Coverings, the largest event in North America dedicated to ceramic tile and natural stone, has unveiled extensive educational programming for Coverings 2026, taking place March 30 to April 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. Featuring 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries, the event showcases some of the most innovative tile and stone products in the world.
Key sponsors include Ceramics of Italy/Confindustria Ceramica, Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association of Spain (ASCER)/Tile of Spain, Tile Council of North America (TCNA), National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA) and International Product Assurance (IPA) Laboratories.
Coverings 2026 attendees will gain insights to strengthen professional skills, deepen market intelligence and support leadership growth, show organizers stated. Conference programming planned for Coverings 2026 will blend multiple modes of instruction—from technical presentations and partner-led sessions to dialog-driven Q&As and live demos.
One major highlight will be a marquee session featuring Gary Sinise, acclaimed actor, humanitarian and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation. “Building Hope: A Conversation with Gary Sinise, NTCA and NSI on Serving Veterans Through Skilled Craftsmanship,” sponsored by MAPEI Corp. at the headline level and PROFLEX Products Inc. at the supporting level, is scheduled for April 1, 8:30-9:15 a.m.
The conversation will shed light on collaborative work through the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment) program which constructs custom-built, specially adapted, mortgage-free smart homes for the U.S.’s most severely wounded heroes. The program recently marked a major milestone with the dedication of its 100th smart home.
Registered professionals for Coverings 2026 will also have full access to nearly two dozen targeted sessions organized within three core learning tracks: Installation & Fabrication, Materials & Trends and Workforce & Profits.
Session Highlights
“The Most Directional Color and Design Trends,” on March 30, 9:30-10:30 a.m., represents one of many opening-day sessions for showgoers. Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, will present her latest color and design trend program “Sense-Abilities,” which examines the lifestyle cues and emotional triggers shaping consumer design choices.
Another education session slated for March 30, is “Get Inspired and Turbocharge Your Business,” from 8-9 a.m. The program will spotlight standout selections from the Tile Heritage Foundation’s (THF) archive of more than 44,000 digital images, demonstrating how historical context can enrich storytelling, reinforce project authenticity and inspire new concepts that resonate within today’s design landscape.
A dedicated Architecture & Design (A&D) Day, March 31, will expand Coverings 2026’s educational offerings with six American Institute of Architects (AIA) accredited courses. These sessions are designed to equip architects and designers with practical knowledge and specification tools that strengthen project outcomes across residential and commercial work. The full lineup will be presented by the CTDA, NTCA and Natural Stone Institute (NSI).
The A&D Day will feature CTDA’s “Why Tile” from 8-9 a.m. and “Health and Environmental Benefits of Ceramic Tile” from 11 a.m.-noon. NSI will present “The Art of Specifying Natural Stone” from 8-9 a.m. and “Natural Stone and Green Design” from 9:30-10:30 a.m. NTCA will round out the program with “Introduction to Tile Industry Standards, Methods and Best Practices” from 9:30-10:30 a.m., followed by “Specifying & Installing Gauged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs” from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
March 31 sessions will also include “Inspire, Lead, Grow: Opportunities for Emerging Professionals in Tile and Stone,” scheduled for 12:30-1:30 p.m. This interactive program is designed for emerging professionals and future leaders who want to define meaningful career paths, strengthen critical skill sets, attract and mentor new talent and gain a deeper understanding of how leadership at all levels drives innovation and progress.
The April 1 panel discussion “Inside the Industry: Leaders on Tile Today,” set for 9:30-10:30 a.m., will glean perspectives from leaders across all tile and stone sectors as they examine market dynamics, supply chain considerations, evolving residential and commercial customer expectations and emerging business opportunities.
Visit www.coverings.com to explore the full range of educational opportunities for Coverings 2026 and take advantage of early-bird registration benefits including cost-free registration through Feb. 1, 2026.
