Australia Pairs Up With the UK, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Others for Ace Hardware Fall Event 2026 to Bring Thousands of Retail Leaders to Orlando as Business Travel and Home Improvement Markets Gain Momentum

Written By: Minal Aditi Lakra

Minal Aditi Lakra

I graduated with a degree in Finance from the University of Calcutta and further strengthened my financial expertise by pursuing both the Chartered Accountancy (CA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) programs. Over the past decade, I have dedicated myself to building a career aligned with my long-term professional aspirations, combining analytical thinking with strategic communication. Currently, I work as a Public Relations Strategist at Travel And Tour World (TTW), a global travel media platform that connects industry leaders with travelers worldwide. My role involves translating the vision, insights, and innovations of tourism stakeholders—including governments, tourism boards, airlines, hospitality brands, and event organizers—into compelling stories that inform, inspire, and influence global travel audiences. Through strategic storytelling and media engagement, I help bridge the gap between industry leadership and evolving traveler expectations.

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July 22, 2026 9:11 AM

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The Ace Hardware Fall Event 2026, scheduled to take place from 22–24 September 2026 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida, is expected to reinforce the city’s position as one of North America’s leading destinations for business events and trade exhibitions. While primarily serving the home improvement and hardware retail industry, the event’s significance extends far beyond product showcases, creating substantial opportunities for business travel, hospitality, aviation and the wider visitor economy.

Hosted by Ace Hardware, one of the world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperatives, the annual Fall Event provides a platform where independent retailers, manufacturers, distributors and industry professionals gather to explore new products, strengthen commercial partnerships and prepare for future retail seasons. Although the organiser has not yet released official attendance figures for the 2026 edition, previous conventions and industry information indicate that the event is expected to attract approximately 14,000–17,000 delegates, 550–700 exhibitors, representatives from 20–35 countries, and 35–60 executive speakers, trainers and industry presenters. These figures are industry estimates based on historical participation, as official 2026 statistics have not yet been published.

Orange County Convention Center Continues to Anchor Orlando’s Meetings Industry

The Orange County Convention Center remains one of the largest convention facilities in the United States, welcoming a diverse calendar of international exhibitions, corporate meetings, association conferences and trade fairs throughout the year. Its extensive exhibition halls, flexible meeting spaces, advanced technology infrastructure and commitment to sustainability have made it a preferred venue for global business events.

Located within Orlando’s International Drive tourism district, the convention centre benefits from close proximity to thousands of hotel rooms, entertainment venues, restaurants and world-famous attractions. This integrated ecosystem enables business travellers to combine professional engagements with leisure experiences, strengthening Orlando’s appeal as a destination for so-called “bleisure” travel.

The venue’s strategic location also offers convenient access via Orlando International Airport, which provides extensive domestic and international air connectivity, supporting delegate arrivals from North America, Latin America, Europe and selected markets across Asia.

A Buying Event That Shapes Retail Supply Chains

Unlike consumer-focused exhibitions, the Ace Hardware Fall Event functions primarily as a large-scale buying convention where independent retailers meet suppliers to evaluate new products, negotiate purchasing agreements and identify emerging market trends.

Exhibitors typically represent a broad spectrum of categories including tools, paint, lawn and garden equipment, outdoor living products, building materials, home maintenance solutions, power equipment, retail technology and merchandising services.

For manufacturers, participation provides direct access to thousands of independent store owners and purchasing decision-makers. For retailers, the event serves as an opportunity to secure product assortments, discover innovations and respond to changing consumer demand ahead of future selling seasons.

Educational sessions led by Ace Hardware executives, merchandising specialists and vendor experts are also expected to provide insights into retail operations, customer engagement, inventory management and evolving home improvement trends.

Business Travel Benefits Extend Across Orlando

Large-scale conventions such as the Ace Hardware Fall Event generate demand that reaches well beyond exhibition halls. Thousands of delegates typically require hotel accommodation, airport transfers, dining, local transportation and entertainment throughout their stay.

Hotels located around International Drive and the Orange County Convention Center are expected to benefit from increased occupancy during the event period, while restaurants, retail outlets and tourism attractions may also experience additional visitor spending from both domestic and international attendees.

Airlines serving Orlando similarly benefit from convention-driven travel demand, particularly on routes connecting major business centres across the United States and international gateways where Ace Hardware maintains retail operations and supplier relationships.

These business events contribute to the diversification of Orlando’s tourism economy, which has traditionally been associated with leisure travel and theme parks but has increasingly established itself as one of America’s foremost meetings and conventions destinations.

International Participation Reflects Ace Hardware’s Global Network

Ace Hardware’s retail presence spans approximately 70 countries, and although not every international market is represented at each convention, the Fall Event regularly welcomes international licensees, distributors and supplier representatives.

Expected participating markets include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, several Caribbean nations, Latin America, Southeast Asia and selected Middle Eastern markets. This international participation facilitates cross-border business relationships, knowledge sharing and product sourcing while strengthening global supply chains within the home improvement sector.

The event also provides opportunities for emerging suppliers to establish relationships with one of the world’s most recognised independent retail networks, supporting innovation and international commercial expansion.

Strengthening Orlando’s Position in the Global MICE Industry

As competition intensifies among global convention destinations, recurring industry events such as the Ace Hardware Fall Event play an important role in reinforcing Orlando’s reputation within the international meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector.

The combination of world-class convention infrastructure, strong aviation connectivity, extensive hotel capacity and internationally recognised visitor attractions continues to position Orlando as an attractive destination for both domestic and overseas business travellers.

For travel suppliers, destination marketers, hospitality providers and event organisers, the Ace Hardware Fall Event illustrates how specialised industry exhibitions can generate sustained economic activity while strengthening the city’s long-term competitiveness in the global business events marketplace. As preparations continue for the September 2026 gathering, the convention is expected to contribute not only to retail industry development but also to the continued growth of Orlando’s visitor economy and international business travel sector.