By ED TRAVIS
This year’s early data indicates the 73rd edition of the PGA Show (Get it? One over par?) Jan 20-23, 2026, will be larger than 2025 Show and the exhibit floor is already tight for display space with a wait list.
While fall in the northern parts of the country means marveling at the colorful foliage, the World Series is again contested, Florida’s hurricane season ends and those in the golf industry start thinking about the Show as registration opens.
There is some very good news, namely there are already about the number of exhibitors signed as last year’s total and there is a wait list. Nice problem to have for the organizers and industry members/PGA Professionals that build their year around the Show’s product introductions, networking and professional education advancement.
PGA of America President Don Rea Jr. said, “It’s behind the scenes at this event where our work begins to deliver better, more engaging playing experiences for golfers everywhere. This refreshed PGA Show signals a new era for our industry, one that’s defined in innovation, collaboration and the passion of PGA of America Golf Professionals shaping the future of the sport.”
The 2025 Show had 8% more exhibitors (1076) than 2024 and it’s a safe bet 2026 will be even more however, the number of attendees of course is the critical number and at just over 33,000 2025 was the largest in 15 years. Considering the growth of the game and health of the industry it is almost a sure thing more industry members will be in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center than last year.
Incidentally the 2026 Show will be the 41st time the Show will be in the 1.1 million square feet of Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center—amazing how time flies.
More than 7,300 PGA and LPGA professionals were in attendance in 2025 plus 1,300 VIP buyers representing 840 golf facilities placed orders for the coming season making it the premiere destination for the business of golf, a $102 billion industry in the United States. The PGA Show is a partnership of PGA Golf Exhibitions (part of RX a worldwide event coordinator) and the PGA of America.
The 2026 Show will feature several new and expanded areas on the floor including a renaming of the Equipment Testing Center indoor driving range to The Range where not only full shots, but a short game area and enlarged putting green await attendees.
At many golf facilities racquet sports are growing very quickly and have become a large part of the customer experience so pickleball and padel will have demonstration courts on the Show floor. This “Show within a Show” is drawing input and support from 50 racquet industry brands and plus the USTA, PTR, RSPA, The Directors’ Club and RADL Wire.
We’ve been calling it the PGA Show for years but a rebranding from PGA Merchandise Show officially happened this month. I’ve lost track of how many times I have been to the Show, but each year brings fresh excitement and anticipation of not only finding what new products are being brought to market but most importantly, seeing old friends.
