SPARK 2026

SPARK is coming to the Greater Columbus Convention Center from October 21 to 24, 2026. It's the main expo and educational event for electrical and systems contracting professionals, put on by the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), a nonprofit trade association that represents more than 3,600 member businesses and 80,000 workers across the U.S. If you're in the trade, this is the one that brings together the education, the innovation, and the networking all in one place.

Over four days, the schedule mixes seminars and hands-on sessions on electrical codes, safety practices, business management, talent retention, and sales strategies. There's also an Expo Hall running alongside it, where you can get a look at the latest tools, technology, and products. Archie M. Griffin is the keynote speaker this year. The programming also includes Women in Power sessions and networking events like the IEC Foundation Spark After Dark and the SPARK Tailgate Happy Hour.

Running as a separate thread is the competition for Apprentice of the Year. It's a full sequence: a breakfast, an orientation, a ladder-diagram contest, a written exam, and a hands-on 'wire-off' final, with its own Apprentice Expo Hall Hour. If you're following the competition, that's where the action is.

Pre-conference sessions run October 19 and 20, and the main event goes from October 21 to 24, with sessions running 8 AM to 5 PM. The venue is the Greater Columbus Convention Center at 400 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215.