Highlights from The Car Wash Show 2026 in Nashville
The global car wash industry gathered in force this May for The Car Wash Show 2026, hosted by the International Carwash Association (ICA) in Nashville, Tennessee. The show brought together thousands of car wash owners, operators, investors, suppliers and industry professionals from across the globe for three days of education, innovation and networking.
Held at Nashville’s Music City Center from 11–13 May, the event featured more than 400 exhibitors across over 18,500 square metres of exhibition space, showcasing the latest developments in wash equipment, chemicals, technology platforms, payment systems, water management solutions and customer engagement tools. A dedicated New Company Pavilion and New Product Showcase provided attendees with an early look at emerging technologies and innovative suppliers entering the market.
Educational Sessions
A key theme throughout the event was the industry’s transition from rapid expansion to a more disciplined focus on profitability, operational efficiency and customer retention. Educational sessions addressed many of the challenges currently facing operators, including labour management, membership growth, cost control, site optimisation and improving customer experience.
The increasingly popular education sessions covered everything topical in car washing. ACWA President Tony Young commented “For myself the standouts sessions were the implementation of a tailored membership model for the traditional self serve and IBA to grow the overall market and the early stage development of using AI to predict with relative certainty preventative maintenance programs to reduce or avoid equipment downtime”.
The Aussie Experience
The Aussie contingent kicked off with a Sunday evening get together with drinks and early access to the dedicated level for first time exhibitors. It was a great initiative as first time exhibitors were provided with their own dedicated floor space which made for a more intimate setting for our members to get up close and get a greater understanding of some new and interesting products and services on offer. Big shout out to ACWA’s Fiona Tointon assisted by ICA’s Kendra Johnson for pulling it together and our members for making it a success.
For Australian operators, several trends stood out. The increasing use of artificial intelligence, advanced site management software, membership analytics, water-saving technologies and enhanced customer experience tools demonstrated where leading operators are investing to improve performance and profitability.
ACWA Board Member Simon Dunn described the 2026 Car Wash Show in Nashville as an impressive showcase of innovation, with standout displays from many of the industry’s largest suppliers. Focusing on self-serve equipment and vacuums for a potential new site, Simon explored advancements in payment kiosks, touchscreen customer interfaces, and enhanced remote monitoring and reporting capabilities. He was particularly interested in the wider adoption of FDX nozzle technology on in-bay automatic machines. A highlight was a presentation by Brent McCurdy on growing IBA and self-serve sites, which provided practical strategies for boosting revenue. And, of course, Nashville’s renowned barbecue was a memorable bonus.
ACWA Board Member Ben Fowler was impressed by several practical innovations at the 2026 Car Wash Show in Nashville, including a water-saving device claiming to reduce consumption by up to 30% and self-cleaning mesh filters that can reduce labour and equipment downtime. He also noted the rapid growth of AI-driven technology for customer retention, loyalty programs and targeted promotions, predicting strong uptake in Australia in coming years. Ben purchased several problem-solving products from CarWash Mods and valued the opportunity to connect with fellow Australian operators while staying abreast of the latest industry developments.
Beyond equipment, artificial intelligence emerged as a major industry theme. Exhibitors demonstrated AI-driven tools designed to improve customer retention, loyalty programs, wash club memberships and fleet management through automated promotions and personalised customer engagement. Members also explored new equipment options for upcoming site developments, sourced replacement solutions for existing equipment, and discovered innovative products from operator-focused businesses such as CarWash Mods. As always, the show provided an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow Australian operators, exchange ideas and stay informed on emerging trends that are likely to influence the Australian market in the years ahead.
While at the induction of Richard Enning (CEO of Mr. Wash – Germany) into the ICA Hall of Fame, Tony took the opportunity to meet with ICA Chair Mandy Brower and ICA CEO Eric Wolf discussing ways to mutually maintain and strengthen ACWA’s long standing relationship. Eric is excited to attend and present at ACWA’s Car Wash Show 2026 later this year in Adelaide, October. If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, please take advantage of our soon-to-expire early bird pricing.
