Dallas Market Center is ending 2026 with more retailers and designers attending its markets than in 2025. Buyer attendance across its 15-market series from January to October rose more than 3.0%.

New buyers attending market in Dallas for the first time are leading the gain. In 2026, new buyer attendance was up 24.4% from 2025 and the highest total in five years. New buyers now account for 20% of attendance, up from 15% in 2022.

“Retailers and designers from the Northeast to the West Coast are choosing Dallas because one trip puts thousands of brands within reach,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “In 2027, we’re building on that with the January’s remerchandised Temps and new resources like the RETAIL READY AI education program that we’re developing for independent retailers.”

The growth in new buyers reaches across the country. In 2026, attendance grew from the Northeast (+11.7%), Southeast (+6.6%), Southwest (+5.3%), Midwest (+4.4%), and West (+3.4%), based on the home region of attending buyers.

UP NEXT
Dallas Market Center opens 2027 with Lightovation Design + Build Day on January 5, followed by Lightovation, January 6-9, and Total Home & Gift Market, January 6-12, with The Temps open January 6-9. Dallas Men’s Show January 23-25.

PLANNING AHEAD
For information about all upcoming markets and events, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the new, completely redesigned Dallas Market Center mobile app. Stay current by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Instagram, and the DMC Daily Dose blog.

About Dallas Market Center
Dallas Market Center is a global business-to-business trade center and the leading wholesale marketplace in North America connecting retailers and interior designers with top manufacturers in gourmet and housewares, home décor, holiday/floral, gifts, lighting, and apparel. Inside its dynamic, 5 million-square-foot campus, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education, and new products from exhibitors throughout the year via dominant trade events for gift, home décor, holiday, and floral; the nation’s most comprehensive apparel and accessories markets featuring the latest styles from East Coast and West Coast designers; the largest residential lighting trade event in North America; and the largest and most successful open-daily design center. To make plans for upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center App.