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2026 HVAC Trade Shows You Should be Attending
Introduction
The 2026 HVAC calendar is packed with events that bring together distributors, online retailers, manufacturers, and operators across the country.
These trade shows are where you meet the suppliers running your top-selling SKUs, see the platforms that power modern distribution, and hear what other operators are doing to stay competitive as the industry shifts through the A2L refrigerant transition, electrification, and a tougher residential demand cycle.
This list focuses on events that matter most for HVAC distributors, online retailers, and operations teams. Whether you sell on your own site, manage a multi-channel catalog across Amazon and eBay, or run a wholesale operation with a digital branch, the events below give you the chance to source new suppliers, evaluate technology, and meet the people shaping the next year of the industry.
The list starts with what's coming up this month, runs through the rest of 2026, and closes with the major early 2027 dates worth blocking on your calendar now.
NAW SHIFT: The Future of Distribution 2026
When: May 12–14, 2026
Where: The Inverness, A Hilton Golf & Spa Resort, Denver, CO
What: Hosted by the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and Modern Distribution Management, SHIFT focuses on the operational and digital transformation work happening across B2B distribution, including HVAC.
Sessions cover ecommerce platform performance, operationalizing data analytics at scale, AI in practice at leading distributors, and hybrid sales models. The audience leans heavily toward distribution executives, ecommerce leaders, and operations heads making technology decisions.
Website: https://www.naw.org/events/shift-2026/
Eastern Energy Expo 2026
When: May 17–20, 2026
Where: Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT
What: Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, the Eastern Energy Expo brings together wholesale and retail liquid fuel marketers, motor fuel distributors, propane marketers, and HVAC service professionals across the Northeast. The two-day trade show is paired with business presentations, technical education, and networking events. For HVAC operators in the petroleum-and-comfort space, this is the strongest regional event of the spring.
Website: https://www.easternenergyexpo.com/
Applied AI for Distributors 2026
When: June 23–25, 2026
Where: Marriott Chicago O'Hare, Chicago, IL
What: Run by Distribution Strategy Group, Applied AI for Distributors is a focused conference for distribution leaders looking to apply AI to sales, ERP workflows, customer experience, and operations.
The agenda includes real-world case studies from distributors already in production with AI tools, plus speed-networking sessions with technology providers. Smaller and more conversation-driven than larger trade shows, which makes it valuable for HVAC distributors evaluating their next phase of platform investment.
Website: https://appliedaifordistributors.com/
HARDI Emerging Leaders Conference 2026
When: July 14–16, 2026
Where: Omni Charlotte Hotel, Charlotte, NC
What: HARDI's Emerging Leaders Conference is designed to support rising HVACR executives by fostering connections, providing expert insights, and equipping them for a successful career in distribution.
The three-day event combines networking with educational programming, including keynotes from leadership voices like Chad Willett (TEDx speaker and author of Smash the Box) and Lilah Jones (former Microsoft and Google leader).
Program sessions cover regulatory changes, HVACR sales strategy, leadership and innovation, and the future of the HVACR channel. A strong fit for HVAC distributors developing their next generation of leaders.
Website: https://hardinet.org/emerging-leaders-conference
Service World Expo 2026
When: November 9–12, 2026
Where: Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, NV
What: Service World Expo is the largest residential service contractor event in the country, bringing together HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other home service business leaders for four days of business-focused education and an expo hall with hundreds of vendors.
While the audience is primarily contractors, the event is useful for distributors and manufacturers who want to understand how their customers are running their businesses and what they are buying.
Website: https://www.serviceworldexpo.com/
HARDI Annual Conference 2026
When: December 7–10, 2026
Where: Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, San Diego, CA
What: The HARDI Annual Conference is the flagship event for HVACR wholesale distribution. The 2025 edition welcomed more than 2,200 attendees, including 600+ wholesaler representatives from 192 companies, 67 Solution Center exhibitors, and a sold-out booth program with 260+ supplier and manufacturer participants.
The four-day program covers economic outlooks, policy, technology shifts, and best practices specific to the distribution channel. The audience is heavily weighted toward executive and director-level leaders from distribution companies, manufacturers, and service partners across North America.
Website: https://hardinet.org/annual-conference
ASHRAE Winter Conference 2027
When: January 23–27, 2027
Where: Chicago, IL
What: The 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference (held alongside AHR Expo in Las Vegas, January 31 to February 4) has already concluded. The next edition runs in Chicago alongside AHR Expo 2027 and focuses on the technical and engineering side of the HVACR industry, with more than 100 sessions covering decarbonization, low-GWP refrigerants, energy resiliency, indoor environmental quality, and advanced HVAC design and controls.
A strong choice for teams that want deep engineering insight alongside the AHR exhibit floor.
Website: https://www.ashrae.org/conferences/2027-winter-conference
AHR Expo 2027
When: January 25–27, 2027
Where: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
What: The 2026 AHR Expo (Las Vegas, February 2-4) has already concluded. The next edition heads to Chicago and remains the largest HVACR marketplace in North America, with 1,900+ exhibitors and an expected 55,000 attendees across heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration. Booth space and hotel blocks are already open.
For HVAC distributors and online retailers sourcing new suppliers, evaluating refrigerant-transition product lines, or negotiating better terms with major manufacturers like Carrier, Goodman, Lennox, and Daikin, this is the single most important date on the calendar.
Website: https://www.ahrexpo.com/
ACCA Conference & Expo 2027
When: March 10–12, 2027
Where: National Harbor, Washington, DC
What: The 2026 ACCA Conference & Expo (Caesars Palace, March 15-18) has already concluded. The next edition heads to National Harbor, just outside Washington, DC, and combines the conference with ACCA's Advocacy Day for direct engagement with Congress on issues affecting HVACR contractors.
The four-day program from Air Conditioning Contractors of America blends sessions on leadership, finance, workforce development, pricing, and technical topics with an expo floor of solution providers serving the contracting market.
Website: https://www.accaconference.com/
HARDI Annual Conference 2027
When: December 6–9, 2027
Where: Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, FL
What: After San Diego in 2026, HARDI's Annual Conference moves to Orlando for 2027. The event continues to be the flagship gathering for HVACR wholesale distribution, with distributor and manufacturer executives meeting for four days of industry programming, supplier networking, and channel-specific education.
For distributors and online retailers planning ahead, this is the single most important annual event for relationship-building in the HVAC distribution channel.
Website: https://hardinet.org/annual-conference
Using These Events to Grow Your HVAC Business
Each event on this list serves a different purpose. HARDI Annual and B2B eCommerce World Americas are where distribution executives gather to evaluate technology, platforms, and operational partners. NAW SHIFT and Applied AI for Distributors draw the digitally-forward segment of that audience.
The AD HVAC meeting is members-only but accessible through a supplier partnership; the right path for any vendor looking to reach independent distributors at scale.
For events that have already concluded in 2026, the priority is to register for the 2027 editions before booth space sells out, particularly AHR Expo and HARDI Annual.
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