How IBS 2026 Can Provide a Tech-Focused Strategy for Your Business

If you’re heading to the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) in Orlando, make tech a priority. The show is not only about materials and finishes; it’s about how you build smarter, operate better and deliver more value to customers. 

Technology is no longer optional. Whether in estimating, virtual tours, CRM workflows or jobsite visibility, smart tech is a differentiator for your company.

Here are three key tools at IBS 2026 to help you get a jumpstart on tech for your business in the coming year:

AI & Tech Studio

The AI & Tech Studio is a new IBS Education format. Sessions are designed not just to talk about tech, but to let attendees use it, compare tools, see builders’ case-studies and test-drive new workflows. The format emphasizes real-world application.

Sample sessions to check out:

• Frustrated by Your Tech? How Collaboration Can Deliver Tools That Truly Work, which provides insights from builders and tech innovators on real-world workflows, feedback loops and adapting tools for the field.
• Lead-Converting AI: 2x Appointments & Record Sales for Southern Homes, where AI is illustrated in marketing/sales.
• Smarter Jobsites: How Builders Are Using AI & Tech to Boost Visibility & Performance, which focuses on jobsite/operations applications.

Building Knowledge Sessions

While the spotlight shines on the AI & Tech Studio for tech, the Building Knowledge Sessions remain the foundation of IBS Education. These 60-minute sessions mix tech-forward sessions with “business-process” sessions to build a holistic plan for your company.

Sample sessions to check out:

• AI is Your MVP: Train & Coach Your Team to Win, which focuses on confidently leveraging AI across the entire buyer journey from creating standout marketing copy to crafting personalized sales outreach. 
• Re-Designing Design: Practical Ways AI Enhances the Process, which explores how architects and designers can pair human creativity with AI tools to re-think design processes and deliver better outcomes. 
• AI in Action: How Builders Are Using AI to Boost Efficiency & Client Satisfaction, where you can learn how to integrate AI to streamline workflows, maximize productivity, and deliver a next-level client experience.

Zones

Three key zones on the show floor allow you to explore the latest tech — live, in action, from exhibits, demos and startups.

1. New Product Zone, which features products introduced to the marketplace between Feb. 28, 2025, and Feb. 19, 2026.
2. Start-Up Zone, which offers a peek into emerging solutions with products/services expected to shake up the residential-construction space.
3. Home Technology Zone, which centers around the “smart home” side of your builds and remodels: automation, connected kitchens/baths, whole-home systems, energy efficiency.

Register for an Expo+Education Pass to attend AI & Tech Studio and other tech and AI-focused IBS Education sessions. It also gives you access to the 1,700+ exhibitors and specialty zones with the hottest new tech products on the market.

Special rates are available through Jan. 9. Learn more and explore more education opportunities at BuildersShow.com.