A record-breaking show

By Emma Peterson. 

Looking back at the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS). 

For years, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)’s International Builders’ Show® (IBS) has been the biggest annual light construction show in the world. But this year they took it to another level with record-breaking attendance!  

Hosted in Orlando, Florida from February 17-19, 2026, the show saw nearly 75,000 people come through its doors. Additionally, the expo floor totaled 679,000 net square feet, there were over 1,600 exhibitors and more than 130 education sessions hosted! One attendee, Zeke Keel of Webb Building Essentials in Birmingham, Alabama, shared some thoughts on how this year’s show stood out, saying, “The [exhibit] floor was buzzing, and the vendors really showed up. I’ve come to every IBS since 2017, and the vendors keep upping their game every year.” 

And it wasn’t just the vendors leveling up the show, NAHB introduced a variety of new features and events, such as the AI and Tech Studio, a space designated to spotlighting the cutting-edge technology that is transforming the home-building industry as we speak.  

Heidi J. Ellsworth, The Coffee Shops™ president, was one of the thousands of people on the ground at the show and summed up the experience simply, saying, “With record attendance, powerful exhibits and forward-looking discussions, the International Builders’ Show once again demonstrated the strength and resilience of the roofing and exterior industries... [It truly] highlighted the innovation, collaboration and momentum driving the broader construction industry [forward].” 

And for anyone who wasn’t able to attend the show, The Coffee Shops has a whole playlist of interviews on our YouTube, filmed live at IBS from the SRS Distribution booth on the expo floor! These interviews feature industry leaders and innovators as they discuss the latest trends, technologies and opportunities shaping the roofing and exterior sectors.  

Explore our coverage of the show!