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The inaugural DIY CON took place Nov. 6-8 in Dallas, combining appearances by HGTV personalities and online creators with workshops, product demonstrations and more than 75 vendors. Organizers said the event was designed to help attendees turn project ideas into practical skills and connect with makers and retailers.
DIY CON, a new three-day event for home-improvement enthusiasts, makers and creative businesses, took place Nov. 6-8 in Dallas, combining HGTV and social-media personalities with hands-on workshops and product demonstrations. The inaugural show aimed to help attendees move from online inspiration to practical project skills, according to event director Hector Morfin-Chong.
The program paired Main Stage conversations with workshops for beginners, intermediate DIYers and experienced makers. HGTV personalities Drew Scott, Jonathan Scott, Ty Pennington, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, and Cole and Chelsea DeBoer appeared at the event. 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 offered show deals and discounts, according to the event report. The North American Hardware and Paint Association also brought products from its 2026 Retailers’ Choice Awards program for attendees to see. Other event areas included a maker space called The Den, a Backyard with a beer garden and family hangout area, and a Kids Zone with activities.
Attendees included retailers looking to reach more DIY customers. Sterling Cherry, CEO of Madison Lumber & Hardware in Ketchikan, Alaska, and the store’s controller, Caitlin Driscoll, traveled to Dallas to gather ideas for the store’s DIY workshop. Driscoll said about 60% of the store’s customers are professionals and contractors, and the business wants to attract more DIYers.
Turning Online Ideas Into Skills
The event’s format addressed a challenge Morfin-Chong described as the abundance of DIY advice available online. He said consumers now have many project ideas but may struggle to judge which advice to trust, which tools to choose and whether a project is realistic. In-person demonstrations and instruction give attendees a chance to ask questions and try products before buying them.
That practical focus could matter to both consumers and independent hardware retailers. Driscoll said Madison Lumber & Hardware hoped to learn what projects it could host and how to connect with DIY customers. For exhibitors, the event offered a direct way to introduce products to consumers and make industry connections. Rick Goren, owner and inventor of Wristbeams and Rotoshovel, said the show helped him connect with other vendors and the independent retail channel.
DIY CON also framed project confidence as part of the experience, not just the finished result. A lifestyle expert, Kathryn Emery, said one attendee told her they arrived seeking inspiration and left feeling more capable of taking on projects at home. That is an attendee’s account, rather than a measured result, but it reflects the event’s stated aim of pairing inspiration with instruction.
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A New Format for DIY Fans
DIY CON was described by the source report as a brand-new show bringing together creators from YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, along with HGTV personalities, woodworking experts, makers and entrepreneurs. Emery likened the gathering to a meeting point for DIY fans and creators, with live entertainment and social spaces alongside project instruction.
The event’s emphasis on in-person learning reflects a shift in how organizers say people seek project guidance. Morfin-Chong said that years ago finding a tutorial could be difficult; now, the harder task is sorting through competing advice and deciding how to begin. The show sought to put attendees face-to-face with creators and experts they already follow, while offering a setting to test products and learn techniques.
The report also describes a retail connection. NHPA’s Retailers’ Choice Awards, which the association says recognize creative and innovative products, were represented on the showfloor. For independent hardware businesses, the event offered opportunities to meet consumers and vendors as well as gather ideas for workshops and customer outreach.
“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 Results Still Unreported
The source report does not give attendance totals, ticket figures or a financial breakdown for the inaugural event. It also does not provide a complete account of vendor sales or establish whether the show led to lasting changes in consumer skills or retailer business. Goren said sales during the three days were through the—; the supplied report ends mid-sentence, so his full statement and any sales figure cannot be confirmed.
The report describes the event’s goals and individual attendee experiences, but it does not include survey data or other evidence showing how many participants completed projects afterward. It is also not clear whether DIY CON will return, or when and where a future event might take place.
A Future Edition Is Unconfirmed
No next edition, dates or location are specified in the source report. The immediate next step for organizers would be to share whether the show will return and provide details such as attendance, exhibitor feedback and future programming. Until then, the confirmed development is the completion of the inaugural Nov. 6-8 Dallas event, not a scheduled second show.
For retailers and exhibitors, follow-up may include applying workshop ideas in stores, maintaining contacts made at the event and continuing conversations with customers. Those are potential uses of the connections described in the report; it does not confirm specific follow-up plans or outcomes.
Key Questions
What was DIY CON 2026?
DIY CON was a three-day gathering for DIY enthusiasts, creators, home-improvement experts, makers and businesses, held Nov. 6-8 in Dallas. Its program included stage conversations, workshops and product demonstrations.
Which HGTV personalities appeared?
The event report lists Drew Scott, Jonathan Scott, Ty Pennington, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, and Cole and Chelsea DeBoer among the HGTV personalities who appeared on the Main Stage.
What could attendees learn at the workshops?
Sessions covered deck-building fundamentals, live-edge charcuterie boards and pocket-hole techniques, among other creator-led activities. The show also featured product demonstrations from vendors.
How many vendors were at the event?
The report says the showfloor featured more than 75 vendors and manufacturers. It does not provide a final exhibitor count beyond that figure.
Will DIY CON return?
The source report does not announce another edition or provide future dates or a location. A return has not been confirmed in the available information.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
