Florida Audio Expo 2026 – HiFi Highlights and Best Of Show
There weren’t any gators running lose in the parking lot this year, but there were plenty of high end sounds, rich tones and massive hifi systems pumping out tunes at the Florida International Audio Expo 2026.
The Florida International Audio Expo 2026 returned for its eighth annual run from February 20–22, 2026, at the Sheraton Tampa Brandon Hotel in Tampa, Florida. Known affectionately by enthusiasts as FLAX, this show has maintained a steady exhibition for music lovers, gear hounds, and industry professionals alike. The number of show rooms where perhaps a big more modest than last year, but that didn’t stop attendees from show up in fairly high concentrations throughout the weekend.
On The Occasional Podcast this week, the Marc and Brian give you the inside scoop on the Best of Show highlights from the event. They cover not only jaw-dropping loudspeakers and state-of-the-art electronics, but also the human side of the expo: conversations with designers, manufacturers, and fellow enthusiasts who shared their insights and passion on the show floor. Whether it’s breakthrough headphone tech, exotic vinyl rigs, or beautifully engineered amplifiers, the episode paints a vivid audio-rich picture that makes you feel like you were right there auditioning the systems yourself.
The Occasional Podcast recently covered the History And Ongoing Legacy Of The Quad ESL 57, Pro Audio Vs. HIFi – how they might be more alike than you think, and also an interview with teenage speaker designer Lucca Chesky. There is a huge list of 2026 recommendations for Best Value in Hifi, New products for 2026 and covered Capital Audiofest. They also interviewed Stereophile’s Michael Trei, The Best Vintage Amplifiers To Buy At A Garage Sale, chatted with Jason Stoddard of Schiit Audio, and covered the future of digital and class D with Michal Jurewicz of Mytek. Previous episodes include how tos, tips, tricks and education in all things high fidelity audio from episodes like an Interview With John Devore, Measurements explained with Andrew Jones, 3 things to know about streaming audio, 5 things to consider when buying a tube amplifier and an interviews with Steve Guttenberg.
Options to stream this week’s Florida Audio Expo 2026, direct from the embed below or subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform including iTunes, Android, Google, Deezer, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more.