The inaugural DIY CON, taking place from Nov. 6-8, 2026 in Dallas, is set to bring together HGTV stars, top DIY creators, woodworking experts, home improvement innovators, makers and creative entrepreneurs for three days of inspiration, education and hands-on learning. Event director Hector Morfin-Chong, sat down with the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) to share why DIYers, home improvement retailers and vendors won’t want to miss this new experience.

NHPA: As a new event for the industry, what are you most excited about experiencing at DIY CON?
Hector Morfin-Chong: I’m most excited to see the DIY community come together in person for the first time at an event like this that has something for everyone related to DIY. Online, people may follow the same creators and save the same project ideas without ever meeting one another. At DIY CON, they can learn side by side, ask questions, try something new and celebrate what they made. The moment someone goes from “I’ve always wanted to try that” to “I just did it” is what I’m most looking forward to.

NHPA: How will DIY CON be different from the National Hardware Show and NHS: Concept to Commerce?
Morfin-Chong: They are completely different shows. DIY CON is a brand-new show concept with a difference audience and purpose. The National Hardware Show and Concept to Commerce were focused on the business side of the industry bringing retailers, suppliers and other professionals together to discover products, find partners and build commercial relationships.

DIY CON is a separate, consumer-focused, fan-based event. It is open to the public and built for homeowners, renters, makers, families and people who simply enjoy creating and improving their spaces. Brands are still an important part of the experience, but instead of walking a traditional trade show, attendees will be trying products, joining workshops, meeting creators and learning skills they can use at home. RX Global is the producer of world renowned fan events including New York Comic Con, Book Con and Star Wars Celebration. With DIY CON we hope to empower people to dream it, design it and do it themselves.

NHPA: Hands-on learning seems to be a major part of the event. Why was it important to make DIY CON participatory rather than simply giving attendees demonstrations to watch?
Morfin-Chong: People can already watch an unlimited number of tutorials online. What they often need is the confidence that comes from holding the tool, trying the technique, making a small mistake and having someone there to help them correct it. We want people to leave DIY CON saying more than, “That was interesting.” We want them to say, “I did that, and I can do it again at home.” Demonstrations are still valuable, but participation is what turns inspiration into a real skill. DIY CON follows the same idea: activities should work for beginners while still giving more experienced DIYers something useful to test or learn.

NHPA: What role do creators and influencers play in the event, and how have social media creators changed the way consumers learn DIY skills?
Morfin-Chong: We see creators as educators and community builders, not just as people who appear on a stage. They make DIY feel more approachable because they show the process, the mistakes and the decisions behind a project, not only the finished result. Social media has made DIY knowledge much more accessible and personal. People can now find someone whose style, budget, home or skill level feels like their own. At DIY CON, creators help take that relationship off the screen. Attendees can learn from them in person, ask questions and try the techniques they have been watching online.

The inaugural event will feature HGTV stars Drew and Jonathan Scott, Ty Pennington, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt and Chelsea and Cole DeBoer, alongside influential creators including Mr. Kate, DadSocial’s Mason Smith, Amanda and Jared Morgan, Jenasie Earl and Nickell Morgan. Across three days of live panels, hands-on workshops, demonstrations and meet-and-greets, guests will gain insider tips on renovation, design, organization, woodworking, crafting and creative entrepreneurship. By bringing together television personalities, social media creators and industry experts under one roof, DIY CON is positioning itself as one of the most anticipated new events in the DIY and home improvement space.

Together with HGTV stars, makers, builders, designers, tool experts, educators and content creators, DIY CON has assembled one of the most comprehensive collections of DIY talent ever gathered in a single event, creating an unparalleled opportunity for attendees to learn directly from the creators, craftspeople and industry leaders shaping the future of the DIY movement.

NHPA: What do you think consumers are looking for from the DIY experience today that they weren’t five or 10 years ago?
Morfin-Chong: I think consumers have more inspiration than ever, but they also have more noise. Five or 10 years ago, finding a project idea or tutorial was often a challenge. Today, the challenge is deciding which advice to trust, which tool is right, whether a project is realistic and how to get started.

People want practical guidance that fits their actual home, budget and skill level. They want to test products before spending money, learn from someone relatable and understand when they can do something themselves and when they should call a professional. They are also looking for confidence and community, not just another perfect before-and-after photo.

That is exactly where DIY CON is different. Rather than simply watching content through a screen, attendees can learn directly from the creators and experts they already trust. The event combines celebrity-led Main Stage conversations with hands-on workshops designed for beginners, intermediate DIYers and experienced makers alike. Visitors can hear renovation insights from HGTV stars Drew Scott, Jonathan Scott, Ty Pennington, Brian Kleinschmidt, Mika Kleinschmidt, Chelsea DeBoer and Cole DeBoer, while also participating in practical workshops where they can build real projects, test tools, ask questions and learn skills from experienced makers.

DIY CON has also assembled some of the most respected creator voices in the maker movement. Attendees can join workshops with Sam Raimondi of DIY Huntress, build a live-edge charcuterie board, learn pocket-hole techniques from Anika Gandhi of Anika’s DIY Life and participate in creator-led experiences from Mason Smith of DadSocial and other workshop leaders throughout the weekend. On the Main Stage, influential creators including April Wilkerson, one of the most recognized DIY and woodworking educators online, and legendary maker Jimmy DiResta will share lessons from building some of the largest and most engaged communities in the DIY world.

By partnering with HGTV personalities, trusted educators, professional builders and creator authorities such as April Wilkerson, Jimmy DiResta, Sam Raimondi, Anika Gandhi, Mr. Kate, Mason Smith and many others, DIY CON is creating something the DIY community has long been missing: a place where consumers can move beyond inspiration and gain the confidence, skills and real-world connections needed to tackle their next project. In a world overflowing with content, DIY CON brings together the voices people already trust and puts them face-to-face with the community they inspire every day.