Get ready for HNA 2026: From annual awards, install demos, education sessions and a party by Equip Expo - we’ve got all of the HNA 2026 details to help you get the most out of your experience in Louisville this fall.

Performance over simple aesthetics: Contractors are increasingly winning competitive bids by education clients on what lies beneath the surface. With material costs rising, there is a massive push toward structural integrity—focusing on advanced based prepartion, proper compaction, and material-specific sub-base systems to prevent shifting and cracking.

Smart tech is mandatory: Homeowners now view tech as a baseline requirement rather than an upgrade. High-end builds are aggressively integrating app-controlled, low-voltage LED landscape lighting, smart irrigation controllers that adjust via weather sensors, and automated luxury fire or water features.

2026 CMHA Contractor Industry Report: See how leading hardscape crews are protecting their margins and navigating new insurance and labor trends in the freshly released CMHA 2026 Contractor Industry Report. We’ll give you a break down of the key takeaways below.