TowXpo 2026
Event Date
July 16–18, 2026
Location
San Antonio, TX
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryTowXpo (American Towman TowXpo) is an industry-wide trade show and conference for the towing and recovery profession, held in downtown San Antonio, Texas. The event puts attendees face to face with suppliers, educators, and leading towing professionals from around the world. On the show floor, towing and recovery professionals get to meet and talk with major manufacturers of wreckers, carriers, trailers, truck chassis and all the tools and equipment towers need to be successful.
The audience is tow business owners, operators, dispatchers, and road-service professionals. Attendees can meet with major motor club representatives, dispatch systems providers, GPS companies and equipment finance sources, and see the latest in safety apparel and equipment. The educational program is extensive: American Towman Conferences feature towing and recovery experts from a wide range of industry specialties, covering business operations, staff training, working with local police and municipalities, digital marketing and better profit margins.
Beyond business, TowXpo is known for its social side. When the workday is done, there is relaxation and fun to be had — the 10-Gallon Gala features casino games and a meal, and The Big Smoke is a chance to catch up with friends over a fine cigar and a drink. It is billed as the towing industry's favorite summer break.
Show Highlights
Key features and signature events include:
- Conference tracks across Insurance, Essential Practices, Building Revenue, Safety, and Towing Operations, plus the American Towman Academy leadership program.
- Hands-on and classroom training, including CIRT Heavy-Duty Level B, WreckMaster courses, and TDLR-approved continuing education conducted by Southwest Tow Operators. Allstate Roadside Education is held in the Exhibit Hall free during show floor hours.
- USA Wrecker Pageant — a competition bringing together the industry's most eye-catching, innovative, and impeccably maintained trucks across multiple weight classes, with awards for Best in Show, Best Paint and Best Wrap.
- Masters of Chaos Awards Dinner — honoring towing and recovery companies distinguished for expertise in quick clearance and complex recovery operations.
- Encore ACE Awards — recognizing tow companies nominated by motor clubs and call providers for being in the top 1% of towing operations, presented with the ACE Buckle Award by Allstate Roadside, Agero and GEICO.
- Social and family activities, including The Big Smoke cigar event, the 10-Gallon Gala Casino Night, Saturday Pie on the show floor, a GEICO-sponsored Kids Korral, and live bluegrass entertainment.
Registration
Registration is handled online through the official event portal at events.american-tradeshow.com/towxpo26. Many training courses and events are priced separately, and several offer early-registration savings:
- CIRT Heavy-Duty Training / Level B: $595, rising to $695 starting July 12.
- WreckMaster Green To Go (Light-Duty): $450 advance per person, $550 starting July 12.
- Heavy-Duty Recovery Business Success: $250 per person advance and $350 starting July 13.
- Light-Duty Recovery Business Success: $150 per person advance and $250 starting July 13.
- Safety and Compliance in the Repossession Industry: $495 per person, $550 starting July 13.
- TDLR courses (via Southwest Tow Operators): 4-hour CE course $75 member / $100 non-member; 8-hour Incident Management course $175 member / $225 non-member.
Special-event tickets include the Masters of Chaos Awards Dinner (adults $110, children $55) and The Big Smoke cigar event ($40 per person, including two drink tickets and one cigar).
Venue & Travel
Venue
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
900 E Market Street
The Henry B. González Convention Center sits in the heart of historic downtown San Antonio along the banks of the world-famous River Walk. Following a $325 million expansion completed in 2016, the facility has a footprint of roughly 1.6 million square feet, including approximately 514,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space with 35-foot ceilings, more than 70 meeting rooms, and two ballrooms. It is home to the "Stars at Night" Ballroom, the largest in Texas at about 54,000 square feet, as well as the adjacent 2,319-seat Lila Cockrell Theatre. All APCO 2026 conference activities are held at this venue, with the Exhibit Hall open August 3-4.
Parking
San Antonio offers a variety of parking options in downtown garages near the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, available for a daily fee, with rates varying by garage. Some downtown locations include EV charging and ADA-accessible spaces. Detailed parking and directions are available through the convention center's Location, Directions & Parking page.
Getting There
The nearest airport is San Antonio International Airport (SAT), located approximately 8-9 miles (about 10-15 minutes by car) from the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Taxis and rideshare services (Uber and Lyft) are available at the outer commercial curbside of the terminal, and rental cars are available on-site. VIA Metropolitan Transit also operates public bus service downtown. All conference hotels are within walking distance of the venue; ADA shuttle buses are available as needed between hotels and the convention center (call at least 60 minutes ahead), and complimentary shuttles run to and from the Block Party on Tuesday, August 4.
Nearby Hotels
APCO International has negotiated special rates for attendees through its official housing provider, Orchid.Events, and reservations must be made through that provider to receive the discount. For APCO 2026, all conference hotels are within walking distance of the convention center. Official conference hotels include:
- Grand Hyatt San Antonio
- Hilton Palacio del Rio
- Hyatt Regency San Antonio
- Kimpton Santo
- San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter
- San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk
- The Monarch San Antonio
- The Plaza San Antonio
There are roughly 3,000 hotel rooms within a block of the convention center. Attendees should be wary of unauthorized housing solicitations, as Orchid.Events is APCO's only official provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does TowXpo 2026 take place?
TowXpo 2026 runs July 16-18, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. The exhibit hall and hands-on training are at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, with additional courses and events at the nearby Marriott Riverwalk Hotel and other River Walk venues. Exhibit hours are Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18, from 12 noon to 5 pm.
Who should attend TowXpo?
TowXpo is designed for towing and recovery professionals, including tow business owners, operators, dispatchers and road-service professionals. Attendees can meet major manufacturers of wreckers, carriers, trailers and equipment, as well as motor club representatives, dispatch and GPS providers, and equipment finance sources.
How do I register for TowXpo?
Registration is handled online through the official event portal at events.american-tradeshow.com/towxpo26. Many training courses and social events are priced separately, and several offer early-registration discounts if you sign up before the mid-July deadlines.
What training and education is offered?
TowXpo offers conference tracks in Insurance, Essential Practices, Building Revenue, Safety and Towing Operations, plus the American Towman Academy. Hands-on and classroom courses include CIRT Heavy-Duty Level B, WreckMaster training and TDLR-approved continuing education by Southwest Tow Operators. Allstate Roadside Education is held free in the exhibit hall during show floor hours.
What are the recommended hotels and how do I get there?
Official room blocks include the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter (headquarters hotel), La Quinta by Wyndham San Antonio Riverwalk and the Menger Hotel, all within walking distance of the convention center. The nearest airport is San Antonio International (SAT), about 9 miles away and roughly a 11-minute drive; VIA buses, taxis and rideshare all serve downtown.
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