2026 International Custom Rod Building Exposition

The 2026 International Custom Rod Building Exposition will be held on February 28th and March 1st, 2026 at the MC Benton Convention Center in downtown Winston-Salem, NC. The Embassy Suites and Marriot hotels will again serve as host hotels for the event with many other hotels located within easy walking distance of the convention center.

The “EXPO” will be under new ownership for 2026 with David Boyle, developer of the VisualWRAP software and owner of ThreadCentral.NET taking the reins going forward. Former owner Tom Kirkman will serve in a managerial capacity for two years and continue to operate the RodMaker Reception on Saturday night for subscribers of his magazine. The sale is expected to be finalized in mid-May 2025.

David is no stranger to the custom rod building world and in fact was the originator and operator of “The Learning Center” at the 2023 Expo. While no major changes are planned for the Expo, there is a strong possibility that new rod building educational programs may be offered on Friday, March 27, for rod builders who are able to arrive early.  More information will be available towards the end of summer.

Exhibitor contracts will be mailed the middle of summer 2025 with the exhibitor list and seminar schedule posted towards the end of summer. Both will be continually updated along and up to the event dates on the official event website at www.icrbe.com.

Interested vendors who wish to be included on the contract mailing should contact David Boyle at dave@threadcentral.net