Once again, the 2026 American Coatings Show and Conference, which will be held in Indianapolis, IN from May 5-7, will bring together the international paint and coatings industry to highlight the latest technologies and trends.

The 2026 American Coatings Conference, which is organized by the American Coatings Association (ACA) and Vincentz Network, will feature nearly 100 technical sessions.” Meanwhile, more than 500 exhibitors covering more than 125,000 net square feet will showcase their newest products and services for the paint and coatings industry on the exhibition floor. 

Danielle Chalom, managing vice president, communications for the American Coatings Association, notes that the 2026 American Coatings Show is a vital platform for bringing together all members of the coatings value chain and setting a course for the coating industry’s future growth.

“We are excited to bring together some 500 exhibitors from around the world for a three-day coatings product and services showcase that will drive direct sourcing, new business development, and highlight our industry’s latest technological innovations,” says Chalom. “In particular, we are thrilled to have 50+ Product Presentations and stages throughout the show floor. Companies that are presenting will showcase their latest products, novel technologies, and highlight other offerings in short, interactive demos that also create engagement opportunities with attendees, which is a real value add.

“Anticipating thousands of attendees, response has been steady and registration is increasing as we get closer to the show,” Chalom adds. “Based on the excellent Conference program lineup and the response we’ve gotten from industry and academia, we believe this is going to be the most varied and engaging technical knowledge sharing forum we’ve had to date. Overall, we have prepared for an outstanding show and conference that will be well worth the anticipation since the success of the 2024 American Coatings Show and Conference.”

New to this year’s show is the ACA’s American Coatings Industry (ACI) Career Center.

“We’re also delighted to debut the new American Coatings Industry (ACI) Career Center, which aims to connect new entrants to the coatings industry with potential employers,” says Chalom. “With a dedicated booth on the show floor, the news ACI Career Center will provide opportunities for job seekers to connect with coatings industry employers through an online job board and help build the pipeline for attracting the next generation of industry leaders and talent.”

American Coatings Conference

The American Coatings Conference will be held concurrently with the exhibition. Chaolm said that conference will feature nearly 100 presentations, beginning with Dr. Bedri Erdem, CTO at Rust-Oleum Corporation and RPM Consumer Group, who will present the keynote address.

“We’re ecstatic that Dr. Bedri Erdem, chief technology officer at Rust-Oleum Corporation and RPM Consumer Group, will officially open the conference with a keynote address titled, ‘Reimagining Chemistry as the Catalyst: Driving Innovation, Sustainability, Performance to Fuel Growth in the Coatings Industry’,” Chalom notes. “His keynote will touch on themes that are recurring during the three-day conference program, which will feature nearly 100 technical sessions across 16 topical tracks. These include particular coatings applications, but also digitalization and AI, sustainability and biobased materials, weathering and durability, and numerous other trends and drivers of coatings industry R&D.”

The conference begins the morning of May 5, with nine pre-conference tutorials:

• Coatings 101: An Introduction to Coatings Technology (extended class)

• Fundamentals of High-Performance Waterborne Coatings

• Al & Digital Tools: What They Mean for Coatings

• Weathering & Durability: A Primer for Newcomers

• The Essential Guide to Smart Coatings & Surfaces

• Polyurethanes: The Building Blocks Explained

• Sustainable & Circular Coatings: Materials, Design, & Reality

• The Science of Durable Protective Coatings

• Radiation-Cured Coatings: Chemistry, Formulations, Technology, & Applications

On May 5, the afternoon session includes these sessions:

• Session 1: Functional Coatings

• Session 2: PFAS Alternatives

• Session 3: Architectural Coatings I

• Session 4: Protective Coatings

May 6 features a full day of sessions, beginning with these four tracks in the morning:

• Session 5: Architectural Coatings II

• Session 6: Grinding and Dispersing

• Session 7: Water-Based Coatings

• Session 8: Testing and Measurement I

May 6’s afternoon session features the following:

• Session 9: Digitalization

• Session 10: Testing and Measurement II

• Session 11: Polyurethanes

• Session 12: Industrial Coatings

May 7’s morning session closes the conference with these topics:

• Session 13: Automotive and Wood Coatings

• Session 14: Bio-Based Coatings

• Session 15: Epoxy Coatings

• Session 16: Coatings Production

Chalom notes that these technical sessions were selected from hundreds of submissions.

“The coveted American Coatings Award will be presented during the conference for the best presentation,” she adds. “We’re also excited to host a Poster Session and Networking Reception, which will feature 30+ posters— many by students — on display with researchers on hand to discuss their work and findings in a relaxed social atmosphere.”

On Wednesday, May 6, starting at 7:15 a.m., before the show and conference open, the ACA is hosting its annual Fun Run. The proceeds fund student participation at future American Coatings Conferences; More than 300 runners took to the streets in 2024.

“On Wednesday, before the show and conference open, we’re hosting another Fun Run, proceeds of which fund student participation at future American Coatings Conferences,” says Chalom. “This is a consistently popular activity and aptly named— we find attendees really eager to join this offering, and the energy is really up tempo for the rest of the day. Everyone is welcome to join, and running isn’t required for the 5K.”

For more information, see https://american-coatings-show.com/fun-run/.

Chalom sees a tremendous time ahead for the industry at the 2026  ACS Show and Conference.

“We consistently hear from exhibitors and attendees that the in-person interaction at the ACS is unparalleled — that the customer and networking platform that the ACS provides is a really critical for customer prospecting and connecting with peers,” Chalom notes. “That, and that the ACS is a solutions resource for many company’s sourcing challenges.

“Participants have all affirmed that making the show and conference run concurrently has provided more synergistic opportunities and overlap between product innovators and marketers,” Chalom adds. “And we are trying to maximize those opportunities with a joint conference/show luncheon planned to get these groups together.

“A lot of time and effort has been put into making the 2026 ACS the most successful event for exhibitors, presenters, and attendees alike, to make it a valuable experience,” Chalom concludes. “We look forward to welcoming you to the American Coatings Show and Conference!”

For more information on the 2026 American Coatings Show or to register, please see https://american-coatings-show.com/.