Experiential Designers and Producers Association - EDPA Access 2026
Event Date
December 1–3, 2026
Location
Phoenix, AZ
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryEDPA ACCESS is the annual meeting and conference of the Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA). It brings together exhibit design and fabrication firms alongside their strategic partners, serving as a peer-driven forum for education, collaboration, and relationship building within the experiential marketing, exhibit, and event industry. The 2026 edition takes place December 1–3 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, Arizona.
The three-day event is aimed at event designers, producers, and key industry suppliers, and historically draws a senior audience that includes many C-level executives of large and small companies. Programming typically blends keynote speakers, educational breakout sessions, off-site networking excursions, awards ceremonies, and social events.
Attendees come to ACCESS for insight into the forces reshaping the trade show and business-events industry, along with high-value networking with peers, partners, and prospective clients. As EDPA describes it, the association's annual ACCESS event provides unmatched educational opportunities for business leaders, making it a marquee gathering for professionals who create face-to-face brand experiences.
Show Highlights
Recent editions of EDPA ACCESS have featured a mix of education, recognition, and networking, including:
- Keynote speakers and industry thought leaders — for example, the 2024 conference featured Jessica Cox, the world's first armless pilot, speaking on resilience and inclusive design.
- EDPA Awards Gala — recognizing the best and brightest in the industry.
- EDPA Foundation Silent Auction Cocktail Hour and the President's After Party.
- Annual Golf Scramble and other off-site networking and recreational activities.
- Reimagined networking formats — recent events introduced dedicated zones such as the Networking Zone, Breakaway Zone, and Wellness Zone.
- Sustainability initiatives — EDPA has measured the carbon footprint of the event and introduced steps such as reusable water bottles to reduce environmental impact.
Attendance
EDPA ACCESS is an intentionally intimate, three-day event. It typically draws about 300 attendees, many of whom are C-level executives of large and small companies. Recent editions have grown: ACCESS 2023 in Bonita Springs, Fla. attracted 325 attendees; the 2024 event in the Coachella Valley drew responses from over 340 attendees (including staff, crew, speakers, and entertainers); and ACCESS 2025 on Amelia Island reported approximately 400 attendees.
Registration
Registration for EDPA ACCESS is handled through the EDPA website (edpa.com). The event uses individual conference passes, and additional tickets can typically be purchased for guests. Attendees are encouraged to bring a spouse or partner, but a separate ticket must be purchased for each special event or excursion (such as golf or evening events) that a guest wishes to attend. Prospective attendees should watch the official EDPA site for the 2026 registration launch and hotel room-block deadlines.
History
EDPA was founded in 1954, and ACCESS serves as its flagship annual conference. The association is recognized internationally and serves thousands of professional members representing more than 300 corporations across 18 countries. The 2024 conference marked EDPA's 70th anniversary, celebrated under the theme "Innovate. Elevate. Collaborate." The event rotates among resort destinations each year — recent hosts include the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, Fla. (2023), the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort in California's Coachella Valley (2024), and the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Fla. (2025) — with the 2026 edition moving to the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is EDPA ACCESS 2026?
EDPA ACCESS 2026 takes place December 1–3, 2026, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, Arizona.
Who should attend EDPA ACCESS?
The conference is designed for event designers, producers, exhibit design and fabrication firms, and key industry suppliers. It has historically drawn a senior audience, including many C-level executives from companies of all sizes across the experiential, exhibit, and event industry.
What happens at the conference?
ACCESS is a three-day event that combines keynote speakers, educational breakout sessions, off-site networking excursions, the EDPA Awards Gala, the EDPA Foundation Silent Auction, and social events such as an annual golf scramble.
How do I register for EDPA ACCESS 2026?
Registration is handled through the official EDPA website at edpa.com. Attendees can also purchase separate tickets for guests who wish to join specific events or excursions.
How do I get to the venue from the airport?
The Arizona Biltmore is about 7 miles (roughly 15 minutes) from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Rideshare and taxi services are readily available from the airport.
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