ICON Park will be the place to be the evening of Feb. 3 for Centennial Celebration to commemorate GCSAA’s 100 years. Photo courtesy of VisitOrlando
This will be the 12th GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando.
But make no mistake: The euphoria at this one will be unlike anything from the previous 11 in the Sunshine State. GCSAA is taking the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show to an unprecedented level. There are a great many reasons why.
As GCSAA celebrates its 100th Anniversary in 2026, the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show is introducing some new wrinkles at the association’s marquee event, which is scheduled Feb. 2-5 at the Orange County Convention Center and surrounding area.
Centennial Celebration
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, Feb. 3, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Supported by industry partners, Centennial Celebration will commemorate 100 years of GCSAA at ICON Park in Orlando (8374 International Drive), a premier open-air entertainment destination.
Highlights will include:
- Dining, featuring 10-plus restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines to suit every taste.
- Entertainment: Live music, a DJ, dueling pianos and more throughout the evening.
- The atmosphere: ICON Park’s 20-acre setting provides the perfect backdrop for networking, connecting with peers and celebrating a century of leadership in golf course management.
- Purpose and connection: Honor GCSAA’s past, present and future with members, partners and industry supporters. Foster meaningful connections in a fun, celebratory environment. Recognize the growth, achievements and impact of GCSAA and its members.
“We’re thrilled to bring together so many of our members, partners and the people who have helped build the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America into what it is today,” says GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans. “The celebration at ICON Park will be an unforgettable evening — filled with energy, connection and reflection. With live music, great food and vibrant venues, the night will bring the GCSAA story to life. It’s a chance to honor the people, progress and passion that have defined our association for a century — and to look boldly toward the next 100 years.”
Centennial Experience, museum style
The theme of the museum is “Celebrating 100 Years of Keeping the Game on Course,” honoring the vision of Col. John Morley and the small group of pioneers who planted the seeds of a profession a century ago and tell the compelling stories of GCSAA members’ past and present. The Centennial Experience will be open Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 5, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The location is on the trade show floor, booths 2373 and 2361.
What’s on display: artifacts and themed exhibits, showcasing GCSAA’s impact on education, advocacy, innovation, environmental stewardship and community engagement.
A history timeline wall will tell GCSAA’s history, “story by story, brick by brick,” highlighting decades of progress, challenges overcome and standards of excellence set.
Experience the legacy of GCSAA and the profession of golf course management. Discover how passion, purpose and professionalism have come together to support the game and global community. This is a one-time-only exhibit celebrating GCSAA’s past, present and future.
Orange County Convention Center welcomes the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, Feb. 2-5. Photo courtesy of Orlando County Convention Center
More ventures, changes and what’s new
Besides the pomp and circumstance, there are other adventures and new scheduling options awaiting GCSAA Conference and Trade Show attendees.
Change of note: The Opening Session, presented in partnership with Syngenta, will be Monday, Feb. 2, from 3:15 to 5 p.m. In the past, the Opening Session was held on Wednesday morning.
Education will offer more than 100 seminars (three of them in Spanish), with over half featuring new content. And, for the first time, education is offering repeat sessions on Wednesday. In addition, there will be more than 30 Power Hours (one in Spanish), all delivering new material. The number of seminars and Power Hours is up significantly for 2026, according to Brandi Turner, senior manager, curriculum at GCSAA.
New alert: Wellness Pavilion
Make time for what matters most: your health, your heart and your sense of purpose. Visit the Wellness Pavilion to recharge, reconnect and refocus on wellness. Whether it is checking your physical health, finding calm in a busy week or supporting a cause that inspires you, the Wellness Pavilion, located at Booth 840, is there to help you make it a priority. Offerings include free on-site health screenings. Also take advantage of complimentary, walk-in biometric screenings from the Syngenta MyWellbeing
Mobile Wellness Unit, including:
- Blood pressure.
- Cholesterol.
- Glucose.
- BMI.
- A1C.
- Skin cancer screenings.
GCSAA is proud to partner with K9s For Warriors, the nation’s largest provider of trained service dogs for veterans living with service-related trauma. Together, we honor wellness as more than physical health. It is about connection, compassion and purpose. Stop by to meet three Warrior graduates and their service dogs, hear their stories and witness the powerful impact of healing through purpose. Their presence is a reminder that wellness is more than just numbers — it’s about gratitude, connection and support.
Closing act(s)
Back-to-back closing activities are on the docket for Thursday, Feb. 5.
The Closing Session, presented in partnership with John Deere, is set for 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. It will be followed by the Closing Event Featuring Ricky Kalmon. His “The Ricky Kalmon Comedy Hypnosis Show” is a high-energy, interactive experience that will leave you laughing, inspired and amazed. Many have seen his performances on ESPN, the Hallmark Channel and more. He also has presented for professional sports teams such as the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Bengals.