The 2026 Dallas Pen Show was a four-day affair that ran from September 24th thru 27th 2026. I opted for the VIP weekend pass which allowed me to attend all four days and have early access to the show before the general ticket holders. Due to some unfortunate shenanigans on my part, I ended up only attending the first two days. But boy howdy, were they fun.
My experience at the 2026 DPS was vastly different than 2025 which was my first time attending. 2025 DPS was overwhelming in a plethora of ways – I went alone, the space used was crowded and the entire thing was a bit overwhelming. I attended the show for maybe two hours before leaving – having bought nothing but a pack of stickers. 2026 DPS was more enjoyable. Because of Inks & Drinks NTX I know way more people that are part of the pen community and making plans to meet up with them at the DPS (or running into them) made the show more enjoyable this time around. By initially tagging up with friends more familiar with pen shows I met and talked to makers and other vendors I might not have had the courage or felt comfortable enough to if I were alone. This is actually something I should have realized from going to conventions like FanExpo Dallas. I don’t mind going by myself but it’s always more fun with friends that are just as excited as you are.
Let’s get to the part I talk about pens.
My very first purchase was the entire reason I attended the DPS to begin with. I wanted to get an Esterbrook with a Journaler nib. One of the few things I did at the 2025 DPS was test a Journaler nib, created by Gena Salorino for Esterbrook, and I immediately fell in love with it. As I mentioned, I walked away from that show without having purchased anything more than a pack of stickers. I spent an entire year lamenting the fact I didn’t pick up an Estie with that nib at the show because every time I looked to get one online, it was sold out.
Every. Single. Time.
As soon as we were at the Esterbrook booth I asked if there were any pens that had the Journaler nib. Their response: Only one. My response: *here’s my card* (well I did say that and then said card promptly locked itself for possible fraud – which I wouldn’t get around to correcting until later that evening.) A pen friend came to my rescue and I zelled them what I would have paid for the pen. Talk about exciting first purchases.
So, I managed to snag the ONLY pen with a Journaler nib at the DPS. It happened to be a recent collaboration that Esterbrook did with Ferris Wheel Press Inks – The Rockstar. Now, I had seen the release of this pen and the images I saw didn’t impress me at the time. Images do not do this pen justice. It is absolutely beautiful when you see it person. It’s hard to capture the chatoyance, the luster, the interplay of all the materials. It’s hard to capture the chatoyance, the luster, the interplay of all the materials.
I’d give you technical stats about the Estie Rockstar but I’m not that geeky about fountain pens. I’ll just say that I don’t ever see myself posting the cap on this pen. Granted, I don’t post the majority of my pens unless they are pocket pens. The length of the pen without the cap posted is the perfect for my small hands. I’d normally share a second photo with some writing that I did with the pen, especially since I picked this one up for the nib. But I haven’t actually inked it up yet. I’m still having a think on which ink to use. I’ll figure it out soon though. Here is another picture of the pen though!
If I had walked away from the DPS with just this pen and nothing else, I would have been happy. I picked up exactly what I was looking for. But that’s not how pen shows work is it? I picked up THREE other pens.