WELCOME TO THE 2026 DES MOINES HOME AND GARDEN SHOW EXHIBITOR GUIDE
February 12-15, 2026 At The Iowa Event Center
The Des Moines Home + Garden Show does not print or mail the Exhibitor Guide. All information can be found in the the links below.
Please note that this page is always being updated as new information becomes available.
Additional Questions? Contact Cara Braithwaite, Show Coordinator 816.406.1801 |CaraB@MPEshows.com
ON-SITE SHOW OFFICE PHONE 515.564.8889 - FOR USE STARTING MONDAY, JANUARY 9TH
Exhibitor Guide
Exhibitor Guide
For a full list of show rules and regulations please read the exhibitor guide: COMING SOON
Please note that this page is always being updated as new information becomes available.
Move-In & Out Information
MOVE-IN
Each vendor will be assigned a specific date and time to set up their booth. These assignments will be communicated via a color-coded map posted below 30 days prior to move-in. Driving into the building, if feasible, is only allowed during your assigned date and time. Hand carry or pushcart move-in is allowed any time during and/or after assigned time.
COMING SOONto Enlarge or Download Map as of Feb 4, 2025. Move-in colored zones will not change. There are zones that may have had additional booths added, merged or split.
MOVE-OUT
Exhibitors may only drive into the building during the scheduled times.
6:01 pm - 8 pm
RED SECTION is last in, first out. Booths in this section must move out Sunday immediately following show close to clear a pathway to loading dock doors. Exhibitors located in the RED ZONE will be provided a Dock Pass, allowing your vehicle to proceed to the front of the line.
8:00 pm- 10 pm
ALL SECTIONS are encouraged to begin breaking down their exhibit space while the red section is cleared. Exhibit space must be COMPLETELY disassembled before vehicle will be permitted to drive into the building.
Move-out hours are: Sunday, February 15th 6:01 pm – 10:00 pm Monday, February 16th 7:00 am – 11:00 am
All Booths must be removed by 11AM Monday, February 16th, 2026
Show Hours
2026 DATES & HOURS
Exhibitor Access:
Thursday
February 12, 2026
12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
8:00 am
Friday
February 13, 2026
10:00 am - 9:00 pm
9:00 am
Saturday
February 14, 2026
9:00 am - 8:00 pm
8:00 am
Sunday
February 15, 2026
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
9:00 am
Booth Behavior Guidelines
All booth representatives should engage with attendees in a professional and respectful manner. While it's important to initiate conversations, interactions should be welcoming, not aggressive. A simple question like, "What brings you to the show?" is a great way to start a discussion. However, if an attendee declines or says, "No, thank you," respect their response and do not persist. By upholding these standards, we ensure all attendees will have a positive and inviting experience that encourages genuine engagement while maintaining professionalism and courtesy at all times.
Exhibitor Badges
Upon arrival at the facility: Go to the On-site Show Office to pick up your exhibitor badges. The On-site Show Office is located on the north side of the building.
Beginning the Thursday the show opens, all exhibitors will need a badge to enter the show. Your badge will be good for the entirety of the weekend and you may enter from the main attendee entrance or the loading dock entrance.
Badges should be picked up at the show office desk during move in to be passed out to your team working the booth. If a team member is unable to receive one before the show, make sure another team member will be able to meet them at the entrance to pass them a badge or put the badge in Will Call. Your workers will not be able to get through security/ticket takers without a badge. Please do not wait until the morning of the show to come get them, as you won't be able to get through security to enter the building without a badge.
Badge quantities given out are based off of booth size. Booths smaller than 400 sq. ft. are allotted 5 badges. Booths 400 sq. ft. and larger are allotted 10.
Exhibitor badges are not to be used as admission tickets for those you are inviting to attend the show.
Show Decorator | Gilbert Exposition Management Services
Exhibitors are responsible for flooring (required for all booths). You may supply your own flooring, tables, and chairs or rent from the show decorator. An advanced purchase discount is offered and will ensure availability of all needed items.
As an exhibitor, you will automatically receive an email introduction email from GEMS with a username and temporary password.
After you've logged on you will be able to order services. Should you have any questions or need to have the introduction email resent, please contact GEMS by phone at 214.388.5722 Ext1 or email jill@gemsevents.com.
Electrical | Plumbing | Telecommunications | Internet
To purchase any of these services please visit the Iowa Events Center website or contact Exhibitor Services at 515.564.8018. An advanced purchase discount is offered.
Exhibitors will receive a total of (40) complementary e-tickets per company. We encourage you to send them out to potential clients, friends, family, or as a thank you to current customers.
These are sent out via email approximately 30 days ahead of the show. The email will come from noreply@mail3.microspec.com. Please note, this email can get sent to your spam folder. Please check there first before reaching out if you are unable to find them.
If you wish to leave physical tickets at Will Call, you may allocate them to yourself, then print tickets and bring them to the show.
COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE SHOW.
Flooring is REQUIRED for all booth spaces. Floors within exhibit space must be 100% covered with carpet, astroturf, vinyl flooring, etc. You may bring in your own or rent flooring from the show decorator. Please only use gaffers, masking, or painters tape to tape down your flooring (or anything you may be taping to the venue concrete floor). Any carpet extending into the common aisle is subject to being cut and removed.
If you are using cinder blocks, pavers, mulch, or any type of building materal, a layer of Visqueen plastic is REQUIRED underneth.
The use of duct tape, gorilla tape, or any other not approved tape may result in damage to the venue floor and repair/cleaning costs charged to the offending exhibitor.
Parking
Parking is available north of the Iowa Events Center for a fee, with entrances off the following streets: 3rd Street 5th Avenue Crocker Street
The Iowa Events Center surface parking lots offer the closest and most convenient access to the facility. ADA Accessible parking is available at the Iowa Events Center by entering the lot south of Crocker Street, next to Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center. Debit, Credit Cards, and Cash are all accepted for payment.
City parking garages are located throughout downtown with convenient skywalk access to the Iowa Events Center. Street parking is available throughout downtown with the convenience of parking meters.
Vehicles may unload their product, equipment, etc. at the building, but quickly move to these designated areas after unloading. Throughout the scheduled event, if trucks need to restock, opportunities for unloading will be accommodated.
Vendors are able to park their trailers in the far North parking lot located off of 5th street. *Based on availability
Vendors are able to park their trailers in the far North parking lot based on availability. We encourage the trailers to park in the Northernmost part of this lot to allow flexibility when leaving the lot. It is $12/stall per day that they are parked. For example, if you have a trailer that takes up 2 spaces and is parked for 4 days, it would be $24/day for 4 days for a total of $96.00. There is no upcharge for parking overnight. Vehicles will receive a hangtag to put in their rearview mirror during the event. In the instance that the parking department is not staffed when they park, vendors can park but will need to arrange payment for parking the next day when they arrive.
IOWA Sales Tax Information
Des Moines, IA sales tax is 7.00%. Sales tax must be collected & reported to the State of Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Revenue has changed their guidelines. They now require Marketplace Events to obtain documentation from each retailer (vendor) appearing at the event, as follows:
1) Proof that the vendor possesses a valid Iowa Sales Permit, OR
2) A written statement from the vendor indicating that the product or service being sold is not subject to Iowa sales tax
Please e-mail your Iowa Sales Tax Permit Number or Written Statement to the Show Coordiantor, Cara Braithwaite at carab@mpeshows.com.
Questions? Contact Taxpayer Services, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:15pm.
Beginning July 1, 2016, the State of Iowa will no longer provide temporary sales tax permits. Vendors will be required to obtain their own permanent tax permit by going to https://tax.iowa.gov. You must obtain your permanent permit prior to the event. You can charge and collect tax as soon as you submit an application, even if you have not yet been issued a permit number. If you are required to have a state sales tax permit and you make taxable retail sales in Des Moines, you will also have to have a Des Moines permit. If you have questions pertaining to State of Iowa sales tax permits, please contact taxpayer services at 515.281.3114 or idr@iowa.gov.
For more information regarding sales taxes prior to the event please visit the Iowa Department of Revenue website.
Exhibitors will have to pick the show from a drop-down list that includes shows other than just those run by MPE.
Marketplace Events is not selling this insurance and doesn’t profit from it in any way. This is simply a resource for those exhibitors who don’t already have the required insurance coverage per their contracts.
The Insurance clause is #5 on the Terms and Conditions page of all booth space contracts. For easy reference, exhibitors are required to have:
Comprehensive General Liability and All Risk Property insurance
Coverage must be from the start of move in to the end of move out
Coverage of at least $1,000,000 for each separate occurrence
Name Marketplace Events LLC and the venue as additional insured
How to Enhance Your Company's Online Exhibitor Listing
ENHANCE YOUR COMPANY’S ONLINE EXHIBITOR LISTING
Maximize your business’s exposure and attract more customers by upgrading your exhibitor listing. As an exhibitor, you have a basic listing live on the website, and now you can Enhance It! This is included in the contracted space cost and is no additional charge.
Within 24 hours, you will receive an automated email providing a link to elevate your listing. This link gives you the flexibility to make updates and changes to your listing as frequently as you like until one day after the show ends. Your listing will stay active for as long as you participate in the show.
If you have any questions regarding the online exhibitor listing or if you do not receive the email with the link, please email our digital coordinator at JenK@mpeshows.com.
For any assistance with your listing, please consult the FAQ section.
We believe this opportunity will greatly benefit your business and we are excited to assist in maximizing your presence at the show.
The QR Code Program is an innovative way to boost leads generated onsite at the show. It enables show attendees to scan a QR code, which we print and place in front of your booth, to easily view and save your company information. View Video.
We have negotiated discounted rates at the following hotels:
Hilton Des Moines Downtown
435 Park Street Des Moines, IA 50309 515.241.1456
COMING SOON to reserve your room. Discount Deadline is COMING SOON
Social Media Kit
SOCIAL MEDIA #LetsGetSocial
Share your show pics or your home reno projects with us.
Hashtags: #DSMHomeShow #DesMoinesHomeGardenShow
In efforts to protect potential joint customers from fraudulent events and scammers, we request that you do not create your own Facebook Event. This helps us manage ticket sales for the event, and ensures that our team are available to support both exhibitors and potential attendees with any questions, comments, or concerns that they have. Please feel free to reach out to your show manager or show marketing manager with your companies’ Facebook page and we can add you as a co-host to the official event.
There have been a number of spam emails offering our attendee lists. These are scams and the senders are unauthorized to use the Marketplace Events’ name. These scammers are attempting to receive monies from exhibiting companies without providing anything in return. These emails are not approved by Marketplace Events, and Marketplace Events would never ask for bank information or other sensitive information over email.
The QR Code Program is an innovative way to boost leads generated onsite at the show. It enables show attendees to scan a QR code, which we print and place in front of your booth, to easily view and save your company information. 
