The outdoor living industry’s annual reunion

By Emma Peterson.

Gather with peers in New Orleans for the 2026 Deck Expo to reconnect, discover new ideas, celebrate industry successes and prepare for another year of growth.

In just a few weeks, the 2026 Deck Expo will be taking over the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana! This event, which is co-located with the Pool Spa Patio Expo (PSP), is the premier gathering space for decking and outdoor living professionals across North America. Sponsored by NADRA (North American Deck and Railing Association), attendees can look forward to three days (11/17-11/19) of education sessions, product demonstrations and networking spaces!

And you especially won’t want to miss this year’s show! The Informa team has specially designed a suite of events to foster connections, celebrate our wins and prepare your team for next year! Here are some of the events you can look forward to:

• PHTA Awards of Excellence: on the Monday before the show (11/16), the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance will honor the “creativity, craftsmanship and innovation of professionals across the pool and hot tub industry” with a special Awards of Excellence Ceremony.
• Dive into PHTA's National Consumer Awareness Campaign: kick off the event by joining the launch of PHTA’s newest national consumer awareness campaign! This session precedes the opening of the Expo Hall (which happens at 10:30 a.m.).
• Welcome Party: wrap up your first day at the show (11/17) with the beloved Deck Expo welcoming party! This is your opportunity to mingle, grab food, enjoy drinks and watch some high-quality entertainment with your fellow attendees and exhibitors.
• Unlocking Collaboration Through Improv: start day two (11/18) by attending the keynote talk from Four Day Weekend, the longest-running comedy show in the Southwest! Not only will they share a show that will leave you energized and laughing, but you’ll also gain insights into “how the art of improv can rewire your approach to communication, empathy, storytelling, active listening and creativity.”
• IHTA Lunch and Learn: and for those in the hot tub and spa industry, the Wednesday schedule also boasts a premier lunch gathering all about powering your business and strengthening the industry. This is a ticketed event; tickets are purchasable during registration.
• Million-Dollar Pool Design Challenge: at this event, which is hosted 11/18 at 3 p.m., you can watch five finalists push the limits of waterscape design. These professionals will showcase what they could do with a million-dollar budget to a panel of judges and the audience for a chance to take home the prize!
• The WAVE network: PHTA is hosting a couple of WAVE events in their booth on Wednesday as well! These events, Launching your Leadership and Social Hour, are designed to give professionals under 40 a space to share ideas, network and collaborate.
• Pool Nation Awards: the annual Pool Nation Awards will be hosted on Wednesday evening (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.). These awards recognize “companies, products and individuals in various categories that are chosen by Pool Pros, for the Pool Pros in our industry.” Following the awards, there will be an afterparty hosted at Mardis Gras World! This is ticketed; tickets can be purchased during registration.
• Pool Nation World Championship: and on the last day of the show (11/19), Pool Nation will host “the first-ever national competition designed to showcase the skills, speed and expertise of the top pool repair technicians.”

And if that wasn’t enough to keep you busy, there’s also a variety of expo floor events to look forward to! These events will be available whenever the floor is open (10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. on the first two days and 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the final day):

• Matchmaking Lounge: set up meetings in the attendee lounge throughout the trade show with the Deck Expo’s curated networking platform! This allows you to ensure you make the connections you need to succeed in the new year.
• Innovative Product Showcase: see the newest innovations and developments at the product showcase! Not only will you get to look at the cutting-edge products; you’ll also get to talk to the pioneers behind their creation.
• Energy Bar: back by popular demand, the Deck Expo Energy Bar is a great place to grab coffee in the morning and a pick-me up energy drink in the afternoon! You can find it on the trade show floor at Booth #2955.

Overall, whether it’s a demonstration on the trade show floor or a party with your peers, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn, connect and grow with your industry. As Megan Magaña, the Deck Expo show manager, put it: “This isn't just an event; it's our industry's annual reunion where face-to-face connections truly matter.”

Register for the 2026 Deck Expo today!