2026 Home Improvement Insights Summit

Stay Ahead of the Changes Impacting the Home Improvement Industry

Register View Agenda
  • September 29-30, 2026
  • Minneapolis, MN

Know Your Market.
Anticipate Change.
Drive Innovation.

The HIRI Home Improvement Summit brings together manufacturers, retailers, partners and all whose success is tied to the home improvement industry.

Most attendees work in strategy, insights and marketing and come to the Summit to craft smarter strategies, improve planning, and make better decisions. This is your opportunity to meet and network with representatives from the leading brands, partners, and experts in the home improvement industry.

Gather with experts in the housing and home improvement markets, as well as with colleagues and peers in the industry, to stay ahead of changes among customers and market drivers.

From the future of home improvement to the data behind it, we’ll dive deep into issues related to current events, marketing and media, technology and innovation, and health and the environment as well as issues shaping the industry now and in the future.

Wednesday

September 29 | 12:00pm – 5:30pm

  • Market Outlook 2026–2030: Economic Forces Shaping Home Improvement
  • AI in Retail Home Improvement: What Consumers and Pros Are Experiencing Now
  • The Evolving Home Improvement Project Journey
  • Headwinds & Tailwinds: An Economist Debate on the Future of Home Improvement
  • Pitchfest – A Home Improvement Innovation Showcase
  • The Retail Revolution: What’s Next for Big Box, Specialty, and Digital
  • HIRI Research Review

Thursday

September 30 | 8:00am – 12:00pm

  • How Media Shapes the Modern DIYer: From TikTok to This Old House
  • Energy Efficiency, Sustainability & Home Resilience: What Consumers Are Really Doing
  • AI Is Rewriting the Home Improvement Playbook
  • Financing the Home Improvement Ecosystem: How Consumers, Pros & Retailers Navigate Costs
  • The Pro Channel in 2026: Needs, Pain Points, and Opportunities
  • The New AI Frontier in Market Research
View Detailed Agenda

The Lofton Hotel Minneapolis, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

601 N 1st Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55450

All sessions of the HIRI Summit will take place at The Lofton Hotel Minneapolis, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. HIRI has a discounted group rate of $239+tax for all attendees staying at the host hotel over the event dates. Additional nights on the front or back end may be booked at the discounted group rate based on availability

Book Now

We take pride in offering generous cancellation and ticket transfer policies. Learn more in the FAQ.

Deadline

HIRI Members

Non-Members

Super Early Bird

Before April 1

$725

$800

Early Bird

Before August 1

$750

$850

Standard

Before September 18

$800

$900

Last Call

September 19 through event

$850

$975

Receive an additional 15% OFF each registration when you
register 3 or more paid attendees from the same company.

Is the HIRI Summit open to non-members?

Yes! HIRI’s annual Home Improvement Insights Summit is open to all stakeholders in the home improvement industry, including non-members.

Is there a virtual attendance option?

This year, the HIRI Insights Summit will be solely an in-person event. Too much value is lost when you’re not in the room during the larger discussions and when you are not physically present to engage in smaller side-discussions with other attendees. Thus, in order to provide the most value to attendees, the 2026 HIRI Insights Summit is an in-person only event. We look forward to seeing you in-person!

My company is a HIRI member. Is there a discount?

Yes! One of the many perks of HIRI membership is discounted ticket prices for any and all team members going to the Insights Summit.

If my plans change, can I get a refund?

Plans can change and we want to offer as much flexibility as possible. If you register and then are not able to attend the summit, these are your options.

Cancellations:
If you would like to cancel your registration, you may do so up until Monday, August 17th, 2026. You will receive a full refund minus a $50 processing fee. Registrants that send cancellation requests on or after Tuesday, August 18th, 2026 will forfeit their entire registration fee and are encouraged to transfer their registration to a colleague.

Transfers:
Registration transfers will be granted at any time. Please send your registration transfer request to  Lindsey Gajewski at lgajewski@hiri.org .

Premier PLATINUM SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSORS

 For information about sponsoring the HIRI Summit, please contact Pam Heidel at pheidel@hiri.org

HIRI’s First Ever Pitchfest Will Take Place at the 2026 HIRI Summit

This exciting new initiative will showcase groundbreaking innovation within the home improvement sector. Held in conjunction with the 2026 HIRI Summit, the HIRI Pitchfest offers startups a unique platform to present their solutions to a distinguished audience of industry leaders.

Startups can apply now until April 20, 2026, using this online Google form. Four startups will be selected to attend the HIRI Summit in person to pitch their products and services directly to the Summit audience on September 29, 2026. A pre-selected panel of judges will then choose one winning finalist, who will receive a cash reward of U.S. $2,000.

HIRI is seeking service and product suppliers that are making a significant impact on the home improvement space. Participants will be evaluated on their capabilities, features, benefits, and strategic vision.

Judges 

Kent Panther
President and Chief Growth Officer, Wray Ward

Jennifer Castenson
Vice President, Buildxact

Bruce Case
President and CEO, CASE Architects and Remodelers

  

Application Window is Now Closed

Apply to Pitchfest

Complete terms and conditions

Applications are accepted until April 20, 2026. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.

HIRI will invite selected entrepreneurs and businesses to participate in an in-person event for an opportunity to pitch their products directly to the audience on September 29, 2026. You will be notified of your application status on or around July 10, 2026.

HIRI welcomes all product suppliers and service providers serving home improvement to register for this opportunity.

The HIRI Pitchfest invites entrepreneurs to share their innovation on a broader scale with an opportunity to pitch directly to the HIRI Summit audience on September 29, 2026. For more information, please visit www.hirisummit.com.

April 20, 2026 – Deadline to submit applications by 11:59 p.m. EST.

On or around June 30, 2026 – You will be notified if you have been accepted to the Pitchfest. 

July 10, 2026 – Deadline to accept or decline if you have been accepted. If no response is received, it will be assumed as a decline.

Beginning in August 2026 – Invited startups will receive HIRI Summit logistics and meeting schedule. September 29 and September 30, 2026 – attend both days of the HIRI Summit in Minneapolis.

You will receive a confirmation message after you submit your application. If you do not see the email after you’ve submitted, be sure to check your spam or junk folder.

Once your submission is received, it will be reviewed by HIRI Pitchfest judges.

In person attendance is required to be part of the Pitchfest. You may attend additional activities at the HIRI Summit at your discretion. Detailed event agenda can be found online at www.hirisummit.com.

HIRI Summit event organizers will reach out to help manage your travel arrangements. Up to two (2) representatives will be allowed to attend the HIRI Summit, with only one receiving paid travel and housing, other expenses are responsibility of your startup.

Make sure to complete the submission form fully and accurately. HIRI is looking for product and service providers that are in the seed stage, where the product-market fit is validated or close to validated, there is a growing customer base, or key metrics that prove the model works. At this stage, the startups are seeking investment to grow their team, refine their product, and scale marketing efforts. HIRI also encourages entries from pre-seed stage companies that are in the research and development phase, moving from ideation to prototype and looking for investment to build a minimum viable product.

No. Once your application has been submitted, you cannot make any further edits.

Contact jenniferc@buildxact.com to get an update. You will receive an email notifying you whether you are invited to the HIRI Summit on or around July 30, 2026.

If you are invited to the HIRI Summit, you will need to prepare a 5-minute pitch to be presented on stage during the event. HIRI Board members and staff can help answer questions, guide you and review the presentation prior to the event.

HIRI is looking for products that are in the seed stage, where the product-market fit is validated or close to validated, there is a growing customer base, or key metrics that prove the model works. At this stage, the startups are seeking investment to grow their team, refine their product, and scale marketing efforts. HIRI also encourages entries from pre-seed stage companies that are in the research and development phase, moving from ideation to prototype and looking for investment to build a minimum viable product.

Register

Register

  • September 29 – 30 2026

Lindsey Gajewski

HIRI Event Manager
lgajewski@hiri.org
262-594-0303

Have Questions?
We’re Here to Help!

Bryan Rippeon

Executive Event Producer
brippeon@hiri.org
301-712-8787

Lindsey Gajewski

HIRI Event
Manager
lgajewski@hiri.org
262-594-0303

Event Sponsored By:

Interested in sponsoring? Contact Pam at pheidel@hiri.org