When and where will the 2026 Garden Center Conference & Expo be held?

When:

Aug. 18 - 20, 2026

Where:

Loews Vanderbilt Hotel
2100 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37204

What time does the show start?

Registration will open on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026 for attendees. Details on the schedule will be available soon.

When/Where do I receive my badge and show materials?

Registration credentials can be picked up on-site at Garden Center Conference & Expo registration. The registration desk is located in the Symphony Ballroom Foyer of the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel.

Who attends the show?

Click here to review the attendee demographics for the Garden Center Conference & Expo.

How can I see a list of who is attending?

A list of attendees of the Garden Center Conference & Expo will be sent out to registered attendees post-show. Pre-event registration lists will not be sent out to non-sponsoring companies.

Is there a dress code?

Business casual attire is appropriate for the event. We recommend you carry a light jacket or sweater for the air-conditioned meeting space and exhibit hall.

How do I get a media pass to the event?

To apply for a media pass for Garden Center Conference & Expo, please email us at conference@gie.net.

Who is the organizer of the show?

Garden Center magazine
Garden Center magazine is the leading industry trade publication serving independent garden center retailers in North America. Garden Center, a digital-only publication, is known for providing relevant, timely and engaging content in every issue, with a focus on management, marketing, trends and merchandising. With a suite of services — including digital coverage, news updates and e-newsletters — Garden Center provides business owners with the research, insight and analysis to help them grow their companies.

Garden Center is published by GIE Media and is part of the GIE Media Horticulture Group.

What is the cost to attend the show?

For complete pricing, click here.

What meal functions are included with registration?

Lunch on Day 2, along with all networking receptions, welcome refreshments and networking breaks are included with event registration.

Are there any pricing discounts available?

Yes, we are offering registration discounts to anyone that registers in a group of 3 or more as well as our early registration pricing discounts that can be seen on our pricing page here.

Is there a group discount?

Yes, attendees registering in a group of 3 or more will receive a 15% discount on their total purchase. To qualify for the group rate, groups must register at the same time. Discount cannot be retroactively applied.

Is there a pricing difference depending on when I register?

Yes, registrations are subject to discounted early pricing. To view our discounts and deadlines, please click here.

Do you accept on-site registrations?

Yes. On-site registrations are accepted on a space available basis.

What forms of payment do you accept for the conference fee?

GIE Media accepts VISA, MasterCard and American Express credit cards. Checks, wire transfers and money orders (made payable to GIE Media, Inc.) are also accepted but must be sent prior to the start of the conference. For information on where to send checks and wire transfers, please email us at conference@gie.net. Please do not send cash with mail-in registrations; cash will only be accepted on-site for registration payment. Checks must be drawn in U.S. dollars and from a U.S. bank.

What is included with my registration fee?

To view what is included with your registration, please click here.

Am I able to change/upgrade my registration pass?

Yes, you are able to upgrade your registration pass at any time. The cost to upgrade will be the rate difference between the pass type you registered for and the one you are looking to upgrade to at the time you registered. To upgrade your pass, contact show management at conference@gie.net.

Does the registration fee include travel/hotel costs for the conference?

All travel costs including air and hotel accommodations are the responsibility of the attendee. The Garden Center Conference & Expo has secured a block of rooms at the conference rate at the host hotel. Rooms in the conference room block are reserved for conference attendees. Detailed hotel information including a link and instructions to book your reservation at the host hotel are included in the registration confirmation.

How will I know that my registration has been received?

After completing registration, you will be routed to a confirmation page that will allow you to add the event to your calendar, print a receipt, edit your registration, as well as view a map and directions. In addition, you will receive a confirmation email with your registration information.

What do I do if I have registered but haven't received my confirmation email?

First, please ensure that the email conference@gie.net is whitelisted in your email server. The registration confirmation will be coming from Show Management from conference@gie.net and will be titled "Registration Confirmed - Garden Center Conference & Expo". Additionally, please keep an eye on your spam/junk folder in the event that the confirmation email was caught in your spam filter by mistake. If you still have not received it, please email us at conference@gie.net and we will re-send your confirmation email.

My registration timed out; do I have to re-enter all my information?

The system will save all the information you have previously entered; you will just need to log back into the registration system to complete your registration. To log into the system, click here and enter your First/Last Name and Email address and it will autofill the rest of the information that you previously entered.

What is the cancellation policy?

All cancellations must be made in writing and emailed to conference@gie.net. Voicemails will not be accepted. A full refund minus a 10% administrative fee will be issued if the cancellation is received by June 9, 2026. A 50% refund will be provided if the cancellation is received no later than July 14, 2026. No refunds will be issued after July 14, 2026, or for no-shows. If you cancel your conference registration, your hotel room will no longer qualify for the group rate and may also be cancelled if booked at the host hotel. Garden Center Conference & Expo reserves the right to cancel a program due to insufficient registration or instructor emergency. Attendees can notify the show at any time that another individual will attend the conference in his or her place. Garden Center Conference & Expo also reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the event. A full refund of registration fees will be issued only if this occurs.

If I can’t attend, can I transfer my registration to someone else?

Attendees can notify the show at any time that another individual will attend the conference in their place.

What is the refund policy?

A full refund minus a 10% administrative fee will be issued if the cancellation is received by June 9, 2026. A 50% refund will be provided if the cancellation is received no later than July 14, 2026. No refunds will be issued after July 14, 2026, or for no-shows. If you cancel your conference registration, your hotel room will no longer qualify for the group rate and may also be cancelled if booked at the host hotel.

Is there a discounted room rate available at the host hotel?

Yes, we have contracted a discounted room rate at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. For more information on the discounted group room block, please click here.

How do I make a reservation at the host hotel?

A block of discounted rooms is available at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel to event attendees at a special group rate of $249.00 per night plus tax for a single/double occupancy until July 27, 2026, or until the room block is full.

Click here to reserve your room at the host hotel.

How do I cancel my hotel reservation?

To cancel your hotel reservation, call 1-888-879-0462 and request to cancel your hotel reservation. Cancellations made 72 hours prior to the scheduled arrival date will not be penalized. If the cancellation is made within the 72-hour window, attendees will be charged a fee of one nights room and tax.

Is there an airport shuttle to the host hotel?

No, there is not a designated shuttle to and from the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel for the Garden Center Conference & Expo. For information on transportation to and from the host hotel, please click here.

Where can I find information about things to do in Nashville?

You can find a list of Nashville attractions by going to the hotel website or by clicking here.

Where can I view the educational sessions for Garden Center Conference & Expo?

Click here to view the schedule of events for Garden Center Conference & Expo.

Who is the keynote speaker at Garden Center Conference & Expo?

The keynote speaker for the 2026 Garden Center Conference & Expo will be announced soon!

Who are the other presenters/speakers at the show?

The presenters will represent a diverse cross section of professionals, including top management from leading garden centers in North America. Our full speaker lineup will be announced soon.

Will speaker presentations be available after the event?

Presentations that we have been given permission to release will be available post-show through a PDF file. These presentations will be sent out to registered conference attendees in a link 5 to 10 business days following the last day of the conference.

Are the sessions being recorded?

The educational sessions for the Garden Center Conference & Expo are not being recorded.