ACHR News has announced the HVAC Contractor Forum — a brand new live event built specifically for residential HVAC contractors — scheduled for November 2 to 4, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. The event is co-located with ACCA's fall Smart Tech Summit.
What distinguishes this event: The HVAC Contractor Forum is designed around peer-to-peer learning, structured discussions, and real-world technical case sessions rather than the trade show floor format that dominates most HVAC industry events. The stated goal is to help residential leaders improve business operations, field performance, and team management — the operational and people side of running an HVAC contracting business, not just product and technology exposure.
The ACCA co-location: Holding the event alongside ACCA's Smart Tech Summit creates a natural pairing of contractor business content with the technology and building science focus that ACCA brings. For residential contractors navigating the intersection of smart home technology, A2L transitions, and evolving customer expectations, the combined program offers a broader content set than either event would deliver alone.
Speaker proposals open: ACHR News is currently accepting presentation proposals from contractors, trainers, and industry professionals who want to share their expertise. This is notably different from most trade event speaker programs, which rely heavily on manufacturer and sponsor content. A contractor-to-contractor format has historically produced the highest engagement and most actionable insights for attendee businesses.
The timing: November is the HVAC industry's shoulder season in most markets — after peak summer cooling, before peak winter heating. It is the natural window for professional development investment, planning for the following year, and networking. Contractors who attend in November return to their shops in December with a playbook for the following year rather than one they are trying to implement during a busy service period.
Why this event matters for the Hardwire readership: The HVAC Contractor Forum is exactly the type of gathering where the issues this publication covers — workforce development, technology adoption, pricing strategy, maintenance agreement growth, A2L transition — get stress-tested against real contractor experience from across the country. Following the event's content development and attending if possible is worth putting on the radar now.
