directly from the brands they work with every day. Each training is led by the exhibiting manufacturer and built around the skills, updates, and insights they believe will help dealers, technicians, and sales teams succeed. The result is practical, brand-specific education that can’t be found anywhere else.
Over four days, manufacturers offer focused two-hour sessions covering installation efficiencies, service and troubleshooting techniques, new product features, and sales strategies for the year ahead. The format allows attendees to engage directly with the experts who design and support the products on the market. For retailers and service companies, this is an efficient way to train staff, build confidence, and strengthen relationships with their most trusted suppliers.
Companies such as Dimplex Electric Fireplaces, Empire Comfort Systems, HearthStone and HearthStone Outdoor, HPC Fire Inspired, ICC-RSF, Kozy Heat Fireplaces, Mendota Hearth/NetZero Fire, Ortal, and Travis Industries (invite only) will lead sessions tailored to their product lines, giving manufacturers the flexibility to engage with their audiences. As the show approaches, additional sessions and details will continue to be added.
For many attendees, these training sessions are some of the most productive parts of the week. The combination of hands-on expertise, technical insight, and direct access to manufacturer representatives helps teams return home with stronger skills and better product knowledge. It is a practical, high-value opportunity that reinforces HPBExpo’s role as the place where the industry comes to learn, improve, and move forward together.
Community at Every Turn
What keeps industry professionals returning to HPBExpo is the sense of community. The event is more than a marketplace or training hub. It is a gathering of peers who understand each other’s work from the inside.
Retailer Roundtables on the first day offer a place to compare challenges, share solutions, and learn from others who face similar realities. Peer Meetups and affiliate receptions provide time for informal conversations that often lead to new ideas or new partnerships. The Women’s Breakfast and Roundtable brings women from across the industry together for meaningful connection and shared perspective.
The week concludes with the Ultimate Awards Show. This event honors excellence across the profession, including Emerging Leader, Advocate of the Year, Retailer of the Year, Affiliate of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Education Excellence, and the Attendees’ Choice Awards.
Where You Belong
HPBExpo26 is more than a show. It’s the annual gathering place for the industry, where members come together to learn, trade insights, and reconnect with colleagues from across the community.
It’s where you find your people.
Register at www.hpbexpo.com.
HPBA
The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), based just outside of Washington, DC, is the North American industry association for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, representatives, service firms, and allied associates for all types of fireplace, stove, heater, barbecue, and outdoor living appliances and accessories. HPBA provides professional member services and industry support in government relations, events, market research, education, certifications, consumer education, and industry promotion.
