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The inaugural DIY CON took place Nov. 6-8 in Dallas, bringing DIY creators, HGTV personalities, makers and consumers together for three days of talks, workshops and product demonstrations. Organizers said the event aimed to help attendees turn online inspiration into practical skills, trusted advice and connections.
The inaugural DIY CON brought HGTV personalities, online creators, makers and home-improvement vendors together in Dallas Nov. 6-8 for three days of talks, product demonstrations and hands-on workshops. The event was designed to help DIYers move from watching project content online to learning practical skills and deciding how to tackle projects at home.
The program combined Main Stage conversations with workshops for beginner, intermediate and experienced makers. HGTV personalities Drew Scott, Jonathan Scott, Ty Pennington, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, and Cole and Chelsea DeBoer appeared onstage. Workshop sessions covered deck-building fundamentals, making a live-edge charcuterie board and using 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 for attendees to see.
Beyond the stage and workshops, event spaces included The Den, where attendees could meet makers and create a keepsake, and a Backyard area with a beer garden and a kid-friendly spot. A separate Kids Zone offered activities and experiments. The report describes the event’s programming and exhibitors but does not provide attendance totals.
From Online Ideas to Practical Skills
The event addressed a problem identified by its organizers: DIYers have abundant project content, but may find it difficult to judge which advice is reliable, what tools they need and whether a project suits their budget and abilities. In-person instruction and product demonstrations gave attendees a chance to ask questions, try products and hear from creators directly.
That format also has relevance for retailers seeking to connect with consumers who do projects themselves. Sterling Cherry and Caitlin Driscoll, executives at Madison Lumber & Hardware in Ketchikan, Alaska, attended to gather ideas for the store’s DIY workshop and find ways to attract more DIY customers. Driscoll said about 60% of the store’s customers are pros and contractors, and that the business wants to grow its DIY audience.
For vendors, the gathering offered direct consumer exposure as well as opportunities to 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 hardware channel through NHPA. The source report does not give sales totals or other measures of the event’s commercial impact.
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A New Event for DIY Consumers
DIY CON was presented as a new event bringing together people and businesses from across the DIY and home-improvement community. Event director Hector Morfin-Chong said consumers now face an abundance of project ideas and tutorials, making it harder to decide which sources to trust and how to get started.
The event’s approach was to pair celebrity and creator appearances with practical activities rather than limit the experience to stage programming. Attendees could learn directly from workshop leaders, including BYOTools’ Brent Gentling and Anika Gandhi of Anika’s DIY Life, as well as meet makers and explore products from manufacturers.
The report says the event also sought to serve different experience levels and family members. Its workshops were intended for a range of skills, while the Kids Zone offered activities for children. The source does not specify whether DIY CON will become an annual event or provide details about a future edition.
“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 Future Plans
The available report does not state how many people attended, whether the event met its organizers’ targets or how much business exhibitors generated. Goren said sales during the three days were through the r— but the supplied source text cuts off before completing his comment, so it does not establish a sales figure or provide the full statement.
It is also unclear whether DIY CON will return, where any future edition would be held, or whether organizers plan to change the format. The report describes the event’s stated goals and activities, not an independently measured effect on attendee skills, consumer spending or participating retailers.
The Next Edition Is Unconfirmed
No date, venue or confirmation for a second DIY CON appears in the source report. The immediate next step for organizers would be to share whether the event will return and, if so, what will change based on the inaugural gathering. Until then, the confirmed development is the completion of the three-day Dallas event and its mix of creator talks, workshops and vendor demonstrations.
Retailers and exhibitors may use the contacts and project ideas they gained at the show in their own businesses, but the report does not document follow-up outcomes. Any claims about future attendance, sales or growth should wait for further information from the organizers or participants.
Key Questions
When and where did DIY CON 2026 take place?
The inaugural event was held in Dallas from Nov. 6 to Nov. 8, 2026.
What could attendees do at DIY CON?
Attendees could hear from HGTV personalities and creators, take hands-on workshops, view product demonstrations, meet makers and visit more than 75 vendors and manufacturers.
Which HGTV personalities appeared?
The reported Main Stage guests included Drew Scott, Jonathan Scott, Ty Pennington, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, and Cole and Chelsea DeBoer.
Will DIY CON return?
The source report does not confirm a future edition or provide a date and location for another event.
How many people attended, and did exhibitors report sales?
The report gives no attendance total. It includes an exhibitor’s comment about sales, but the supplied text cuts off before the statement is complete, so it does not establish a sales result.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
