Coverings 2026 Lines Up Educational Programs

LAS VEGAS – When Coverings 2026 convenes at the Las Vegas Convention Center March 30, there’ll be an extensive education program for the event, which runs through April 2.

A major highlight of Coverings 2026 will be a marquee session featuring Gary Sinise, acclaimed actor, humanitarian and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation. Entitled Building Hope: A Conversation with Gary Sinise, NTCA and NSI on Serving Veterans Through Skilled Craftmanship, the session will bring Sinise and leaders from the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and the Natural Stone Institute (NSI) together.

The conversation will center on their collaborative work through the Gary Sinise Foundations’ R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment) program, which constructs custom-built, specially adapted, mortgage -free smart homes for the most severely injured military members and first responders.

Those in attendance will learn how tile and stone professionals have contributed to the smart homes the foundation builds and garner practical guidance on ways to participate in future builds, including the donation of both skilled labor and materials.

R.I.S.E. recently marked a major milestone with the dedication of its 100^th smart home. The presentation will take place on April 1 from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. and is sponsored by MAPEI Corp. and PROFLEX® Products.

Attendees to Coverings 2026 will also have access to nearly two dozen other sessions organized into three core learning tracks: Installation & Fabrication, Materials & Trends, and Workforce & Profits.

Highlights of the educational program include:

• The Most Directional Color and Design Trends features Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, who will speak on her latest color and design trend program;
• Get Inspired and Turbocharge Your Business, featuring standout selections from the Tile Heritage Foundation’s archive, and providing insight on how the foundation’s resources can support and shape strategic business growth;
• Architectural & Design Day on March 31 includes six educational offerings of American Institute of Architects (AIA) accredited courses. The two presented by the NSI are Natural Stone and Green Design and The Art of Specifying Natural Stone;
• Also, on March 31 there will be a special edition of Facades+, presented in partnership with The Architect’s Newspaper. Facades+ Las Vegas is a half-day program of design case studies and educational sessions focusing on the latest advancements in façade technology, materials and best practices.

Other educational sessions include Inspire, Lead, Grow: Opportunities for Emerging Professionals in Tile and Stone, and How to be a Professional Architectural Sales Rep to Develop ‘Bullet Proof’ Specifications and Get the Order.

For a full list of educational programs through Coverings 2026 or to register, go to www.coverings.com. Registration is free through Feb. 1. After that date, it’s $49 online; and onsite registration in person during the show will be $99.