Why Builders Should Attend NAHB's International Builders' Show (IBS) in 2026

IBS Is Back (And No, Not That IBS)

Every year, the construction industry steps away from job sites and gathers in one city under the shared hope that this might be the year we finally find a better way to do things. 

That moment is IBS. 

And before we go any further... Yes, IBS means the International Builders' Show. We're talking about construction, innovation, education, and real conversations about where building is headed. We are not talking about digestive distress or lifestyle changes involving dairy. 

Same abbreviation. 

Extremely different experience. 

This year, IBS is in Orlando. There will be sunshine, palm trees, and enough square footage of exhibit halls to make your fitness tracker proud. A refreshing break from Las Vegas, especially considering that after 2026, IBS returns to Vegas and plans to stay through 2030. 

Which makes the Orlando show less "just another date" and more of a reset before the show settles into its next long stretch. 

If you've been thinking about attending IBS, this is a good year to do it.

Why Builders Attend the International Builders' Show

If you've never been, or if you went once but only grabbed a tote bag and swore you'd "circle back next year," IBS is easy to underestimate. 

Wandering aisles collecting giveaways is part of the experience, but it's not where the value compounds.

The value comes from compression.

Last year, more than 81,000 construction professionals attended. The scale mattered less than what it enabled. Conversations, demos, and decisions unfolded side by side, revealing what's changing—and what's adopting.  

Years of product development, shifts in building practices, emerging technology, and real-world problem solving condensed into a few days. You hear what other builders are struggling with before it becomes your problem. You spot trends early enough to act instead of react. 

And maybe most importantly, you step out of your day-to-day grind. 

Builders are incredible at solving problems. They're just not great at stepping back long enough to question the systems they're operating inside. 

IBS creates space to zoom out and ask, "Is this still the best way?" instead of pushing through what's familiar. 

That shift alone is worth the trip. 

Networking With Construction Professionals Facing the Same Challenges 

Some of the most valuable moments at IBS don't happen on the show floor. 

They happen in side conversations between speakers, in food court lines, while standing next to someone who builds at a completely different scale or specialty, but is somehow dealing with the exact same issue you are.  

There's something grounding about realizing you're not alone in any of it. 

And there's something energizing about leaving with ideas that didn't come from spreadsheet data or a rushed meeting, but from candid conversations with people who actually understand the work, not just the takeaway.

IBS 2026 in Orlando: A Different Experience for Builders 

Orlando changes how IBS feels. 

Like Vegas, it handles the practical demands of a show this size without breaking a sweat. Massive venues and enough hotel capacity to absorb an industry-wide influx. 

But what stands out is the setting. 

Orlando is a city designed around flow. Complex systems run quietly in the background, shaping how people move and interact. The logistics disappear, but the experience doesn't. 

You spend a few days surrounded by environments built to manage complexity without constant intervention, and it changes how conversations land. 

Because it's temporary, the effect is easier to notice. 

Orlando becomes a pause—a brief change in setting that creates just enough distance to see things differently before the show settles back into its long-term rhythm. 

That pause is part of the value. 

Is the 2026 International Builders' Show Worth It? 

Skip the "maybe next year" mindset. Here's what attending IBS actually delivers: 

You'll spot problems before they become yours. Many builders at the show are already navigating supply chain shifts, code changes, and tech adoption challenges that haven't surfaced where you build yet. That head start can save months of reactive scrambling. 

You'll see what actually works in the field. Forget the polished marketing decks. At IBS, you get honest feedback from contractors who've already tested tools, materials, and workflows you're considering. Those unfiltered conversations cut through years of trial and error.

You'll find solutions you didn't know existed. The combination of 1,700+ exhibitors and 120+ expert-led education sessions means you'll encounter approaches to scheduling, client communication, project documentation, and so much more that never crossed your radar. Some of the best improvements come from solutions you weren't actively searching for. 

You'll leave with a plan, not just ideas. Being at the show creates natural clarity about where to focus next. Most builders return with a few specific improvements they can implement immediately—not someday or eventually, but within the first month back on the site. 

Yes, you'll be busy and tired... But you'll also gain the kind of perspective that only comes from stepping outside your daily operations long enough to see them clearly. 

For builders who care about doing work well—and doing it sustainably—that kind of clarity tends to pay for itself. 

How to Register for the 2026 International Builders' Show

IBS 2026 takes place February 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. 

Registration is open, with professional passes granting full access to: 

• 1,700+ exhibitors showcasing latest products, materials, and construction technology

• 120+ education sessions covering business operations, project management, and emerging industry trends 
• Networking events connecting you with 70,000+ residential construction professionals from all over the world
•  Co-located access to KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) for design-build firms and remodelers focused on client selections

It's not too late to attend. Register for IBS 2026 here.

Or, if you'd like to skip the registration fees entirely, keep reading...

Visit ConstructionOnline at IBS 2026—Booth S4023

If you're going to IBS to rethink how you operate, our booth is worth the stop. 

For over 25 years, UDA Technologies has worked with builders to answer one central question:

What happens when your tools work the way you do—instead of the other way around? 

At Booth S4023, we'll be having real conversations about the challenges builders deal with every day: 

• Where communication breaks down between field and office

• How information gets lost between project phases 
• Why some projects feel chaotic while others run smoothly
• What clarity looks like when projects, people, and decisions start stacking up 

If those questions sound familiar, it's worth a conversation with us. 

Get Your Free IBS 2026 Expo Pass

The ConstructionOnline Team is offering free expo passes to qualified professionals attending IBS 2026. 

No registration fees. Full access to the show floor. 

If you've been on the fence about attending, this removes one barrier. If you're already planning to go, it's an easy way to save on costs and put that budget toward something else. 

✴️ Claim your free IBS ticket here ✴️

The best decisions about your business rarely happen in the middle of the chaos. Instead, they happen when you create space to see clearly, think strategically, and ask better questions. 

IBS 2026 in Orlando is that space. 

We'll see you there. Booth S4023.