Dallas Men's Show Wraps Strongest Summer Market in Five Years
Dallas Men's Show Wraps Strongest Summer Market in Five Years
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
— First-time store attendance was up 15% and buyers and exhibitors alike called it one of the best markets yet. —
The Dallas Men's Show wrapped its July 25-27 run at Dallas Market Center with the strongest total store attendance the summer edition has seen in at least five years. That growth included stores attending for the first time, up 15% over last year, as buyers and exhibitors reported some of the best business in recent memory.
Temporary exhibitors and permanent showrooms also shared a single roof at the World Trade Center this market, a small logistical change that buyers said made an already strong show even easier to navigate. Temporaries were on the 11th floor, joining permanent showrooms on the 7th, 14th, and 15th floors.
"We received positive feedback on having everything under one roof, which makes the show even easier to work," said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. "We value the time of our retailers, who want to fly or drive in, meet with brands, take time for discovery, make decisions, then depart with the confidence that they accomplished a lot in a couple of days."
That momentum carries into January 2027, when temporary exhibitors will move into a newly renovated 9th floor space at the World Trade Center — the next step in Dallas Market Center's ongoing investment in a stronger, more connected show experience.
EXHIBITOR GROWTH LED BY OUTDOOR AND LIFESTYLE BRANDS Twenty percent of exhibitors at the July show were new to Dallas Market Center or hadn't participated in at least a year, with especially strong growth among lifestyle and outdoor brands — a category increasingly seen as a signature strength of the Dallas market. Newcomers included Tori Richard, Trybus Group, Retro Brand, HUK, Good Good Golf, Frye Footwear, G Brown Shoes, Dormeuil, and Bad Birdie, adding fresh energy to an already deep lineup of apparel, footwear, and accessories brands.
"Our exhibitors lay the groundwork to be successful before the show even opens by marketing, setting appointments, and building relationships," said Morris. "The show is always appointment-driven, so it's encouraging to hear from exhibitors who were double booked with appointments all day long."
Retailers felt that preparation pay off on the floor. Ben Killingsworth, manager/buyer at Town & County in Springfield, MO, said the pace let him dig in: "The Dallas show allows me to sit down and work in an unhurried setting. I have the time to thoroughly work a line. This allows me to lay a thoughtful foundation for a successful show season. Dallas gives me a great opportunity to network with other retailers and build a camaraderie that strengthens all our businesses."
The ease of doing business extended beyond the showroom, too. "The Dallas Show is a very easy show for us," said George Gavalas, co-owner of Nic's Toggery in Florida. "We have direct flights from Tallahassee, and hotel accommodations are close with shuttle service that's just minutes away. The staff is friendly and helpful, and most of the vendors we need to see are there and on one floor. This makes it an easy show to work and enjoy."
Exhibitors echoed the sentiment, with Sasha Hourizadeh, president of Luchiano Visconti saying, "The nice thing about it is everything's in one building. It's really easy for the retailers as well as vendors.”
TEXAS SPIRIT The market's business momentum was matched by its hospitality. Saturday brought a full cocktail reception to the first floor of Dallas Market Center, complete with cigar rolling and an AI watercolor photo booth that turned portraits into unique keepsakes guests could carry home.
"Our show is business first, but it's equally important to bring the community together with our Texas spirit," Morris said. "That's why we host celebrations like this, to deepen connections and make new friends."
PLANNING AHEAD The next Dallas Men’s Show will take place January 23-25, 2027.
For information about all upcoming markets and events, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the new, completely redesigned Dallas Market Center mobile app. Stay current by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Instagram, and the DMC Daily Dose blog.
About Dallas Market Center Dallas Market Center is a global business-to-business trade center and the leading wholesale marketplace in North America connecting retailers and interior designers with top manufacturers in gourmet and housewares, home décor, holiday/floral, gifts, lighting, and apparel. Inside its dynamic, 5 million-square-foot campus, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education, and new products from exhibitors throughout the year via dominant trade events for gift, home décor, holiday, and floral; the nation’s most comprehensive apparel and accessories markets featuring the latest styles from East Coast and West Coast designers; the largest residential lighting trade event in North America; and the largest and most successful open-daily design center. To make plans for upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center App.