Orlando, FL — The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) 2026, produced with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), delivered a powerful rebound for the kitchen and bath industry. The event drew more than 117,000 registered attendees and nearly 700 exhibitors across over 500,000 square feet of exhibition space, signaling renewed momentum for remodeling, new construction and product innovation.
Record Attendance and High Energy KBIS 2026 attendance rose sharply from 43,000 in 2025. The Orlando show floor was buzzing with designers, dealers, manufacturers and builders. Panels and networking events filled rooms, with a session on AI in construction standing out for exceptionally high participation. NKBA CEO Bill Darcy used his State of the Association address to underline cautious optimism for 2026 based on stronger market indicators and growing homeowner demand.
Innovation, AI and Sustainability Took Center Stage Technology and sustainability dominated KBIS 2026. Exhibitors showcased AI-enabled design tools, smart-home integrations, water- and energy-saving plumbing solutions, and longer-life materials. NKBA introduced its 2026 Design Council to help guide trends and accelerate sustainable design practices across the industry.
Talent, Education and Design Recognition KBIS highlighted industry talent and education. NKBA announced the Thirty Under 30 class of 2026 on the KBIS NextStage platform, recognizing young leaders in design and manufacturing. Elizabeth Lord-Levitt CMKBD was named NKBA Educator of the Year, reinforcing the importance of training and career development. NKBA and KBIS also honored winners of the 2026 Design Competition and the KBIS Design Awards, showcasing top residential and commercial kitchen and bath projects.
Standout Showrooms Several showrooms drew the most attention:
- Fabuwood: A music-themed display anchored by a handmade, oversized guitar island married craftsmanship with lifestyle storytelling.
- Kohler: Water-feature installations and water-conserving plumbing technology emphasized luxury with sustainability.
- Daltile: A luxury tile showroom presented premium tile applications and curated design vignettes.
What Went Well
- Strong lead generation and qualified traffic for manufacturers, dealers and designers.
- High interest in AI, smart-home solutions and sustainable product lines.
- Broad participation in panels, education sessions and networking events.
Operational Issues to Address KBIS 2026 also revealed several operational problems that organizers and future venues should fix:
- Tradeshow logistics: Crowding during peak hours and limits to exhibitor services disrupted some operations.
- Food and water shortages: Long lines and too few vendors left many attendees without timely options.
- Power interruption: A brief outage forced exhibitors to reset equipment and led to temporary registration data loss for some teams.
- Ground transportation: Rideshare wait times exceeded an hour during peak windows, and some taxi fares spiked as high as $250, creating travel friction and added expense.
Final Orlando Event, Eyes on Las Vegas 2027 KBIS 2026 marked the last combined KBIS/IBS event in Orlando for the near term. The show will return to Las Vegas in 2027. Exhibitors and attendees are asking for a more tradeshow-friendly Las Vegas run with improved logistics, more reliable utilities, expanded food and beverage options, better hydration stations and stronger ground-transportation planning.
NKBA Initiatives Back Industry Growth NKBA used KBIS 2026 to advance several key initiatives:
- NKBA Design Council to set direction on design trends, technology and sustainability.
- Thirty Under 30 to spotlight the industry’s next generation of leaders.
- Education recognition to strengthen training pathways for designers and fabricators.
Outlook for 2026 Market sentiment at KBIS was positive. Manufacturers and showrooms reported strong lead activity and optimism about the year ahead. The industry is ready to scale up remodeling and new construction work, adopt AI and other productivity tools, and deliver sustainable product choices to homeowners. At the same time, the success of future tradeshows will depend on reliable execution of exhibitor services and venue logistics.
