Why 2026 Is the Year to Show Up: The Complete Tech Repair Industry Events Calendar, Real Connection, and the Role of TCA
If there's one thing I've learned from spending years in the tech repair and tech care industry, it's this: the real value isn't just in the tools, the parts, or the platforms. It's in the people.
As we head into 2026, I want to speak directly to repair professionals, refurbishers, reuse advocates, recyclers, educators, and industry partners. This year represents a real opportunity to learn more, connect better, and build stronger, more resilient businesses. Industry events — when approached thoughtfully — are one of the most effective ways to do exactly that.
That's why the Tech Care Association created and maintains the TCA Industry Events Calendar — and why it should become a resource you return to again and again throughout 2026.
The Only Complete Tech Repair Industry Events Calendar
Let's be very clear: no other organization provides a complete, independent list of tech repair, tech reuse, and tech care industry events.
Most event lists you'll find online are incomplete, outdated, or quietly shaped by sponsorships and paid placements. Many only highlight events owned or promoted by the organization publishing the list.
The TCA Industry Events Calendar is different by design.
It is the only place where we actively work to list the full range of industry events across many categories, ensuring repair professionals have access to comprehensive, unbiased information about every opportunity to learn, network, and grow.
Our calendar includes:
- Tech repair and electronics service conferences
- Right to Repair and policy-focused events
- Tech reuse, refurbishment, and sustainability gatherings
- Training classes and hands-on workshops
- Regional meetups and community-driven events
- Industry networking and partner-focused conferences
If it matters to the tech care ecosystem, it belongs on this calendar.
Unbiased, Nonprofit, and Fully Transparent
TCA is a nonprofit trade association, and that matters.
In some cases, we may exchange membership benefits for access to an event, such as tickets or limited display space. When that happens, we disclose it clearly. Transparency applies not only to events, but also to the free resources we offer.
If TCA ever receives compensation, discounts, or special access as part of a partnership, our readers will know. Most of our relationships exist simply because organizations choose to become members of TCA and support our nonprofit mission — not because money changes hands behind the scenes.
That independence allows us to provide honest context about events — including noting when some lean more toward hype or profit-seeking. That doesn't mean those events have no value. Sometimes it's worth attending simply to be around like-minded people. What matters is knowing what you're committing to and why.
A Snapshot of Events You'll Find on the 2026 Calendar
To give you a sense of the diversity on the calendar, here are just a few examples of the types of events we're tracking and sharing:
Event Categories
- Right to Repair Summits & Advocacy Days – Events focused on policy, legislation, and grassroots advocacy that directly impact how repair businesses operate.
- Regional Tech Repair Conferences – Smaller, more focused gatherings that emphasize peer-to-peer learning, practical business insights, and local networking.
- Sustainability & Tech Reuse Events – Conferences and meetups centered on refurbishment, reuse, e-waste reduction, and circular economy practices.
- Industry Partner & Vendor Conferences – Opportunities to learn about new tools, parts sourcing, diagnostics, and services — with a critical eye toward real value.
These events — and many more — are continuously updated on the TCA calendar as we learn about them.
Learning, Connecting, and Discovering New Opportunities
Industry events are not just about sessions and swag. When chosen intentionally, they help you:
Why Attend Industry Events
- Learn new repair techniques and operational best practices
- Stay ahead of regulatory and Right to Repair developments
- Meet vendors, partners, and collaborators you won't find online
- Discover new revenue streams and business opportunities
The strongest outcomes often come from conversations between sessions — the kind that don't show up on an agenda. These connections frequently lead to partnerships, referrals, and long-term professional relationships.
Throughout 2026, TCA will also publish follow-up stories and reflections on events to share their real-world value, not just the marketing claims.
Free Resources That Help You Grow
One of the things that truly sets TCA apart is our commitment to free, practical resources for the industry.
We believe access to information should not be locked behind paywalls. That's why we offer guides, references, and tools designed to help repair shops and industry professionals:
- Navigate Right to Repair issues
- Improve business operations and customer trust
- Understand sustainability and reuse opportunities
- Stay informed about industry trends
Explore our complete library of free tech repair industry resources. And just like our events calendar, we disclose any partnerships or compensation tied to resources — because trust matters.
Events, Human Connection, and the Digital Disconnect
There's a deeper reason events matter in 2026.
We're living through what's often called the Digital Disconnect — a time of Digital Loneliness, an Intimacy Deficit, and what many now describe as a Loneliness Epidemic. Constant screen use has replaced meaningful face-to-face interaction, even as we remain perpetually "connected" online.
Behaviors like phubbing (phone snubbing) and technoference — when technology interferes with relationships — quietly erode trust, empathy, and mental health.
Creating Real-World Connection in Your Own Community
You don't need to wait for a national conference to build meaningful connection.
Local events often create the strongest bonds. Hosting or participating in community gatherings can:
- Strengthen your local reputation
- Build trust with peers and customers
- Create referral and support networks
Platforms like Meetup and Luma make it easier than ever to host low-pressure, community-first events.
In 2026, TCA will be producing content specifically designed to help you create and host local events — from informal meetups to educational gatherings.
Stay tuned, and keep coming back for more.
Training Classes and Education Opportunities in 2026
Training and education will be a growing focus of the TCA Events Calendar in 2026.
As we learn about:
- Hands-on repair training classes
- Certification programs
- Vendor-led workshops
- Technical and business education sessions
We'll add them to the calendar — another reason to bookmark it and check back often.
We're also exploring ways to help TCA members access training discounts and make it easier for organizations to post training events directly.
Support the Mission: Join the TCA
You can support this work by joining TCA:
Industry Partners can add events to the calendar and help expand industry knowledge.
Repair Shops & Store Partners help fund the creation of free resources for everyone.
Membership directly supports our nonprofit mission and allows us to offer more tools, transparency, and opportunities for the entire industry to thrive.
A True Industry Leader — Built for the Community
Everything TCA does is grounded in independence, transparency, and service.
We don't profit from events. We don't sell access. We don't hide relationships.
We listen, we share, and we build.
We also have exciting plans for 2026 that we'll be sharing in the coming weeks.
To stay informed, visit the TCA Blog for tech repair industry insights and analysis.
And make the TCA Industry Events Calendar part of your 2026 planning:
