The ShowTM returned to Music City for four days of networking, ideas and conversations that will shape the industry for years to come.
Nashville has a way of amplifying events. The honky-tonks on Broadway turn up the volume, the crowds spill into the streets and there is a certain energy that many cities rarely manufacture on their own. Host International Carwash Association (ICA) returned its signature event, The Car Wash Show™, to Music City this year as an experience that was too big to miss. You simply had to be there.
From Sunday’s opening “Car Wash Tours” and The Preview Party, which offered attendees an exclusive early look at new exhibitors, through Wednesday’s final hours on the trade show floor, the event at Music City Center drew over 9,000 attendees, 455 exhibitors (a new record) and more than 205,000 square feet of products, technologies and innovations. Although the numbers were big, the conversations and ideas were bigger.
“The energy has been great and I’m meeting a lot of new faces,” remarked Splash Car Wash’s Dan Petrelle, who has attended The Car Wash Show for four decades.
The experience was similar for newcomers. First-time attendee William Erikson with Fuller’s Car Laundry, concurred, “There are so many brands, people and innovation under this roof. It’s been eye-opening and a lot of fun. I love the energy here. People are happy to be here and learn and connect. It’s been inspiring to me.”
Education leads the way
If the show floor is the body of The Car Wash Show, the education program is its backbone. This year’s event schedule, which featured more than 60 hours of content spread across breakout sessions, Solutions Theater presentations and four Featured Sessions, was built around a simple but meaningful goal: operators who learn win. Many operators cite education as a primary reason to attend each year.
“The education program has become much better over the years. Our team has the opportunity to get educated and advance their market knowledge — that’s probably our first and primary goal when we attend each year,” said Petrelle.
The six education tracks, including Talent, Trends, Self-Service/In-Bay Automatic, Finance and Operations, Marketing and Customer Experience and the newly introduced Maintenance and Equipment, covered ground that ranged from the tactical to deep-thinking. Thousands of attendees moved between sessions on AI-powered churn prediction and hands-on advice for building proactive maintenance departments as well as discussions of pricing strategy and deep dives into what loyalty programs at retail giants can teach car wash operators about customer retention.
The new Maintenance and Equipment track was a notable addition. With equipment downtime representing one of the most direct threats to wash profitability, ICA’s decision to spotlight the nuts-and-bolts side of the business with its own dedicated track signaled a maturation in how the industry thinks about operations.
Griffin Moon with Scenic Suds Car Wash Express has attended the last four shows and puts 2026 at the top. “This has been our best show so far. We’ve had a great time. It was the best year for seminars and we’ve noticed the trade show floor has expanded,” he said. “There is always something new to glean, but we come prepared with a plan. This year the marketing content was exceptional. I am excited to go back to our team and show them that we can tighten things up and make it better.”
Regardless of the topic, session rooms were packed with attendees eager to level up.
New voices, familiar challenges
Attendees flocked to the four Featured Sessions. ICA CEO Eric Wulf delivered the State of the Industry address, providing a high-level view of where the industry is and where it’s going. Outside voices were also featured and provided an external view of this dynamic market.
Oscar Munoz, former CEO of United Airlines, led a fireside chat on company culture. Munoz leaned on his experience stewarding one of the world’s most operationally complex businesses through periods of both turbulence and transformation.
Dee Ann Turner, who spent decades as a vice president of talent at Chick-fil-A, which is a brand many operators envy as they strive for operational excellence and unbeatable customer service, brought her perspective to a session on how car wash operators can build cultures of genuine hospitality rather than transactional efficiency.
Another popular Featured Session was the growth conversation led by Marc Randolph, co-founder of Netflix, and Austin Esecson, CEO of Rinsed: The Car Wash CRM. Randolph’s credibility is built on having helped scale a mail-order DVD company into a global streaming platform. His story of home entertainment reinvention resonated with the audience in an industry that has spent the better part of two decades redefining its own identity.
The through-line across all three conversations: culture, vision and growth are not separate strategies.
Honoring outstanding achievement
On Tuesday, ICA inducted Richard Enning into its Car Wash Hall of Fame. The CEO of Mr. Wash AG, Enning represents the second generation of a family business his father Joseph founded in Germany in 1964, inspired by the efficiency of American conveyor washes. Under Richard’s leadership since 1993, Mr. Wash has grown into one of Europe’s most recognized car wash operations, with nearly 40 locations, more than 2,100 employees from 97 countries and nearly ten million vehicles washed per year.
Enning’s legacy is built on a commitment to innovation, customer experience, and people.
ICA Board Chair Mandi Brower presented the award to Richard. “I am so excited to have the opportunity to present the Car Wash Hall of Fame award. It’s awarded to someone who has contributed their life to their business and also the growth of the industry,” said Brower. “Over the years I’ve had the privilege to learn and share ideas with this year’s recipient. He always remains true to his top focus and priority of his team members and customers.”
“This moment really means a lot to me,” said Enning. “One person gets the prize, but there are hundreds of people behind me who make this possible. There are so many people I am grateful to.”
Floor report
The trade show floor was filled to the brim with more than 450 exhibitors spread across 205,000-plus square feet.
The New Company Pavilion and New Product Showcase drew early crowds, thanks in part to The Preview Party on Sunday evening. The Preview Party gave registered attendees a head start before the doors opened to the full crowd.
First-time exhibitor in the New Company Pavilion Carl Howard with GenrRev said, “I think the New Company Pavilion is great. I have attended this trade show for about three decades and since ICA added this New Company Pavilion a few years ago, I look forward to stopping by to see what’s new. It’s an excellent way for new companies to get the word out on what they’re working on.”
Howard called The Preview Party “awesome” and another new exhibitor called it the “most productive couple of hours of any trade show” he’s attended.
“We had a lot of activity during The Preview Party at our booth for a solid two hours,” added Howard. “It was a really great experience for us and I would encourage all new companies to exhibit in the New Company Pavilion. The Preview Party probably generated as many leads for us as the whole show.”
The Solutions Theater, tucked into the floor map, offered quick 30-minute sessions for attendees who wanted rapid-fire answers to specific operational questions.
One topic on everyone’s mind was artificial intelligence. AI’s presence permeated the show floor and educational sessions. While operators are just beginning to leverage the power of AI, the show confirmed there is more ahead on this topic and the industry will be stronger in the coming years as a result.
“I’m amazed at how much equipment is on the show floor. I don’t think I’ve seen a floor that big before,” said Petrelle. “The show floor is expanding and the salespeople are more knowledgeable about their products. Our goal is to leave The Car Wash Show with a few good ideas and more advanced technology because we want to constantly be upgrading and advancing.”
The composition of the crowd told its own story. Ninety percent of attendees are decision-makers. More than 80% of the industry’s Top 100 washes were represented. And roughly half the audience came from smaller operations, including single-site and small-chain operators looking to learn and grow.
Attendees came from all 50 states and 43 countries. One reason for that international interest is that the American express wash model continues to be the envy of the global car wash community and operators worldwide are eager to close the gap.
Social hours
Nashville offered something many convention cities cannot: an intimate, close setting for after-hours events. The TalkCarWash® After Dark welcome event Sunday evening and the networking event Monday night gave operators and suppliers a more casual environment for the conversations that often prove most valuable.
The Big Bash on Monday evening, held outside the Music City Center, capped the day with the kind of open-bar, live-entertainment energy that has made it a reliable anchor on the event’s social calendar.
Tuesday’s Exhibitor Booth Crawl gave suppliers one more window to make the case for their products to buyers who had a day to compare notes.
Until next year
The Car Wash Show has always been the industry’s hallmark event. It’s a moment to connect, strategize, educate and shape a brighter future together. The 2026 edition, which took place in a city built on the idea that the right song can resonate for decades, felt like a show that was playing its best set.
The market is growing and competition is elevating. The tools of the trade, including chemicals, digital and machinery, are undoubtedly getting better. The X factor is the people who make up this remarkable industry. For the thousands in attendance this year at The Show, their investment will ensure that their teams and businesses don’t get left behind.
Be sure to mark your calendars for next year’s event in Las Vegas. The Car Wash Show 2027 is scheduled for May 3-5 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information, visit thecarwashshow.com in the coming months to plan your next learning experience.
SIDEBAR:
The Car Wash Show™ 2026 Award Winners:
ICA Hall of Fame: Richard Enning
Best Large Booth Award: Sonny’s The CarWash Factory
Best Medium Booth Award: Laguna Industries
Honorable Mention Medium Booth Award: Car Wash Superstore