If you’re heading to Houston for h+h americas Fall Edition, lace up your walking shoes– there is so much to explore beyond the show floor.

From discovering new products, making new business connections, to learning from seasoned professionals and experiencing inspiring textile art, the Fall Edition is packed with opportunities that will drive your business forward.

The show takes place from September 30- October 2, 2026 at the Reliant Center in Houston, and with so much happening, it can be tricky to know what to prioritize. Start with this list of five can’t miss events and experiences at h+h americas Fall Edition.

1. Fall Forum: A Full Day of Business Education

If you're serious about growing your business, Fall Forum deserves a place at the top of your must-do list.

Wednesday, September 30, is dedicated to education, conversation, and professional development before the show floor opens.

The program kicks off with a conversation with Ricky Brooks, touching on why local quilting, sewing, yarn and craft shops still have the advantage.

Next, grab some coffee and network, then head to your choice of classes. From Cringe to Creator with Tiffany Hardin explores the best ways to unlock your creator potential and show up authentically online. Or, choose Stitching Together Your Systems with Kathy Cruz and gain a better understanding what simple systems you can implement in your store to improve processes and continue to grow a business that doesn’t rely on you for everything.

From there, enjoy lunch, networking, and roundtable discussions with your peers. The roundtables are moderated discussions sorted by business role or business stage, so they’re highly relevant to your specific business. Choose from New Shops, Small Shops, Large Shops, or Designers & Teachers.

As a Fall Forum Passholder, you’ll also enjoy the Keynote address (see #2) and a panel discussion on Buying Strategies for the Show Floor.

Because after all, a trade show is about more than what you buy. It’s about the new ideas you return with to make your business better.

Leave your shop routine behind for a few days and give yourself permission to think bigger when you attend the Fall Forum. Register for the Fall Forum Conference Pass or Fall Global Pass to experience h+h americas Fall Edition to the fullest.

2. Craft As Community, the Keynote session with Dr. Sharbreon Plummer

One of the highlights of the show will be the keynote presentation, Craft as Community: Notes on the Future with Dr. Sharbreon Plummer. Dr. Plummer is a writer, public scholar, curator, and founder of AYA Thought Studio whose work explores arts, culture, liberation, and justice.

Dr. Plummer will explore how we might expand our definitions of craft and how it is framed, its role in forging and fortifying community, and the significance it holds for our collective future. All registered attendees are encouraged to attend this event on Wednesday, September 30, from 2:30–3:30 PM.

When you're running a shop, designing products, creating content, or juggling other responsibilities, it's easy to become focused entirely on what's immediately in front of you.

Dr. Plummer’s thoughtful keynote will provide perspective. h+h americas will also host a book signing with Dr. Plummer directly following the event. Dr. Plummer will be signing her new book, Stories in the Seams: Black Quilts and Their Makers.

If you’ll be in Houston on September 30th, make sure this session is on your schedule.

3. Sample It: Find Your Next Hit Product

For many attendees, Sample It is one of the most exciting events of the entire show.

One night only, Sample it takes place Wednesday, September 30th 7:30–9:00 PM.

Sample It is an energetic kickoff to your h+h americas experience. This ticketed cash-and-carry shopping event is where you can try out innovative products, discover something new, and purchase items to take home immediately.

Attending Sample It is a great way to find inspiration for classes, samples, displays, seasonal programming, and future purchasing decisions. Beyond the shopping, the atmosphere of excitement is what makes this event so memorable. Compare discoveries, share ideas and find new inspiration. Organic conversations naturally unfold here over the things everyone in the craft industry loves most: making, creativity, and what's coming next.

If you love being ahead of the curve, don’t miss Sample It. Choose the Global Pass or add it a la carte to any package when you register today.

4. Textile Art Exhibits: A Place for Creative Reflection

h+h americas Fall Edition is about business, yes– but it’s also about inspiration. That’s why we’ve curated several special exhibits that allow you to take a quick break from business conversations to remember why you started in the craft industry in the first place. The exceptional work on displays might spark your imagination, or simply offer a mindful moment of reflection.

Color In Context: Blue is a thought-provoking showcase exploring the allure of blue. Featuring innovative art quilts from talented artists worldwide, each piece interprets blue's cultural, emotional, and historical significance through 34 layered, stitched creations.

9/11: 25th Anniversary Memorial Exhibit features the work of award-winning quilter and teacher Carol Mesimer. 25 years later, she’ll showcase a selection of the works she began making in the days after the attacks.

Instituto Proeza × Círculo is a large-scale composition built from colorful circles, each one crocheted by hand. The piece gathers the work of Instituto Proeza's artisans and shows, at scale, the diversity of colors, stitches, and creative possibilities of crochet.

See Legit Kits Up Close is a special quilt exhibit showcasing bold, intricate foundation paper-pieced designs. See these remarkable quilts in person, discover the detail behind the work, and experience a display that proves just how spectacular quilting can be.

Click here for more information about each exhibit, as well as their specific locations.

5. Product Academy: Get Hands-On With What's New

It's one thing to see a product in a booth, but understanding how it works, why it matters, and how it could fit into your business is probably one of the reasons you’re attending h+h americas Fall Edition in the first place.

And that’s where Product Academy fits in. Designed as a hands-on educational experience featuring product demonstrations and learning opportunities, Product Academy gives you the chance to dig deeper into products and innovations before heading out to explore the show floor.

When you understand a product, you're better equipped to explain it to customers, demonstrate its benefits, create classes around it, and decide how it fits into your existing assortment.

Product Academy takes place on Wednesday during Fall Forum and can be added a la carte to any pass when you register. Consider it an investment in buying smarter.

Instead of simply asking, What's new? Product Academy can help you start asking better questions:

  • Who is this product for?
  • What problem does it solve?
  • How could I merchandise it?
  • Could I build a class or event around it?
  • What other products could I pair with it?
  • Would my customers understand why they need it?

Those are the questions that turn product discovery into good business decisions.

Make the Most of Your Time in Houston

h+h americas Fall Edition is so much more than a place to walk booths and place orders.

It's an opportunity to discover products, build relationships, learn from experts, exchange ideas, and reconnect with the creative energy that drives the craft industry forward.

So as you plan your trip to Houston, make sure not to fill every minute with appointments. Experience h+h americas Fall Edition to the fullest with these five experiences. Because the best trade show trips aren't only measured by what you buy for your store–but by which big picture ideas, relationships and systems you bring back to your store.

Join us September 30–October 2, 2026, at Reliant Center in Houston for h+h americas Fall Edition. Click here to register today.