Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
HPMA Opens Applications for Design Influencers Tour
January 5,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry 
The High Point Market Authority (HPMA) invites interior designers and other design influencers to submit a Spring 2026 application to participate in the trade show’s biannual Design Influencers Tour (DIT) produced in partnership with Esteem Media, now through January 23.
Six influencers will be tapped to identify the latest furnishings trends and happenings at the April High Point Market, the world’s largest, biannual home furnishings trade event. Each participant will receive a service fee and stipend for travel accommodations in exchange for their reporting.
The selections will be based on digital content quality, posting frequency, and the individual’s blog or social media following. On the ground at the April High Point Market, the Spring 2026 design influencers will tour sponsor showrooms as a team, before independently publishing their findings.
“All passionate and engaged home design influencers are invited to apply,” says Adam Japko, founder, Esteem Media. “At every High Point Market since 2015, selected influencers and participating brands rave about their experiences and new connections they’ve forged on the tour.”
The next Design Influencers Tour will take place April 26-27. To be considered, the online application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, January 23.
“After 10 years, the seasonal Design Influencers Tour is a proven winner for sponsor-showrooms at High Point Market,” says Tammy Covington, HPMA president and CEO. “Each participating brand’s visibility multiplied tenfold across multiple digital platforms is hard to beat.”
Interested High Point Market exhibitors may email marketing@highpointmarket.org for more information. A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available.