Reacting to the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) announcement of a new Texas show slated for 2027, the Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Supplies (AWFS) says the show is a testament to growth in the industry.

IWF West will be a second show presented by IWF and is scheduled to happen August 25-27, 2027, in San Antonio, Texas. That would be just six weeks after the 2027 AWFS Fair scheduled for July 13-16 in Las Vegas.

AWFS issued a statement September 29 in reaction to the news.

 

“Wood product manufacturing is undoubtedly experiencing upward momentum, as reflected in the introduction of additional events,” said Angelo Gangone, AWFS executive vice president. “AWFS® views this growth as a positive for the entire industry, creating more opportunities for connection and innovation.”

Before issuing the formal statement, Gangone said the new show announcement was not a surprise. With the formal reaction, he suggested the AWFS Fair would be adapting to the newly competitive show environment.

“At the same time, AWFS Fair is evolving too, with significant changes planned for our 2027 show and for all future events to ensure we continue to be the industry’s premier North American event, during our show year,” Gangone said.

No details were immediately released as to what those changes might entail.

For many years, IWF and AWFS have co-existed with an alternating year schedule. IWF hosted shows in August in even-numbered years in Atlanta while AWFS held its fair in July during odd-numbered years in Las Vegas. Before moving to Las Vegas, the AWFS Fair was in Anaheim, California, and there had been some speculation that AWFS might try to relocate back to California, but for 2027, the show appears committed to Las Vegas.

Woodworking Network also hosts conferences and trade shows in both the U.S. and Canada for the professional woodworking and closets and organized storage industries, with events in West Palm Beach, Florida, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Toronto, Canada.

In information released online, IWF projects its 3-day show in San Antonio will have 70,000 square feet of exhibit space with some 300 exhibitors and a projected attendance of 4,200 registrants.

That compares to AWFS Fair, which had approximately 500 exhibitors and an estimated 20,000 attendees for 2025. Verified final attendance and square footage figures for AWFS Fair 2025 have not yet been released.