Multiple RV manufacturers have confirmed dates and locations with RV PRO for this year’s Open House — North America’s week-long, all-industry RV trade show at the heart of Elkhart, Indiana.
The 2026 event is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 28 through Friday, Oct. 2 — one week after the Pennsylvania RV & Campground Association (PRVCA)’s annual Hershey Show, another of the industry’s key fall events.
Among market share leaders, THOR Industries‘ exhibition is slated to conclude Wednesday, Sept. 30.
“As in previous years, our event will be held on the Eastern property of the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Event Center — including the Peter B. Orthwein Pavilion. Our operating companies will connect directly with their dealer partners with more details,” said a THOR Industries spokesperson.
Also returning to its previous show location is Winnebago Industries, which will welcome attendees at the Elcona Country Club — located at Elkhart’s southeast area along County Road 6 and near the city’s RV/MH Hall of Fame. Subsidiaries Grand Design and Newmar typically display at other locations in Elkhart.
RV PRO reached out to Forest River, one of Open House’s main exhibitors, and had not received confirmation as of press time. Stay tuned for more updates this week.
In addition to larger market share leaders, numerous independent RV manufacturers will be returning to Open House with their respective exhibits.
“Sunset Park RV will have our display set up at the RV/MH Hall of Fame from that Monday through around noon on Thursday,” said Bob Fish, chief administrative officer of Sunset Park RV. “We saw strong traffic last year and are looking forward to another good turnout this year. We’ll have fresh breakfast available daily for dealers, Pet Camper giveaways and a few other prizes and discounts throughout the week. We’re also working on introducing some new floorplans across several of our lines, so there should be a few new things for dealers to see when they stop by.”
Encore RV‘s Rich Schnippel said the company has historically displayed its products near the entrance of the Hall of Fame, alongside many other manufacturers. Last year, however, its display was hosted at its manufacturing facility in Elkhart, located at the corner of County Road 6 and Ada Drive.
“Holding the event at our facility allowed us to give dealers and prospective dealers a tour of our operation and show units on the production line in various stages of completion — offering a firsthand look at what truly separates Encore RV from other manufacturers,” Schnippel said.
“Over the past six or more years, manufacturers have continued to spread out across the area, making it increasingly difficult for dealers to visit every display they’re interested in. Some dealers have even mentioned that they now need to divide their teams to cover multiple locations.
“One of the things the Louisville show did exceptionally well was bringing nearly every manufacturer together under one roof, ensuring everyone had the opportunity to be seen. While the Elkhart Open House has made things more convenient and affordable, it has also made it harder for manufacturers to get consistent traffic.
“In addition, some manufacturers now host early preview events to capture dealer attention and open floorplan funds before the main Open House begins. As a result, some dealers who attend those previews don’t return for Open House a few weeks later. It raises questions about the long-term viability of the event and how much longer the current format will continue.
“Looking ahead, we will be moving our production facility this year to a new location in Topeka, Indiana, which places us closer to much of our Amish workforce who live in the surrounding area. Because this location may be a bit farther for dealers to travel — especially with the limited time they have to visit multiple displays — we are currently considering returning to the RV Hall of Fame or possibly partnering with a few other manufacturers at a shared location,” Schnippel said.
Another of the event’s focal points, the 2026 RV Supplier Showcase, will feature more than 250 booths representing approximately 150 companies within the RV/MH Hall of Fame’s 60,000-square-foot indoor exhibition space, allowing Open House attendees to meet many of the industry’s top suppliers under one roof.
