Born to Win: The Texas Green Industry Came Together at EXPO 2026

Education, innovation, leadership and connection filled three days in San Antonio and set the stage for a new chapter in Houston. View all photos here: https://ismaelphoto.pixieset.com/tnla8128132026/ 
August 11–13, 2026 • Henry B. González Convention Center • San Antonio, Texas
From the first education sessions on Tuesday morning to the final conversations on the trade show floor Thursday afternoon, Nursery/Landscape EXPO 2026 showed what it means to be Born to Win. Landscapers, irrigators, retail garden centers, suppliers, growers, designers, educators and emerging professionals came together to sharpen their skills, discover new solutions and strengthen the relationships that move Texas’ green industry forward.
The three-day event paired practical learning with hands-on demonstrations, a busy exhibit floor, leadership and professional recognition, advocacy support and the kind of informal conversation that often becomes the beginning of the next partnership, purchase or big idea.

Education set the pace

Tuesday Education Day opened EXPO with a full slate of continuing education and business training. Sessions met professionals where they work, with content for irrigation, landscape operations, nursery production, retail, design, arboriculture, workforce development and company leadership.

Attendees explored irrigation flow monitoring, drought planning and drainage; standard operating procedures, employment branding and leadership accountability; Texas plants, pest management, soil genomics and tree health; and practical business topics such as hardscape profitability and new service-line growth. A full-day design graphics workshop gave participants hands-on practice communicating ideas, while other sessions connected growers and designers, translated campus-scale vision into built landscapes and examined the details that carry a project from concept through construction.
​
The learning continued on the show floor Wednesday and Thursday. Demonstrations and short-form sessions covered AI-powered takeoffs, customer service that supports sales, irrigation technology, tree injection, propagation of adaptable Texas plants, CAD planning, biophilic design and workforce development. Together, the classroom and demonstration formats gave attendees multiple ways to learn, earn CEUs and bring practical ideas back to their teams.

A first look for first-time attendees

Before the trade show floor opened Wednesday, 60 first-time attendees joined the Newcomers Tour more than double the 28 participants who joined the previous year. The guided preview helped newcomers get oriented, understand the show’s layout and identify the exhibitors, education areas and gathering spaces most relevant to their goals.

That early access mattered. Once the opening ceremonies concluded and the exhibit halls came to life, attendees had two days to compare products, talk directly with suppliers, watch live demonstrations and reconnect with colleagues from across the state. 

​Connections that go beyond the show floor

EXPO has always been about more than products and presentations. Tuesday evening’s Women in Horticulture Nightcap created an informal place to connect after Education Day, and Wednesday’s Women in Horticulture Get Together welcomed 300 attendees.

Stephanie Hertzog, President, West Region, at SiteOne Landscape Supply, joined the gathering as featured speaker. Attendees heard from an industry leader, made new connections and supported TNLA PAC through the raffle of a Jon Hart 360 Carry-On Bag. The event reflected the energy of a growing network that is creating more opportunities for women to lead, learn and support one another across the green industry.
​
At the close of Wednesday’s show hours, the Welcome to San Antonio Party gave attendees and exhibitors a chance to relax and socialize after a full day of conversations, demonstrations and business on the floor. The Certified Professionals’ Reception followed, recognizing the credentialed professionals whose ongoing education and expertise strengthen the standards of the industry.

Recognizing creativity on the trade show floor

Continuing a long-standing EXPO tradition, the Best Booth Awards, selected by the EXPO Chair, recognized exhibitors whose displays stood out for presentation, creativity and attendee experience. Congratulations to the 2026 honorees:

• Big Bend Stone
• Everde Growers
• Landscapers Pride
• Dewar Nurseries
• COLMET

A new year of TNLA leadership

Thursday morning’s Annual Business Meeting gave members a chance to look back, recognize service and begin the Association’s new fiscal year with purpose. Sponsored by Abbott-IPCO, the meeting featured TNLA’s Year in Review video and highlighted the collective work of members whose businesses contribute to a Texas green industry with a $40 billion economic impact.


TNLA thanked departing board members Jackie Smith, Absolute Accents, Inc.; Gerry Bower, TLC Total Lawn Care; Ben Collinsworth, Yellowstone Landscape; Mark Manny, EverGro Organic Recycling; Robbie Aballama, ICL Growing Solutions; and Bobby Eichholz, Rialto Studio, for the time, perspective and leadership they contributed to the Association.
​

The gavel then passed from Immediate Past Chair Devin Guinn to 2026–2027 Chair Kyle Cahill. Cahill challenged members to stay involved through their regions, education, advocacy and the conversations that shape the industry’s future. The message was clear: a strong, unified industry voice depends on professionals who continue to show up and lead.

2026–2027 TNLA Board of Directors

Advocacy in action

TNLA PAC support was visible throughout EXPO from the PAC Lounge and Women in Horticulture raffle to Thursday’s PAC drawing. These contributions help the Texas green industry maintain a strong voice and build the relationships needed to engage on the policies that affect member businesses, their employees and their customers.

Diamond Members — $2,000+

Diamond members are also Platinum members by default.

Additional Platinum Members — $500+

Listed in addition to the Diamond members recognized above.

Gold Star Companies

Four participating individuals from one company; minimum $50 each.

Silver Star Companies

Three participating individuals from one company; minimum $50 each.

Bronze Star Companies

Two participating individuals from one company; minimum $50 each.

Thank you to the sponsors who made EXPO possible

EXPO’s education, attendee services, special events, professional recognition and show-floor experiences are strengthened by companies and partners willing to invest in the industry. TNLA extends its appreciation to the 2026 sponsors and in-kind contributors listed below.

2026 EXPO sponsors and in-kind contributors

Next stop: Houston

The next Nursery/Landscape EXPO will bring the industry back to Houston, August 18–20, 2027, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The 2027 theme, Where Vision Meets Magic, celebrates the extraordinary community that makes the green industry unlike any other.

​Landscapers, irrigators, retail garden centers, suppliers and growers share a remarkable ability to transform vision into living, working and gathering spaces that are both functional and breathtaking. When the right people come together, EXPO becomes more than a trade show. It becomes a place where ideas take root, relationships grow and possibilities become real.

Save the date: August 18–20, 2027 • Houston, Texas
Watch for updates at NurseryLandscapeEXPO.org.