SCWA opens registration for 2027 Fort Worth convention and expo

Registration is now open for the 2027 Southwest Car Wash Association (SCWA) Convention & EXPO, which returns to the Fort Worth Convention Center from Feb. 24 to 26, 2027. According to reporting from Professional Carwashing & Detailing, the three-day event will operate under the theme "Connecting the Car Wash World" and is positioned as the first major car wash expo of the year.

The gathering brings together owners, operators, manufacturers, suppliers and industry leaders for education, networking and business insights. SCWA President Tim Jones said registration is open and pointed to the early buildup of interest, describing the show as "the first big carwash expo of 2027."

Expo floor and programming

The expo floor will feature more than 470 booths across more than 100,000 square feet, with exhibitors showcasing products, equipment and technologies. Organizers said the keynote speaker remains a central draw, with an announcement still to come.

Programming also includes a CEO session focused on business perspectives and a new Friday feature called The Car Wash World 2030, which is designed to look ahead at where the industry is heading. The combination of a large exhibit hall and forward-looking sessions reflects the association's effort to pair current buying opportunities with longer-term strategy.

Education and networking

The education lineup covers a range of operational topics. Scheduled sessions include "The Art of Chemistry," a "State of the Car Wash Market Update," "Creating a Memorable Customer Experience," "Taking Your Self-Serve or IBA to the Next Level This Year," and "What Does Great Training Look Like?" The sessions span chemistry, market conditions, customer experience, self-serve and in-bay automatic formats, and staff training.

Networking opportunities are built into the event to connect attendees with peers and leaders across the sector. Registration and hotel reservations are open now. Details are available through the SCWA at swcarwash.org or by phone at 512-343-9023.

Why it matters for operators

For operators planning their 2027 calendar, an early-year regional show offers a chance to compare equipment and chemistry suppliers in one place before the spring buying season. The session topics map closely to day-to-day decisions, including training programs, customer retention and upgrades to self-serve and in-bay automatic sites, which are formats that often get less attention at express-focused events.

Booking hotel rooms early tends to matter at shows of this size, since host-city blocks fill as the date approaches. Operators weighing capital spending in the coming year can use the expo floor to gather competing quotes and timelines, while the market update and future-focused sessions can help frame longer-term decisions about where the business is headed. For smaller operators and those running conveyor, self-serve or IBA sites, the breadth of the education track makes the trip easier to justify as a working visit rather than simply a trade show walkthrough.