Nearly 5,000 industry professionals gathered for three days of innovation, education and celebration

The Precast Show returned to the City of Fountains in 2026, bringing nearly 5,000 manufactured concrete industry professionals to Kansas City and putting the innovation of the precast industry center stage.

The 2026 Show continued with the Wednesday through Friday format, with the Grand Opening on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Attendees explored 90,300 square feet of exhibits across 369 booths, including 27 first-time exhibitors. The expansive Show floor offered something new at every turn.

The latest technologies were on display for attendees to see and, in some cases, experience through virtual reality. Attendees also were able to build relationships with vendors who help fuel the precast concrete industry. Beyond the equipment and innovations, the Show floor buzzed with activity, from custom T-shirt printing and interactive experiences to creative giveaways that kept attendees on the Show floor.

Here is a rundown of some of the key moments and events at The Precast Show 2026:

KEYNOTE LUNCHEON

More than 800 attendees filled Wednesday’s Keynote Luncheon to celebrate member achievements and officially kick off The Precast Show 2026.
Eighty-four men and women received their golden hard hats and certificates as graduates of the NPCA Master Precaster program. With another eight unable to attend the ceremony, the Class of 2026 totaled 92 graduates

The signature NPCA education program includes two years of study covering precast basics, safety, production, technical, quality control and leadership.

This year’s class brings the total number of Master Precaster graduates to 619. Grads past and present gathered Thursday night at The Bash at the College Basketball Experience to celebrate. Attendees showed off their hoops skills at the venue’s interactive games and enjoyed a barbecue feast.

The luncheon also included celebrations of the Leadership NPCA cohort, NPCA plant certification anniversaries, Safety Awards winners and Best Practices Awards winners. Keynote speaker Temple Grandin, renowned author and autism advocate, emphasized the value of “visual thinkers” and the critical role skilled trades play in the workforce.

PLANT TOURS

Nearly 700 people woke up early Wednesday morning to catch buses to The Precast Show
Plant Tours. All tours stopped at PRETECH, with the first tour making an additional stop at PRETECH West.

EDUCATION

Industry experts led two days of education classes, drawing attendees for discussions on concrete production and repair, leadership and management, and quality control. A dedicated young professionals track helped attendees under 40 navigate the industry and chart a path toward future leadership.

A total of 791 session attendees earned 1,805 education units.

There also were an incredible number of individuals attending PQS classes, including 117 in PQS II – Production, the largest class to date, and 61 in PQS III – Leadership. These students took steps toward becoming Master Precasters by completing one of the six required courses.

PRIZE GIVEAWAYS

Spending time on the Show floor paid off in a big way for 10 lucky attendees. The Precast Show gave away more than $10,000 in prizes to randomly selected attendees, who were entered simply by having their badge scanned at the show doors.

Winners had 15 minutes after their name was called to meet the Prize Patrol Cart and claim their prize. Prizes ranged from a tool chest, Apple iPad and VR glasses to the $5,000 grand prize, which was taken home by Kristen Vardy of Bartow Precast in Cartersville, Georgia.

STUDENT COMPETITION

McNeese State was crowned champion of the NPCA Foundation Student Competition after delivering the winning presentation on stage at The Precast Show. University of Wisconsin – Stout and Texas State University also presented as finalists.

McNeese State earned $10,000 in prize money, divided among participating students and the school’s Concrete Industry Management program.

SILENT AUCTION

The Silent Auction to benefit the NPCA Foundation set a record by raising more than $165,000 to advance the precast concrete industry through scholarships and other student and workforce development programs.

Big ticket items this year included tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers, top-of-the-line electronics, food packages and more.

FINAL EVENT

On Friday night, attendees celebrated another successful week at The Precast Show at Arrowhead Stadium with a football-themed “Friday Night Lights” final event.

Visitors were entertained by a live band as they danced, grabbed a custom hat and enjoyed a delicious buffet. Attendees also had the opportunity to try custom beverages designed for the event, including the Cutler Classic, in honor of NPCA’s Phil and Denise Cutler, who recently retired after decades of service to the association.