XDC26 is officially in the books, making it the largest conference in company history – so far.

725 registered attendees from 37 countries turned downtown San Antonio into an XPEL epicenter composed of XPEL dealers, employees, partners and leaders. Over several packed days, attendees participated in hands-on breakout sessions led by XPEL trainers, industry experts and strategic partners, all focused on sharpening leadership skills, deepening product knowledge and strengthening relationships across the worldwide XPEL community.

From the moment doors opened on day one, the energy was unmistakable. The conference kicked off with opening remarks from CEO Ryan Pape, following the debut of XPEL’s new brand ethos video (Live Fully). Ryan’s message helped set the tone for the weekend – one grounded in purpose, people and the collective journey of building something bigger than any one individual or business.

The opening keynote was delivered by former Secret Service agent and author Evy Poumpouras, who challenged the audience to rethink mental fortitude, situational awareness, and the power of presence. Through real-world experiences, she emphasized resilience, emotional intelligence and the importance of understanding people – and provided some unique keys to leadership including how to reduce decision fatigue.

Building on the momentum of the day, performance strategist Brad Waldron guided attendees through several mind opening, hands-on experiences elevating the collective mindset to lead with: humanity, humility and true intention.

As the conference continued, breakout sessions and hands-on training reinforced XPEL’s commitment to excellence. Not only in product innovation, but in the overall customer and team  experience. Attendees walked away with actionable insights, new techniques and a renewed sense of pride in their craft.

One of the most anticipated highlights of XDC26 was the installation competitions. Between sessions, elite installers from around the world went head-to-head in Tint, Paint Protection Film (PPF), and Architectural Film challenges.

While the prize money was significant, equally rewarding was the opportunity to showcase years of dedication, precision, and skill in front of peers who understand the craft at the highest level.

Congratulations to this year’s installation competition winners:

• Architecture Film

  3rd: Randy Hewitt

  2nd: Caleb Silkett

  1st: Maksim Kutsenko

• Tint:
  3rd: Xuy Rosales

  2nd: Ronald McCullough

  1st: Alejandro Rosales

• PPF:

  3rd: Craig Bledsoe

  2nd: Quinton Uys

  1st: Jeremy Zheng

The event also featured XPEL’s 2026 Dealer Awards, honoring the best in the business. To view all, check out the video.

XDC26 wasn’t just a conference, it was a powerful reminder of the tight-knit, global XPEL community. The event highlighted connections (new and old), peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, continuous learning – and celebrated the best and brightest among us.