Equip Exposition adds bilingual education track and 30-acre demo yard for October 2026 show

Equip Exposition will run 20-23 October 2026 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) announcing an expanded bilingual education program alongside the show's full slate of live equipment demonstrations^[1].

Spanish-language sessions

In 2026, Equip Exposition is offering a growing selection of educational sessions presented in Spanish, identifiable through a dedicated "Taught in Spanish" track on the show's website and mobile app^[1]. The expansion recognises the significant role Spanish-speaking professionals play across the landscaping workforce^[1].

Two sessions anchor the Spanish-language lineup:

• From Worker to Leader: Developing Your Foreman - presented by Armando Actis, Equipment Manager for Landscape Illinois and a Certified Landscaping Technician Judge. The interactive workshop runs Wednesday 2:00-3:00 p.m. and Thursday 9:30-11:00 a.m. and covers motivating employees, managing former coworkers, and maintaining customer relationships. Pre-registration is required^[1].
• Technical Turfgrass Management Courses - led by Dr. Manuel Chavarria of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Topics include turfgrass cultural practices, irrigation water management, weed management, and integrated pest management^[1].

"My classes are designed to give landscapers practical, hands-on knowledge they can apply immediately," said Dr. Chavarria^[1].

Equipment demonstrations and show floor

The show's outdoor demo yard covers 30 acres, where attendees can run equipment on real grass and dirt rather than viewing static displays. The Kentucky Exposition Center hosts 1.3 million square feet of indoor exhibits, with hundreds of manufacturers represented. The event includes 1,000-plus exhibits featuring mowers, loaders, UTVs, and handheld tools alongside keynote sessions, business bootcamps, and networking events.

Equip Academy and registration

Equip Academy, a new in-person and online training package, offers attendees access to dozens of education sessions for an additional $170 pass. Every attendee who completes an Equip Academy class receives a certificate of completion. HGTV host and contractor Mike Holmes is the 2026 keynote speaker, sponsored by Kress, and will address raising industry standards.

General registration is $30 through 10 September 2026 and covers the outdoor demo yard, keynote, and trade show floor access^[1]. Education sessions carry an individual fee on top of that^[1].

Last year's show broke attendance records, attracting nearly 30,000 registrants to the Kentucky Exposition Center. Whether the 2026 bilingual expansion draws a measurably larger share of Spanish-speaking attendees - and whether OPEI extends the model to additional languages in future years - will be worth tracking as the show approaches its October dates.