Hear What’s NEXT:
NEXTStage at KBIS 2026
Your Front-Row Seat to the Future of K&B
NEXTStage at KBIS is where today’s design leaders and innovators come together to shape the future of the kitchen and bath industry. This is your chance to explore emerging trends, discover cutting-edge technologies, and hear from the brightest minds in the field.
Explore the ideas and innovations driving the industry forward. Join us at KBIS 2026 to grow, connect, and be inspired.
NEXTStage is the destination for industry professionals to connect, learn, and celebrate design excellence. Mark your calendar, bring your curiosity, and come be part of the conversations that matter at NEXTStage.
See NEXTStage Schedule Below
Sessions and times subject to change
Featured NEXTStage Speakers & Moderators
Photo Credit: Arianne Bellizaire
Arianne Bellizaire
Interior Designer, Arianne Bellizaire Interiors
Photo Credit: Russell Goldman
Russell Goldman
Founder & Principal Designer, More Wow Design
Photo Credit: Hill Rondero
Hill
Rondero
Owner/Principal, Ro House Studio
Photo Credit: © Rouse Photography Group / Daniel Ha
Avi
Rajagopal
Editor in Chief, METROPOLIS
Photo Credit: Rachael Larson
Kristine Anderson
Design Principal/Partner, PKA Architecture
Photo Credit: Abiola Amusa
Abiola
Amusa
Co-Founder, AV Luxury Design
Meet Your Daily NEXTStage Hosts!
Photo Credit: Taniya Nayak
Tuesday, Day 1:
Taniya Nayak, Principal Interior Designer, Taniya Nayak Design Inc.
Meet Taniya Nayak:
Taniya Nayak has been regularly featured as host and interior designer on HGTV, including “Battle on the Beach” and “Build It Forward” and is on the next season of “Rock the Block”. She is also featured on 23 seasons of Food Network’s “Restaurant Impossible” and ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight. A native of India, this Boston-based designer is known for creating hot new restaurants and high end residential projects all over the US.
You may also recognize Taniya for her appearances on Today, Good Morning America, The Ellen Degeneres Show, The View, and The Rachael Ray Show, as well as featured in Architectural Digest India, Modern Luxury, People magazine, Better Homes & Gardens. Taniya supports many charitable organizations including Room to Dream Foundation, Smile Train, No Kid Hungry, and Aksaya Patra Organization. Taniya successfully owns her design firm Taniya Nayak Design, Inc based in Boston and is co-owner to several restaurants in the Boston area with her husband Brian O’Donnell.
Photo Credit: Brandstar Productions
Wednesday, Day 2:
Jennifer Bertrand, Interior Designer, Jennifer Bertrand, LLC
Meet Jennifer Bertrand:
Jennifer Bertrand, winner of HGTV’s Design Star (with over 5 million viewers), is known for her down-to-earth, creative approach to design that makes beautiful spaces achievable for everyone. She also won Angie’s List’s first “Sleep Sanctuary” contest inspired by Arianna Huffington’s ‘The Sleep Revolution’. Through her design firm, Jennifer’s worked with Ronald McDonald House Charities collaborating with the NFL, MLB, and MLS, and designed projects around the world—from Chicago to Costa Rica. She was on Monogram’s first Design Council, a past NKBA insider, and is the designer on Lifetime’s Military Makeover with Montel Williams, honoring veterans through home transformations. And is currently working on a 30-room palazzo in Italy.
Photo Credit: Mikel Welch
Thursday, Day 3:
Mikel Welch, Owner, Mikel Welch Designs
Meet Mikel Welch:
Mikel Welch is an Emmy Award winning interior designer, set decorator, and television personality known for creating layered, character filled spaces that feel collected over time. Based in Los Angeles, his work blends classic European influence with warmth and livability. He is the design expert on Netflix’s Hack My Home and a regular on The Drew Barrymore Show. In October 2025, he released his debut book The Forever Home with Clarkson Potter and Penguin Random House. Mikel is also the founder of Mikel Welch Home, a high end vintage and antiques brand with a showroom at 200 Lexington Avenue in New York City.
What to Expect at NEXTStage:
At NEXTStage, expect dynamic panels featuring visionary designers and industry leaders tackling the topics that matter most. From the integration of advanced AI technologies to the evolution of sustainable living, this stage is where design meets inspiration. Witness awards, experience live competitions, and learn directly from renowned designers and industry leaders about the latest trends, challenges, and insights in the kitchen and bath industry.
Witness Conversations from These Tracks
Whole Home
Design doesn’t stop at the kitchen or bath, it’s about the story a home tells from the front entry to the outdoor terrace. The Whole Home track explores the aesthetics, flow, and functionality that connect spaces together. From statement-making focal points to subtle design details, these sessions reveal how designers create harmony across rooms and even beyond the threshold, ensuring every space feels like part of a cohesive vision.
Business & Buzz
The design industry is evolving fast, and staying competitive means keeping pace with shifting client expectations, new business models, and emerging market forces. The Business & Buzz track tackles the issues shaping the industry’s future, from resiliency and real estate to firm growth and branding strategies. These sessions spotlight the trends, opportunities, and insights that help design professionals turn change into competitive advantage.
Technology
Technology shapes how we live and how designers deliver experiences. This track looks at the tools and innovations that matter most today, from discreet connected systems to emerging applications of AI. Sessions explore how technology can enhance design without overwhelming it, helping professionals create spaces that are intuitive, inspiring, and ready for what’s next.
Wellness & Sustainability
Homeowners increasingly want spaces that nurture well-being while treading lightly on the planet. The Wellness & Sustainability track dives into the practices, products, and philosophies that make it possible. From biophilic design and circular materials to the movement toward slow, intentional living, these sessions showcase how designers can meet rising consumer demand for healthier, more sustainable environments without sacrificing beauty or performance.
