NPGA’s 2026 Southeastern & International Propane Expo Is Headed Back to Nashville

NPGA’s 2026 Southeastern & International Propane Expo marks 78 years of the propane industry’s most bustling event. In the past decade, the show has been on the road, rotating between its longstanding homes in the lively metros of Nashville, Tennessee, Atlanta, and Charlotte, North Carolina. This year, the industry returns to “Music City,” where the cowboy boots of tourists clack on pavement in rhythm to country music cascading from honky-tonk bars — a fitting serenade for the event’s theme of “Celebrating America’s 250th.” 

According to National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) President and CEO Steve Kaminski, “There’s no better place to celebrate America’s 250th birthday than in Nashville this April.” 

But beyond taking in the fun spirit of the city, propane industry members will gather to take stock of the business. This includes product offerings, customer connections and professional relationships — as well as propane’s place in an energy market that seems to change by the day. 

“As America’s energy landscape continues to evolve, propane remains a reliable, affordable, innovation solution,” said Kaminski. “NPGA’s Expo in Nashville will showcase how our industry is leading American energy forward — through safety, sustainability and smart growth.” 

Reliability: That’s the word that continues to stand out for propane. The industry’s unique value proposition to a constantly shifting energy field is a fuel that is stable and dependable, even in hard-to-reach areas. 

As legal challenges, economic policies and international conflicts present modern challenges to propane, it is worth remembering that there is nothing ultimately new under the sun. Propane has always been an adaptive fuel source, fit to swoop in where other fuel solutions tap out. This year’s NPGA Southeastern Expo will hold many surprises, but one thing will remain constant in this year’s messaging: Propane has a large role to play in today’s energy landscape. 

To learn how exhibitors are preparing for this year’s expo, BPN reached out to several sources to hear how their team is prepping for the industry’s busiest event. 

1. What are the main goals your team will focus on at the 2026 Southeastern Expo? 

Jordan Gilland, business development at ADD Systems: We use the show to connect with current customers and potential prospects and showcase our latest software enhancements. 

Jennifer Wing, marketing manager at Hannay Reels Inc: Our main goal is to connect with our customers. We have been exhibiting for 59 years and our reels have been a staple in the propane industry for even longer. We are always excited to display and promote new innovations and updates to our product line and also see what others have available to the industry. 

Trent Bischoff, managing partner at B&A Energy Partners: Making connections with potential clients and reconnecting with industry colleagues. 

Freddie Ridler, head of business growth at Rural Computer Consultants Inc: Our primary goal never changes from year to year: meaningful conversations with propane marketers about how technology can simplify operations and drive smarter decisions. That is a fancy way of saying listen first and understanding where companies are feeling pressure today! Once we know that, we can show practical ways our tools can help them. We are a trusted partner, not just a software provider! 

2. This year’s expo is returning to Nashville. What are you looking forward to about the location change? 

Gilland: We love the large crowd that Nashville has drawn in the past. It’s a fun city and leads to a happy atmosphere, ideal for opening yourself up to new ideas. 

Wing: Nashville is always a fun town to visit — it’s a nice, friendly town. We look forward to it every time we go there. And it also gives us a fresh look at a new region, which may attract a different group of attendees. 

Bischoff: Nashville is a good spot that offers opportunities to connect with colleagues outside the main venue. 

Ridler: Nashville brings a great energy that naturally encourages connection. It’s a city people are excited to be in, which makes networking easier and conversations more relaxed. The centralized venue and walkable downtown also make it simpler to move between education sessions, the expo floor and after-hours events. 

3. What’s the planning process like for exhibiting at events like this? 

Gilland: Our trade show team handles our show logistics to allow our sales team to connect with both clients and prospects. We set meetings with our clients and prospects at NPGA to better understand their changing needs and new challenges, and we look to share how ADD Systems solutions can help them meet those challenges and enhance their operations. 

Wing: It is a group effort. We plan all our trade shows like that: We work as a team, taking turns walking the show floor, meeting with customers and answering questions as people stop by the booth. 

Ridler: Planning starts months in advance and is very intentional. Each team member comes in with a clear role. Whether that’s product demos, customer conversations, education sessions or relationship-building with partners, we stay very engaged with the entire event! 

4. Describe the target customer you’re hoping to connect with at this year’s show. 

Gilland: Our target customers are propane marketers and wholesalers looking to improve operational efficiency through integrated software solutions. 

Wing: Our customers consist of both OEM truck manufacturers and the end user, so we enjoy seeing both. Talking with end users that use our product gives us feedback, and for our truck OEMs, sometimes it is the only opportunity to catch up with our long-time and new friends at the show. 

Bischoff: We are a brokerage firm hoping to build relationships with potential long-term clients. We want to get to know those companies thinking about selling or needing guidance on how to get ready to sell. 

Ridler: This also doesn’t change from year to year for us. Our target audience ranges from current customers to brand-new leads, but at the end of the day, titles and company size don’t matter much. If you’re part of the propane industry and you have a story to share, we want you to stop by our booth. This industry has always been about relationships and storytelling, and that’s especially true when it comes to the #makingpropanesexy stories celebrating what makes propane — and the people behind it — so special. While we really enjoy meeting new leads, we intentionally spend the majority of our time reconnecting with our existing customers and industry family. Those relationships are the foundation of everything we do, and the expo gives us a chance to strengthen them face-to-face. 

5. What types of experiences are you planning to create at your booth to engage with customers? 

Gilland: Our booth puts a heavy focus on creating an open space where we can have conversations with many different customers or prospects simultaneously. We’ll be ready to discuss our solutions and offer a firsthand look at how we help clients run more efficiently while making more money. 

Wing: We are well known for the ‘penny candy’ we have brought and continue to bring to the show for over 50 years now! Attendees look forward to it every year. We create a place to stop and chat, enjoy some sweet treats and we do it as a thank you to the industry that has been so good to us. 

Bischoff: We’re there to meet anyone in the industry. These events are all about meeting people and building relationships. 

Ridler: We focus on hands-on, conversational experience rather than scripted sales pitches. That includes live demos, real-world use cases and quick discussions centered around the actual challenges customers are facing. 

6. How does your team navigate any challenges that may arise during trade show events? 

Gilland: We want to make sure we’re well-equipped to handle any number of people or challenges that pop up at our booth. This is an important show, so each year we bring a large staff that allows for discussions, demos and referral introductions, and we also try to plan for the unexpected. 

Wing: We have to roll with the punches, as they say. Fortunately, there have not been too many challenges that arise at the show — it seems to run pretty smooth every year. 

Ridler: Experience helps — 40 years exhibiting! When challenges come up, whether it’s technical, scheduling or just a packed show floor, we lean on communication and teamwork. Everyone is empowered to step in, problem-solve and support one another. Staying calm, flexible and focused on the customer experience always keeps us moving forward. 

7. How do you balance your time between pursuing new engagement with your brand and maintaining existing relationships with partners at the expo? 

Gilland: Having many account managers at the show allows us to serve both customers and prospects. Often, account managers find themselves conversing with the accounts they manage, while those available can help any incoming prospects. These shows are also a nice opportunity to connect our clients with prospects, giving them the opportunity to hear firsthand how ADD Systems is making an impact. 

Wing: Well, it gets busy at times serving up the candy, but we make sure to take a walk around the exhibit floor and stop in to talk with customers. We also encourage anyone to stop by the booth and discuss new projects and products; this allows them to offer new ideas on improvements. 

Bischoff: We engage with anyone that is present and stops by, as well as managing relationships with off-site meals and activities. 

Ridler: It’s a balance we’re very intentional about. We schedule time to reconnect with long-time customers and partners because those relationships matter deeply to us. At the same time, we leave space open for new conversations and unexpected connections. The expo is one of the few places where both can happen naturally in the same day. 

8. In your experience, what is the most valuable aspect of exhibiting at the Southeastern Expo? 

Gilland: The NPGA Expo is the one propane show that has it all. We’re able to meet with customers and prospects from all over the country while presenting and attending some of the best educational sessions of the year. 

Wing: Connecting with the industry — truck builders, end users and all the other industry companies exhibiting — to learn about and keep up to date on industry changes and challenges. 

Bischoff: It allows us to physically be in front of people that we may otherwise only be able to reach by phone or email. 

Ridler: The people. The Southeastern Expo brings together the propane industry’s decision-makers, innovators and next-generation leaders all in one place. It’s where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed and the future direction of the industry starts to take shape. That concentration of knowledge and experience is incredibly valuable. 

9. How might political and legislative shifts from the past year affect the energy of the expo? 

Gilland: With the price of energy being so volatile, it’s more important than ever to make sure you have operational efficiency. This is what we excel at. 

Wing: Most industry professionals are pretty passionate: Recent propane-related political and legislative news seems to be ever changing, depending on the state you are in. It may fuel some great conversations. 

Bischoff: In our segment of the business, there is little effect. The only thing that can impact us may be tightening of legislation and regulation and how that affects the thought process for independents. 

Ridler: That is a great question. And honestly, I feel like that will organically be answered at the expo itself. But if I had to weigh in on that conversation, I would say they always influence conversations at the expo. That has never changed. Our industry stays focused on resilience and long-term planning. 

10. What is the most important benefit the expo provides to the industry as a whole? 

Gilland: This show provides a lot of industry insight through the many sessions. NPGA does a great job of keeping exhibitors and attendees informed on the various legislative changes and industry trends. 

Wing: Being able to gather in person to discuss the challenges, innovations and industry as a whole. 

Bischoff: It allows a space for industry folks to converge in one place and trade ideas and thoughts and potentially offer a space for future business partnerships. 

Ridler: The expo provides a shared space for the industry to come together. It’s not just about products; it’s about alignment, learning and community. Just as important, it creates a platform for storytelling, where propane professionals can share experiences, lessons learned and the real stories behind their businesses. Those conversations, whether they happen on the show floor, in education sessions or between long-time industry friends, help build collective momentum.