TL;DR
Get business pricing on tools and workshop supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
The inaugural DIY CON was held in Dallas Nov. 6-8, bringing together HGTV personalities, online creators, makers, retailers and DIY product exhibitors. The event paired stage conversations with hands-on workshops and product demonstrations; organizers said the goal was to help attendees move from online inspiration to practical project skills and connections.
DIY CON held its inaugural event in Dallas from Nov. 6-8, 2026, bringing together HGTV personalities, social-media creators, woodworking experts, retailers and makers for three days of workshops, product demonstrations and stage conversations. The new event aimed to give DIYers opportunities to learn directly from creators and try products, rather than relying only on online project content.
The program combined Main Stage conversations with hands-on workshops for beginners, intermediate DIYers and experienced makers. HGTV personalities appearing on stage included Drew Scott and Jonathan Scott of “Property Brothers,” Ty Pennington, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, and Cole and Chelsea DeBoer. Workshops covered topics such as deck-building fundamentals, live-edge charcuterie boards and pocket-hole techniques.
The showfloor featured more than 75 vendors and manufacturers, according to the event report. Exhibitors demonstrated products and offered show deals and discounts. The North American Hardware and Paint Association also brought products from its 2026 Retailers’ Choice Awards to introduce them to consumers. Other parts of the event included maker meetups, a photo area, a kids’ activity zone and an outdoor space with a beer garden.
The event also drew retailers looking for ways to reach more DIY customers. Sterling Cherry and Caitlin Driscoll traveled from Ketchikan, Alaska, where they work at Madison Lumber & Hardware. Driscoll said about 60% of the store’s customers are professionals and contractors, and that the pair hoped to gather ideas for the store’s DIY workshop and find ways to connect with more DIYers.
Turning Online Ideas Into Skills
The event addressed a practical challenge for people interested in home projects: access to abundant online advice does not necessarily make it easy to judge what is reliable, choose the right product or decide whether a job is suitable for a DIY approach. In-person demonstrations and workshops gave attendees a chance to ask questions, handle products and learn techniques directly from instructors.
That distinction matters to consumers weighing the cost and risk of a project, and to hardware retailers seeking to serve customers beyond professional contractors. Event director Hector Morfin-Chong said attendees wanted guidance suited to their homes, budgets and skills, including help understanding when to do work themselves and when to call a professional. The report does not provide attendance figures or survey results, so the event’s broader effect on DIY confidence or retail sales cannot yet be measured.
Popular right now
Ninja CREAMi XL Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream and Frozen Treat Maker with Two 24 oz. Tubs
Samsung 55-Inch Neo QLED 4K TV with WireLogic 8-Foot Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable
Samsung 50-inch QN70H Neo QLED 4K Smart TV with Austere 2.5 m 8K HDMI Cable
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
A New Event for DIYers
DIY CON was presented as a new show designed to bring together communities that often encounter one another through separate channels, including television, social media, woodworking and independent hardware retail. Lifestyle expert Kathryn Emery described the format as a gathering of personalities from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, HGTV and the maker community.
Organizers framed the event around a shift in how people find project advice. Morfin-Chong said finding tutorials had been a challenge years ago, while the current difficulty is sorting through the volume of advice and deciding which sources and tools to trust. At the event, that issue appeared in both the practical workshops and the stage advice: attendees were encouraged to seek qualified instruction and to be honest about the limits of their knowledge.
“Today, the challenge is deciding which advice to trust, which tool is right, whether a project is realistic and how to get started.”
— DIY CON event director Hector Morfin-Chong
Attendance and Results Remain Unreported
The available report does not state how many people attended, whether organizers plan to repeat the event, or what financial results vendors recorded. It also does not provide attendee surveys or other data showing whether workshops led to completed projects or changed consumer confidence. One exhibitor, Rick Goren, said the event helped him make connections and put his products in front of consumers, but the source text ends before giving his full account of sales during the three days.
Organizers’ Next Steps Are Unknown
No date or location for a second DIY CON is included in the available report. The next indication of the event’s future may come from an announcement by organizers or the publication of attendance, exhibitor and program details. Until then, the confirmed record is the inaugural Dallas event and the activities held there from Nov. 6-8.
Key Questions
When and where was DIY CON 2026 held?
The inaugural event took place in Dallas from Nov. 6-8, 2026.
What could attendees do at DIY CON?
Attendees could watch stage conversations, take hands-on workshops, see product demonstrations and meet creators, makers and vendors. Workshops included deck-building fundamentals, live-edge board making and pocket-hole techniques.
Which HGTV personalities appeared?
The report lists Drew Scott, Jonathan Scott, Ty Pennington, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, and Cole and Chelsea DeBoer.
How many vendors took part?
The event report says the showfloor featured more than 75 vendors and manufacturers. It does not give a full vendor list.
Has a second DIY CON been announced?
The available report does not give a date or location for another event, so a follow-up has not been confirmed in the source material.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
