The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) will co-sponsor and exhibit at the 2026 AHR Expo, scheduled for February 2–4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada. The event, recognized as the world's largest HVACR marketplace, will feature over 1,800 exhibitors across 550,000 square feet and is expected to draw more than 50,000 attendees from across the industry. AHRI staff will be available at booth C2302 to provide information on certification programs, standards, scholarships, and membership benefits.
AHRI will also host five free educational sessions during the expo, covering key regulatory, environmental, workforce, and technical topics relevant to HVACR professionals. Pre-registration is not required, though seating is limited.
On February 2, three back-to-back sessions will be held. The first, “State of Play: Refrigerant Policy in the U.S.,” at 10:00 a.m. in Room S222, will feature a panel including AHRI’s Samantha Slater and Tom Deary, alongside Scott Stone of Glencoe Strategies LLC. The discussion will focus on the status of the AIM Act implementation, refrigerant regulation at the state level, and building code updates for low-GWP (A2L) refrigerants.
Following at 11:30 a.m. in Room S219, “The Regulatory Report: What You Need to Know in 2026” will address ongoing federal and state policy developments affecting HVACR and water heating sectors. Topics include energy efficiency regulations, chemical policies, and building codes.
At 1:30 p.m., also in Room S219, “Environmental Product Declarations: What They Are and Why They Matter” will explore EPD use in sustainable design, including data interpretation, creation processes, and AHRI’s role in standardizing EPD development.
Later that day at 2:30 p.m. in Room S231, “Preparing the Workforce for the Future of the Trades,” hosted by North American Technician Excellence (NATE), will examine how education, certification, and ongoing training are enhancing technician performance and retention.
The final session, “Decarbonizing Commercial Heating with Hydrogen — Boilers, Water Heaters & HVAC,” will take place February 3 at 11:30 a.m. in Room S221. Jointly presented by AHRI and GTI Energy, the session will detail research conducted with UC Irvine on hydrogen’s role in reducing emissions from commercial and industrial gas-fired equipment, including impacts on efficiency, emissions, and material performance in hydrogen combustion environments.
