Every spring, the hearth, barbecue, and outdoor living industry gathers to see what is new and what is changing, and in 2026, HPBExpo26 returns to New Orleans from March 18 to 21.
Unlike consumer food festivals or backyard cook-offs, HPBExpo is where grills, smokers, pizza ovens, and outdoor cooking systems debut before they ever reach store floors. It is a working show for industry professionals, built for side-by-side comparisons, live demonstrations, and long conversations between the people who design equipment and the people who sell and service it.
Where New Grills Make Their First Appearance
One of the biggest draws of HPBExpo26 is the New Product Pavilion, where manufacturers introduce grills, smokers, pizza ovens, fire pits, and accessories that will define upcoming seasons. This is where buyers see products for the first time, often before pricing, distribution, or marketing plans are finalized.
What makes the show stand out is the ability to move beyond spec sheets. Products are not just displayed, they are evaluated in real conditions. Doors open and close. Lids lift. Controls get tested. For anyone who cares about how a grill actually performs, that matters.
Live Fire to Help You See Products in Action
Live-fire demonstrations remain central to HPBExpo, with clearly defined spaces for different fuel types and product categories. The Outdoor Burn serves as the hub of the live cooking experience, an open-air setting where manufacturers fire up grills, smokers, pizza ovens, fire tables, outdoor heaters, and other solid-fuel and propane products. Cooking happens throughout the day as exhibitors walk attendees through performance, temperature control, fuel use, and build quality in real time, giving buyers a chance to see and taste samples firsthand across a range of foods and cooking styles.
Inside the exhibit hall, attendees experience live-fire activity in natural gas hearth and outdoor living appliances. Fireplaces, stoves, fire tables, fire pits, and decorative fire features showcase flame aesthetics, controls, ignition systems, and venting performance.
Across the Show Floor
Beyond live-fire areas, demonstrations and displays span a wide range of product categories. These include venting systems, chimney products, pergolas and outdoor structures, patio furniture, heaters, fuels, and accessories. The show also features service-side offerings such as maintenance tools, cleaning systems, logistics providers, software platforms, and professional business services.
Whether attendees are sourcing hearth appliances, components, or operational support tools, HPBExpo26 brings those categories together in one place and allows side-by-side comparison.
New This Year
In 2026, it’s not just about the show floor, it’s about the experiences that bring the entire event to life.
On Thursday night, the Industry Street Party brings happy hour energy to the Outdoor Burn as the space shifts into full after-hours mode. Flames stay lit, music drifts through the air, and the smell of food cooking over live fire pulls people in from every direction. Attendees gather around grills and fire features with a drink in hand, bounce between the biergarten and games, and settle into conversations that feel less like networking and more like catching up with friends. Products stay in use, laughter gets louder, and the pace slows just enough to enjoy being outside, surrounded by live fire, good food, and the people who make this industry what it is.
HPBExpo26 also introduces a series of live fireside chats held in the Membership Booth. These 30-minute conversations pair long-time industry leaders with next-generation professionals for candid discussions about leadership, career paths, and how the industry is changing.
The schedule also includes Women’s Industry Networking on Friday, designed to foster meaningful conversation and genuine connection among women members of HPBA in a roundtable discussion. This dedicated gathering creates space for open dialogue, shared experiences, and relationship-building across roles, career stages, and perspectives within the industry.
Why HPBExpo26 Matters
HPBExpo26 is where the industry sees what’s next and where buying decisions are made. What you’ll find on the show floor shapes what lands in showrooms nationwide. Join us at the largest hearth, barbecue, and outdoor living marketplace.
HPBExpo26 is for trade professionals only. Retailer Roundtables, pre-show NFI/CSIA Certification Courses/Exams, manufacturer training sessions, and HPBAC and HPBA Regional Affiliate Receptions will be held on March 18. Exhibit halls are open on March 19-21. Register to attend, book your hotel, or apply to exhibit at hpbexpo.com.