If you’ve been thinking about a new pool, this is the week to pay attention. SPASA’s biennial SPLASH! trade expo has landed at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, bringing more than 100 exhibitors, master builder forums and the SPASA Australasian Awards of Excellence to our own backyard. Here’s what it means for anyone planning a pool build in 2026, and why it’s worth knowing what’s genuinely new rather than relying on last decade’s assumptions about pools.
What SPLASH! 2026 Actually Is
SPLASH! is the pool and spa industry’s flagship trade event, run every two years by the Swimming Pool and Spa Association (SPASA). It’s not a public pool show in the traditional sense; it’s where builders, manufacturers, engineers and suppliers from across Australia and New Zealand gather to see what’s changed since the last event, compare notes on building standards, and showcase the products and techniques that will shape the next couple of years of pool construction. The Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre hosting it this year is a nice bit of symmetry for a region that builds more pools per capita than almost anywhere else in the country.
For homeowners, the value isn’t in attending a trade show yourself. It’s in knowing that the builders you’re talking to right now, this week, have just walked the floor of an event covering everything from new gelcoat technology to energy-efficient pumps to the latest in pool automation. As the owner of Built Right Pools, Shane Griffith has spent 22 years as a licensed builder watching this industry evolve, and events like SPLASH! are where you get a genuine read on which trends have staying power and which are just marketing noise.
Why This Matters for Gold Coast and Brisbane Homeowners
A lot of people planning a pool build are still working from an outdated mental model: a hole in the ground, some tiles, a basic filter, and a chlorine dispenser. The reality of a modern fibreglass pool build looks quite different, and events like SPLASH! are exactly where that gap gets closed. The awards program alone, the SPASA Australasian Awards of Excellence, is a useful barometer because it recognises the best build quality, design and innovation in the industry each cycle, which gives homeowners a sense of what “good” actually looks like before they sign off on a quote.
This is particularly relevant on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, where the pool-building market is competitive and the range of options can be overwhelming. Understanding what’s currently considered best practice, in terms of materials, energy efficiency and design, means you can ask better questions of any builder you’re considering, and you can spot the difference between a builder who’s kept pace with the industry and one who’s still doing things the way they did a decade ago.
The Innovations Worth Knowing About
Trade events like SPLASH! tend to cluster around a few recurring themes, and 2026 is no different. Materials science keeps pushing fibreglass forward, with gelcoat finishes that resist staining and UV fade better than earlier generations, and laminate techniques that improve strength without adding bulk to the shell. On the equipment side, energy-efficient variable-speed pumps, smart chlorination systems and app-based automation continue to mature, meaning pools are cheaper to run and easier to manage than the pools most of us grew up swimming in.
Design trends are shifting too. There’s a clear move toward smaller, more integrated pools that work with the block rather than dominating it, plunge pools and compact lap pools designed for exercise or relaxation rather than big family entertaining, alongside pools that blend seamlessly into outdoor living areas with matching paving, lighting and water features. None of this is about gimmicks. It’s about pools that cost less to run, last longer, and suit the way people actually use their backyards in South East Queensland’s climate.
How Built Right Pools’ Range Reflects Where the Industry Is Heading
It’s satisfying to see so much of what gets showcased at events like SPLASH! already built into the range we offer at Built Right Pools. As an Authorised Barrier Reef Pools and Ocean Reef Pools dealer, our Dream range, including the Venice, Brampton, Sahara and Caprice models, is built using the kind of advanced fibreglass manufacturing and gelcoat technology that these industry events exist to promote. These aren’t off-the-shelf shapes bolted together; they’re engineered shells designed for durability and low maintenance in exactly the conditions we deal with on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.
Our plunge pools are a good example of where the industry has been heading for a while now: smaller footprint, lower running costs, faster installation, and just as much lifestyle value as a full-sized pool for a lot of blocks and budgets. And for buyers who want to be hands-on, our above-ground and DIY kit pools give budget-conscious homeowners a genuine entry point into fibreglass pool ownership without compromising on the quality of the shell itself. Whether you’re after a fully custom install or a self-managed kit pool, the underlying materials and design thinking trace directly back to the innovations being discussed on the convention centre floor this week.
Practical Advice for Anyone Starting to Plan a Pool Build Now
If you’re at the early stages of considering a pool, this is a good moment to start gathering real information rather than guesswork. Ask any pool builder you’re talking to what’s changed in their materials or equipment recommendations over the past couple of years, and see how confidently they can answer. A builder who’s engaged with the industry, through associations like SPASA, ongoing licensing, and events like SPLASH!, is generally going to give you a more current, more accurate picture of what your money buys.
It’s also worth thinking honestly about scale and budget before you fall in love with a design. A compact plunge pool or one of the Dream range’s mid-sized models might deliver everything you actually want from a pool, at a fraction of the cost and disruption of a larger custom build. Get a proper site assessment, ask about council requirements early, and don’t be afraid to ask how a builder’s approach to fibreglass has evolved. As a licensed builder with 22 years in the trade, Shane Griffith has seen plenty of industry shifts come and go, and can talk you through which innovations are worth prioritising for your specific block and budget.
Get in Touch
If SPLASH! 2026 has you thinking seriously about a pool, now’s a great time to have a conversation with a local pool builder Gold Coast homeowners already trust for honest, personal service. Get in touch with Built Right Pools to talk through fibreglass pools Gold Coast wide, from plunge pools to the full Dream range, and let Shane and the team help you plan a build that reflects where the industry actually is in 2026, not where it used to be.