NESPA’s annual event celebrates 45 years of bringing the industry together in Atlantic City with new show features and networking opportunities.
For its 45th anniversary, the annual Pool & Spa Show powered by NESPA will blend familiar attractions with new offerings to celebrate the industry’s past and present.
The Pool & Spa Show 2026 runs from Tuesday, Jan. 27, through Thursday, Jan. 29, with a welcome party kicking things off on Monday, Jan. 26.
This year’s edition is packed with education and plenty of things to see and do. Everyone – from newcomers to industry veterans – will find ways to learn and connect.
Education focus
The 2026 education lineup features over 120 courses, including industry certifications facilitated by key partners such as Genesis, the National Plasterers Council, and Watershape University.
“We’ve got a great mix of what’s new and what’s proven to work,” says Kelly McKelvey, NESPA’s senior director of education and marketing. “Whether you’re training managers, office staff, field techs, or sales pros, there’s something here to help every member of your team build skills and feel more confident heading into the season.”
The Pool & Spa Show offers a comprehensive selection of hands-on training.
In response to feedback from attendees who have said, “we want to be able to learn by doing, not just by hearing,” McKelvey says organizers have added more hands-on opportunities. “We are trying to deliver [the learning experience they want] with this new section on the show floor.”
New editions for 2026 include a leak detection course using new camera technology and a hands-on tile course focused on finding and repairing tile failures.
The leak detection course, which uses the latest camera technology and state-of-the-art tools, has never been offered before. Participants are “actually going to be able to use cameras and equipment to test out, find leaks themselves, [and] fix the leaks,” says McKelvey.
Other notable hands-on workshops include the “Heaters Workshop,” “Principles of Piping,” “Retrofit Drop-In Step Assembly for In-Ground Pools,” and “Salt System Troubleshooting.”
Class sizes are capped for hands-on workshops to ensure every attendee gets personalized guidance and hands-on opportunities.
Returning are the well-attended courses on water chemistry, and heater courses from leading manufacturers with top trainers showing what’s new and how to troubleshoot.
In the business section, a robust course offering will cover several areas, including training, management, operations, marketing, and guarding against cyber threats. “We have a lot this year that focuses on how companies can use AI to help make things run smoother, whether it be operations, marketing, or communication,” says McKelvey.
This year’s Women’s Leadership Workshop will return as a full-day session on Monday, Jan. 26. Now in its eighth year, the workshop will bring 100 women together for training and networking. The signature event will feature Jill Griffin, a top business coach who has worked with brands like Coca-Cola and Microsoft. McKelvey says the event is always a high-energy, packed session. The focus this year will be on leadership, negotiation, and communicating with clarity and confidence.
PHTA is back with its GENESIS education program and premiering a new course for 2026. The one-day workshop, “Comprehensive Aquatic Design: Where Water, Wellness & Architecture Meet,” will explore the design and construction of complex residential and environments. small commercial outdoor environments.
In another first for 2026, the National Plasterers’ Council will offer its NPC Start-Up Certification Course in Spanish. This is the first year Spanish speakers will have a chance to earn the certification in Spanish.
Also for the first time, the show offers first aid/ CPR/AED training, a Red Cross Certification Course. Organizers felt the training fit well with NESPA’s commitment to water safety by giving professionals the opportunity to get an important credential they can use in their communities.
A museum and an auction
This year, the show will have two new interactive elements – the inaugural NESPA Foundation Auction and an industry museum. These will occupy the space typically reserved for the Training Wall.
While the auction will have floor space, it will not be a live event. “It’s one of those silent auctions that you see at a lot of events like this,” says Trish McCormick, show manager. People can bid on sports memorabilia, collectibles, and pool equipment through an online, eBay-style platform. There will be a physical display next to the NESPA Membership Booth. More information will be posted at ThePoolSpaShow.com before the show opens.
The idea of having an auction on the show floor came from NESPA’s board of directors and volunteers. “It was their idea, so we’ll have them fully involved,” says McCormick. “They’ll be running the auction for us.”
To commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Pool & Spa Show, organizers are making a special space for an industry museum to showcase how things have advanced over the years. “We have challenged our longtime exhibitors … to share with us and provide us with some old-time equipment that they might have a new fancy version to put [next] to,” says McCormick.
The museum will be a feature on the floor that exhibitors and attendees can walk through. McCormick hopes it will spark interest in young people who may have never seen a 100-year-old pump and in industry veterans who can reminisce about years past.
Networking and events
The tradeshow floor, which is just under 130,000 square feet of exhibit space, will hold over 400 exhibiting companies. Attendees can see the latest productions, technologies, and services.
Networking opportunities aren’t confined to the show, with “so many exhibitors having these events all over the city,” adds McCormick.
