Posted by Rachel Westall on 6 October 2026
h+h americas Fall Edition 2026 officially concluded today at Reliant Center in Houston, bringing together creative industry professionals, suppliers, retailers, designers, educators, creators, and business owners for the inaugural autumn edition of the h+h americas platform. Held 30th September to 2nd October, the new Fall Edition introduced an additional annual B2B marketplace designed to connect the creative supply chain during an important time of year for business planning, product discovery, and preparation for the autumn and holiday selling season.
"h+h americas Fall Edition gives our industry another opportunity during the year to come together," said Darrin Stern, Managing Director and President, Koelnmesse, Inc. "The inaugural event demonstrated the value of creating a dedicated autumn marketplace where businesses can connect, discover new opportunities, and continue building relationships across the creative supply chain. We are excited to build on this momentum and continue growing the event in Houston."
"Launching h+h americas Fall Edition marks an important next chapter for our industry and for the h+h americas platform," said Jessica Boweak, Show Director of h+h americas. "The response to the inaugural Fall Edition has been very encouraging. We created this event to give the industry another opportunity to connect, conduct business, discover what's next, and prepare for the months ahead. Houston has provided a strong new home for this autumn marketplace, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead."
The Fall Edition expands the h+h americas platform into a second annual B2B marketplace, complementing the established spring event in Rosemont, Illinois.
Designed around the autumn business cycle, the Houston event gave professionals an opportunity to meet with suppliers, discover new products and techniques, build relationships, and prepare their businesses for the autumn and holiday selling season.
The focused show-floor environment, combined with educational programme, creative experiences, and community-focused spaces, brought key segments of the creative supply chain together while creating opportunities for both business and inspiration.
Education, Inspiration, and Special Programmes
Together, the Fall Forum, Product Academy, Main Stage, Sample It, Cosplay Display, art exhibitions, and other special programmes created an experience that combined business, education, product discovery, creativity, and community.
Education remained a central component of the Fall Edition, with 55 sessions and educational opportunities designed to address the needs of professional buyers, retailers, and creative businesses.
The Fall Forum brought industry professionals together for focused educational sessions and conversations addressing current business trends, opportunities, and challenges across the creative industry. The programme offered practical insights attendees could take back to their businesses while providing additional opportunities for discussion and networking.
Product Academy offered hands-on opportunities to discover products, techniques, applications, and new possibilities directly from participating companies.
The Main Stage provided additional programme throughout the event, bringing together industry voices and creative professionals for sessions designed to inspire ideas, share knowledge, and encourage conversation.
Sample It gave attendees the opportunity to discover and experience products from participating exhibitors, creating a direct connection between the show floor, new products, and the creative community.
The Cosplay Display highlighted the craftsmanship and creativity of the cosplay community, featuring both screen-accurate designs and original creations. The display showcased tools, haberdashery supplies, and materials available from exhibitors throughout the show floor, demonstrating the versatility of products across the creative industry.
The Fall Edition also featured a variety of art exhibitions and special displays showcasing the work of artists, designers, makers, and creative organisations from across the community.
At the centre of the show floor, the Creator Hub served as a destination for gathering, collaboration, creativity, and connection throughout the Fall Edition.
Built around the themes of Connect, Create, Recharge, and Learn, the Creator Hub gave attendees a place to gather, collaborate, create content, discover new ideas, and take a break from the show floor.
The space included several dedicated areas, including the Creator Lounge, Recharge Lounge, Information Center, and Art Gallery. Together, these spaces encouraged interaction while providing a visual and creative focal point within the exhibition.
The Fall Edition also featured a variety of art and creative exhibitions showcasing the work of special-feature artists, designers, makers, and organisations from across the creative community.
Looking Ahead
Following the launch of the inaugural Fall Edition, h+h americas will continue to build on its two-event annual platform, with the spring edition returning to Rosemont, Illinois, and the Fall Edition continuing in Houston, Texas.
The next h+h americas Fall Edition will return to Houston in autumn 2027, continuing to provide the creative industry with a dedicated autumn marketplace for business, education, product discovery, networking, and community.
Spring inspires. Autumn delivers. Together, they sustain the entire creative supply chain. About Koelnmesse - Trade Fairs for the Handicraft Industry As an organiser of innovative and important trade fairs worldwide Koelnmesse is the global market leader in the handicraft & hobby sector. h+h cologne is the leading trade fair for textile handicrafts and the industry's largest international inspiration and order platform.
Koelnmesse also supports companies in reaching international markets, which is why it has expanded its fibre arts portfolio in the USA: h+h americas, a platform for the North American knitting, quilting, crochet, sewing, textile and craft industries, uses pioneering formats and online solutions to put the industry's products and services centre stage. The trade show in Rosemont, Illinois, offers both digital and on-site experiences to maximise reach and impact.
The Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival in Rosemont, Illinois, is a new consumer trade show that brings together crafters, creatives and innovators for education and to showcase the latest trends, products and techniques in knitting, quilting, crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch, felting, sewing and cosplay.
h+h americas Fall Edition in Houston, Texas, is the new B2B marketplace for the North American creative industry in autumn. The event features a three-day trade fair and training programme. Developed as an extension of h+h americas it is held under the motto: "Spring inspires. Fall delivers. Together they sustain the entire creative supply chain."
Future Show Dates
Wholesale Events
· h+h cologne - 2-4 April 2027 - Cologne, Germany - hh-cologne.com
· h+h americas - Conference: 4 May | Trade Fair: 5-7 May 2027 - Rosemont, IL - hh-americas.com
· h+h americas Fall Edition- Conference: 26 October | Trade Fair 27-29 October 2027 - Houston, TX - fall.hh-americas.com
Consumer Events
· Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival - Conference: 29 April | Trae Fair: 30 April-2 May 2027 - Rosemont, IL - fiberfabriccraft.com
