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The inaugural DIY CON took place in Dallas Nov. 6-8, bringing HGTV personalities, online creators, makers and DIY consumers together for talks, workshops and product demonstrations. Organizers said the event aimed to help attendees turn online inspiration into practical project skills and trusted advice. Attendance figures and plans for a future event were not provided in the report.
The inaugural DIY CON brought HGTV personalities, online creators, makers and home improvement businesses to Dallas from Nov. 6-8 for three days of talks, hands-on workshops and product demonstrations. The event was designed to help DIYers move from watching project content to building skills and confidence they can apply at home, according to event director Hector Morfin-Chong.
The program combined Main Stage conversations with workshops for beginner, intermediate and experienced DIYers. HGTV personalities Drew Scott, Jonathan Scott, Ty Pennington, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, and Cole and Chelsea DeBoer appeared on stage. Workshop sessions covered topics including deck-building fundamentals, live-edge charcuterie boards and pocket-hole techniques.
The showfloor included more than 75 vendors and manufacturers, who demonstrated products and, according to the report, offered event deals and discounts. The North American Hardware and Paint Association also brought products recognized in its 2026 Retailers’ Choice Awards, which mark their 60th year in 2026.
The event included spaces for attendees to meet makers, take photos and make a keepsake, as well as a Backyard beer garden and a Kids Zone with hands-on activities. Attendees included Sterling Cherry and Caitlin Driscoll of Madison Lumber & Hardware in Ketchikan, Alaska. Driscoll said they hoped to find workshop ideas and ways to connect with DIY customers; the report says about 60% of the store’s customers are currently professionals and contractors.
Turning Online Ideas Into Skills
DIY CON’s format addressed a challenge described by its organizers: people have access to abundant project videos and advice, but may have difficulty judging which sources to trust, what tools suit a job and whether a project matches their skill level. Meeting creators and trying products in person offered attendees a way to ask questions and get practical demonstrations rather than relying only on screens.
That approach could also matter to retailers looking to reach more DIY customers. Driscoll said Madison Lumber & Hardware wants to grow that part of its business and was seeking ideas for its in-store workshops. The report documents that goal, but does not establish whether the event led to more customers, sales or workshops for the retailer.
For vendors, the show created a venue to put products in front of consumers and connect with other businesses. Exhibitor Rick Goren, owner and inventor of Wristbeams and Rotoshovel, said the event helped him make connections with vendors and the independent retail channel through NHPA. He also said it was an opportunity to show products to consumers.
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A New Gathering for DIYers
DIY CON was described in the report as a brand-new show bringing together personalities from television, social media and the maker community. Lifestyle expert Kathryn Emery likened its mix of creators and fans to Comic-Con, while highlighting the event’s meetups, live music and social spaces. That comparison was her characterization, not an official measure of the event’s scale or attendance.
Morfin-Chong said the event was intended to meet consumers in a different way: by putting people who follow DIY content in the same space as creators, experts and product makers. The report describes a combination of entertainment, instruction and product exposure, rather than a program focused solely on stage appearances or trade displays.
The workshop lineup included Brent Gentling of BYOTools on deck-building fundamentals, Anika Gandhi of Anika’s DIY Life on pocket-hole techniques, and creator-led activities with Mason Smith of DadSocial. The report does not provide a full schedule, workshop capacity or attendance totals.
“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 Future Plans
The report does not give attendance totals, ticket sales, revenue figures or an independent assessment of the event’s economic impact. It also does not say whether DIY CON will return, where a future edition might take place, or what changes organizers may make after the inaugural show. While attendees and organizers described the event’s goals and experiences, those comments do not establish how many participants gained skills or later completed projects.
Goren’s comments about product exposure and business connections are his assessment as an exhibitor. The source text ends before completing his statement about sales during the three-day event, so it does not provide a usable sales result or comparison. No broader sales figures for exhibitors are reported.
Organizers’ Next Steps Remain Unreported
The source report offers no announced date or location for another DIY CON and does not specify a post-event evaluation. The next confirmed step is not a scheduled future edition; readers will need a statement from the organizers for information about whether the show will return and what its plans are.
Further reporting could clarify attendance, exhibitor results and whether participating retailers use ideas from the event in their workshops or customer programs. For now, the reported outcome is that the inaugural gathering took place and offered a mix of creator appearances, practical instruction and vendor demonstrations.
Key Questions
When and where was DIY CON 2026 held?
The inaugural event took place in Dallas from Nov. 6-8, 2026, according to the report.
What could attendees do at DIY CON?
Attendees could hear from HGTV personalities and other creators, take part in workshops, see product demonstrations and visit vendor exhibits. The program also included spaces for meetups, children’s activities and informal gatherings.
How many vendors took part?
The report says the showfloor featured more than 75 vendors and manufacturers. It does not give a full exhibitor list or the number of attendees.
Will DIY CON return?
The source report does not announce another edition or provide a future date or location. A return has not been confirmed in the available information.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
