Explore the Interactive Programming that Took Place at IESNA Flagship 2026!
The industry’s premier U.S. tradeshow and conference featured numerous onsite activities that enhanced education, collaboration, and connection.
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Workshops
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Technical training with actionable takeaways! Sessions included:- 2026 NEC Solar and Storage Code Updates
- Commercial and Industrial (C&I) PV System Interconnection Concepts
- Cutting Costs, Not Corners: Expert Strategies for Affordable Solar Project Construction
- From Field-Ready Training to PV Reliability: A Complete Blueprint for Workforce Excellence
Explore details here. -
Power Product Lounge
Dedicated to innovation, the Power Product Lounge featured industry leading exhibitors’ latest creations and solutions. Through digital posters, attendees explored products and learned where to find the exhibitors who ideated them. The space also featured comfortable seating and a solar + storage trivia game, with questions sourced from IESNA partners.
The Power Product Lounge was located at booth #3821 in the exhibit hall. -
WRISE and Shine – Power Networking
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM PT
IESNA Flagship 2026 kicked off with the Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE). Attendees fueled up for the day and networked during this highly collaborative and interactive event designed to foster connections and create shared opportunities among industry leaders. Coffee and pastries were served. -
Solar Games
The crowd cheered on top install teams as they built residential solar + storage systems live in the Solar Games Stadium of the exhibit hall. The six competing teams were judged on installation quality, safety, speed, and more as they advanced through the tournament. Even better? The winning team took home a $10,000 cash prize—and the title of Solar Games Champion. Learn more here.
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Mini Golf
Attendees putted their way through America's Finest City! This 9-hole course featured San Diego's iconic landmarks right in the exhibit hall at booth #3913.
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The Hub Stage
The Hub podcast stage within the exhibit hall featured insightful interviews in a dynamic space open to all attendees! Located at booth #2825, the Hub will highlighted key insights from top product and solution providers, industry thought leaders, and association partners. Learn more here.
Produced in partnership with:
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Connection Lounge
The matchmaking feature in our mobile app helped attendees and exhibitors alike discover new contacts and meet up at the Connection Lounge, conveniently located within the exhibit hall and featuring comfortable seating.
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Virtual Reality
Brave attendees tested their coordination and courage with two free virtual reality experiences located at booth #2245 in the exhibit hall.
- VR Home Run Derby – Join the big leagues with this home run derby simulator. Choose your favorite bat, ball of choice, and get into your best batting stance to hit some home runs in Petco Park!
- VR Walk the Plank - When a pair of elevator doors open 80 stories above the ground, do you have the courage to take a step outside? It may seem easy at first glance, but once you’re in VR you never how how you’ll truly react!
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Power Lunch: Energy Tetris: Leveraging DER to Optimize the Grid of the 21st Century
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM PT
This session dove into the importance of the distribution grid in overall grid planning, DER, and distribution-level strategies in managing grid constraints and meeting clean energy goals affordably, with minimum environmental impact and maximum resilience. Co-hosted by Clean Coalition the lunch conversation detailed an integrated grid planning process that fits energy supply and demand together to reduce grid congestion, avoid costly infrastructure upgrades, and support a cleaner, more resilient electricity system. -
Powerful Perspectives Luncheon: Considerations for Developers on All Things Trade, FEOC, and Supply Chain
Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM PT
Industry experts Stacy J. Ettinger (Senior Vice President, Supply Chain & Trade, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)) and Claire Broido Johnson (President, Sunrock Distributed Generation), navigated the complex intersection of trade policy, FEOC compliance, and supply chain strategy for solar and storage developers. This session addressed critical questions on managing tariffs and other supply chain risks, securing financing, and balancing cost, speed, and compliance in today’s evolving regulatory environment. -
Executive Luncheon: Lost Ground, New Paths, Hard Truths: What Solar & Storage Executives Need to Know in 2026
Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PT
The invite-only lunch session explored growth paths and headwinds facing the solar and storage markets with a presentation from veteran energy journalist and Canary Media co-founder Eric Wesoff. In this era of sharply heightened electricity demand, the value and availability of solar and storage has never been clearer, yet policy uncertainty and administrative hostility have set the stage for yet another ride on the renewables roller coaster. Eric provided a candid assessment of what’s been lost and how permitting, domestic manufacturing, and more give cause for optimism in the year ahead. -
Solar Battle of the Bands
Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM PT
The IESNA Flagship Official After Party, co-hosted with the California Solar & Storage Association was held at Moonshine Flats. The party began with a dedicated networking mixer (including hors d'oeuvres and drinks) before transitioning into the Solar Battle of the Bands (SBOB) live music event.Band Line-up
- Rapid Shutdown from Baker Home Energy
- Café Negro from Avila Solar & Flywheel Renewables
- The Lagging Indicators from New Leaf Energy
- Northerner from SnapNrack & K2 Systems