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The inaugural DIY CON took place Nov. 6-8 in Dallas, bringing HGTV personalities, online creators, makers and DIY consumers together for three days of talks, workshops and product demonstrations. Organizers said the event aimed to help attendees turn project inspiration into practical skills and confidence; the report does not give attendance totals or complete sales results.
The inaugural DIY CON brought HGTV personalities, DIY creators, woodworking experts, makers and vendors to Dallas from Nov. 6-8 for three days of talks, workshops and product demonstrations. The event was designed to connect consumers with practical advice and tools as well as project inspiration, according to event director Hector Morfin-Chong.
The program combined Main Stage conversations with hands-on workshops for beginners, intermediate DIYers and experienced makers. HGTV stars appearing on stage included Drew Scott, Jonathan Scott, Ty Pennington, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, and Cole and Chelsea DeBoer. Workshop sessions covered skills such as deck-building fundamentals, live-edge charcuterie board making and pocket-hole techniques.
The showfloor featured more than 75 vendors and manufacturers, according to the report, with product demonstrations and show deals. The North American Hardware and Paint Association also brought products from its 2026 Retailers’ Choice Awards, which recognize products the association describes as creative and innovative. Other areas included The Den, a Backyard beer garden and family hangout, and a Kids Zone with activities and experiments.
Attendees included retailers looking for ways to reach DIY customers. Sterling Cherry and Caitlin Driscoll of Madison Lumber & Hardware in Ketchikan, Alaska, traveled to the event to gather ideas for the store’s DIY workshop. Driscoll said roughly 60% of the store’s customers are professionals and contractors, and the business wants to attract more DIY shoppers.
Turning DIY Content Into Practical Skills
DIY CON’s format addressed a challenge identified by its organizers: consumers can find abundant project content online, but may struggle to judge whose advice to trust, what tools suit a job and whether a project is within their abilities. Workshops and demonstrations gave attendees a chance to learn directly from creators and try products before buying them.
The event also brought together consumers and businesses that serve them. For independent retailers such as Madison Lumber & Hardware, the gathering offered ideas for workshops that could help build relationships with DIY customers. For exhibitors, it provided a chance to demonstrate products to shoppers and connect with vendors and the independent retail channel.
Those potential benefits are not the same as measured outcomes. The source report describes attendee goals and exhibitor feedback, but does not provide event-wide figures for attendance, sales, or how many participants later completed projects.
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A New Gathering for DIY Audiences
DIY CON was presented as a new 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 a more relaxed atmosphere with meetups, live music and social spaces. That comparison was her characterization, not a formal description of the event’s size or reach.
Morfin-Chong said the event was intended to help people move beyond online inspiration by meeting creators, learning in person and finding advice suited to their home, budget and skill level. The program paired celebrity-led discussions with practical classes, product testing and informal opportunities to meet makers. The report provides no information about a prior edition, making the November event the show’s debut.
“Consumers have more inspiration than ever, but they also have more noise.”
— DIY CON event director Hector Morfin-Chong
Attendance and Sales Results Not Reported
The available report does not state how many people attended, how the event performed against organizers’ expectations or whether another DIY CON is planned. It also does not give complete sales figures. Goren said sales during the three days were “through the r” in the supplied excerpt, which is cut off; no full figure or conclusion can be established from that text.
Descriptions of the event’s atmosphere and its effect on attendees are attributed to participants and organizers. The source includes an attendee’s account of leaving with more confidence, but offers no survey data showing how widespread that response was or whether attendees went on to complete projects.
Future Editions Remain Unconfirmed
No date or location for a next DIY CON is provided in the source report. Organizers have not been quoted there announcing a follow-up event, so its schedule and whether the show will return remain unknown.
The immediate next measure of the debut’s reach would be fuller information on attendance, exhibitor results and plans for future programming. For retailers and DIY consumers, the practical effects will depend on whether workshop ideas, product demonstrations and connections made at the event lead to ongoing classes, purchases or completed home projects.
Key Questions
When and where was DIY CON 2026 held?
The first DIY CON took place in Dallas from Nov. 6-8, 2026.
What happened at the event?
The three-day program included HGTV and online creators on stage, hands-on workshops, product demonstrations, vendor exhibits and family-oriented activity areas.
How many vendors took part?
The report says the showfloor featured more than 75 vendors and manufacturers. It does not provide a total for attendees.
Has another DIY CON been announced?
The source report does not state whether a future edition is planned or give a date for one.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
