3/12/2026
by Victoria Ritter
The 2025 EDspaces show continued to build on the success of previous events, garnering the attention and appreciation of attendees and exhibitors alike. Last year’s show welcomed more than 1,700 registered attendees, which was comparable to the 2024 show; about 40 percent of those visitors were first-time participants.
“It really created a much more engaged audience,” Tucker said. “There were better conversations and better experiences for everybody involved.”
The number of new faces greatly pleased the exhibitors. EDspaces hosted just over 175 vendors, around 30 of whom were new to the show. “Hopefully we will continue to increase those numbers as we maintain retention of other exhibitors,” Tucker said.
New and familiar features
Participants had a range of classes and events at their fingertips. The show kicked off with K-12 EDfacility tours on November 4, and dozens of EDsessions began the following day. Ravi Hutheesing, a cultural futurist, gave the keynote presentation on the morning of November 5.
Regular networking events including the Bold Women Collective powered by EDmarket and EDfest were met with acclaim. The Bold Women Collective on November 5 had more than 200 people in attendance; the event has grown so large that it “has its own life,” according to Tucker.
The EDspaces team worked diligently to transform a conference hall ballroom into a massive tailgate party for EDfest on November 6. Guests were treated to a live band, football mascots, yard games and classic game food. It was the perfect opportunity to connect in a fun setting. “As a tailgate, I mean, who doesn’t make friends at a tailgate?” Tucker commented.
Companies were honored at the annual Product Innovation Awards. A panel of education industry professionals reviewed products based on aesthetics, innovation, sustainability, academic and emotional impact and more. Community Playthings won Best in Show with its Grow-Right Stool. KI took second place for its Cogni Seating. Mohawk Group won third place for Fractal Findings.
On the show floor, the Activity Center sponsored by Muzo hosted drone racing, robot challenges, immersive workshops and wellness classes. The Ultimate Durability Zone, powered by My Resource Library (MRL) marked its second year. The interactive space allowed visitors to test products’ durability – from beating furniture with baseball bats to cleaning stains out of materials.
EDspaces also hosted a pilot program, Design for Impact. The half-day workshop was led by Jolene Levin, Dr. Sue Ann Highland and Dr. Lennie Weber. “There was one attendee who is teaching upcoming teachers about environments and teaching and how to teach,” Tucker said. “He walked out of there apologizing to the presenters, basically saying, ‘I’ve been teaching for 20 years. I’ve been teaching it all wrong.’”
Positive feedback
Tucker noted that attendees and exhibitors alike enjoyed the 2025 show. He also noticed a change in conversations. Instead of asking “What’s new?” people were asking, “What solutions do you have for xyz outcome?”
He shared a couple quotes from attendees that summarized the experience he and the EDspaces team want to provide.
“I was not looking forward to attending EDspaces,” wrote one person. “I thought it was going to be just attending a furniture trade show for three days. But it was so much more. I had so many ‘aha’ and light bulb moments that I left feeling unbelievably inspired and wished I had attended earlier in our construction process. Being immersed in spaces, having choices of seating, learning from the presenters and connecting with others, was invaluable to how I feel about education spaces moving forward.”
The show offered a scholarship program to educators. Recipients had their hotel and registration costs covered. For one scholarship recipient, the program was “a game changer.”
“The experience exceeded every expectation,” they stated. “I connected with other inspiring educators, explored the innovative learning space solutions and returned to my institution with fresh ideas that I’ve already begun to implement. It was not only an opportunity, but it broadened my professional network and reignited my passion for creating better space.”
Keep it rolling to Kansas City
As EDspaces grows, Tucker wants to focus on more than furniture. The show changed its tagline to “Where space shapes learning.” This illustrates the show’s intent to showcase furniture as well as air quality, lighting and other elements that create a successful student outcome.
Looking ahead to the 2026 EDspaces, a constant challenge is how to top the previous show’s experience.
“Everyone was engaged about advancing learning through space,” Tucker said.
This year’s show is set for October 28 to 30 in Kansas City, MO. Registration will open in early April. To learn more and register, visit edspaces.com.
Tucker hopes the show will instill a passion for creating educational spaces. To help fulfill that mission, he hopes to increase peer-to-peer networking opportunities and is considering expanding facility tours to best showcase Kansas City’s array of schools.
EDspaces shows what’s possible when creating impactful learning spaces – no matter if schools have generous financial support or are working with what they have with little investment. The key is providing that inspiration.
“Kansas City is going to be a great venue for EDspaces,” Tucker said. “You’ll leave energized and equipped with ideas that are not just trendy, but data-driven to help learners thrive.”
