21 SHOWS & EVENTS H+H AMERICAS 2026 SUCCESS! h+h americas 2026 concluded its most successful and expansive edition to date, welcoming 6,073 industry professionals, a 14.56 percent increase over 2025, representing all 50 US states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and 41 countries to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. With 636 companies spanning 100,635 sqft of show floor space, h+h americas 2026 affirmed its position as North America’s definitive platform where the global creative industry convenes to discover new products, build relationships, and shape the future of the craft business. Running May 6th to 8th, with pre-show education beginning May 5th, the show delivered an elevated experience across education, runway, art, and commerce, spanning seven distinct pavilions, including the newly launched Garment Pavilion, a dedicated destination for apparel innovation, garment construction, and fashion-forward sewing. New Show Leadership h+h americas welcomed Jessica Boweak as Show Director for Koelnmesse’s North American handicraft portfolio, overseeing two B2B wholesale events, the Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival consumer show, and leading the sales team responsible for bringing companies to h+h cologne. Boweak’s appointment reflects Koelnmesse’s commitment to unified, strategic leadership across its growing North American platform. A Stronger, More Diverse Show Floor The 2026 show floor reflected both the breadth and momentum of the industry. Some 636 companies from 27 nations spread across 100,635 square feet, with 113 exhibitors participating within curated pavilion environments designed to accelerate discovery and connection. The new Garment Pavilion emerged as a standout destination, signalling the growing convergence of fashion and the craft sector and offering buyers a focused environment for apparel sourcing and innovation. Education, Innovation & Professional Development Across four days of programming, h+h americas 2026 delivered more than 268 opportunities for education, networking, community building, and special events, the most comprehensive program in the show’s history. A revamped h+h University delivered structured coursework across five dedicated tracks: Creators, Sewing Machine Dealers, E-Commerce, Brickand-Mortar Retailers, and Designers/Teachers meeting the full spectrum of professional needs. Product Academy expanded to 69 sessions of hands-on education and product demo. Sample It! drew more than 1,316 attendees across 127 tables representing 102 companies, up from 91 vendors in 2025, making it the largest and most-trafficked edition of the event to date. A purpose-built Private Sewing Machine Supplier Meeting Space provided Handi Quilter, Brother, Janome, and Juki with a dedicated environment for confidential product demonstrations and strategic retailer conversations, a first for the show. Runway, Fashion & Competition The Cosplay Contest & Fashion Show, sponsored by Famore, featured 32 designers, including seven students and 21 professional entries, in a competition that continues to define the intersection of craftsmanship, costume design, and wearable art. The Fashion Show returned in a fully reimagined format, hosted by Sharaun B, known for her role at the 67th Grammy Awards, featuring more than 57 looks on an extended runway with a VIP entrance, elevating visibility for textile innovation and fashion-forward design. New this year, the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Garment Showcase, presented by fit specialist Joe Vecchiarelli, offered a special exhibition of professionally crafted garments, highlighting advanced costume design, embellishment, and couture technique. Looking Ahead: h+h americas Fall & 2027 Building on the momentum of a record-breaking spring edition, Koelnmesse will launch h+h americas Fall Edition, a new wholesale event expanding the h+h americas platform into a second annual market. The inaugural fall edition will take place October 1st to 2nd, 2026 in Houston, Texas (with conference programming beginning September 30th), bringing the industry together for a focused mid-year opportunity to connect, source, and plan for the season ahead. h+h americas returns to Rosemont for its 2027 spring edition. The Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival will again precede the wholesale show, April 30th to May 2nd, continuing the back-to-back consumer-to-trade format that made 2026’s Rosemont week a landmark moment for the industry.
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