Top Trade Shows in San Francisco That You Must Attend in 2027
San Francisco remains a major destination for trade shows and professional conferences, with Moscone Center hosting events that attract businesses and industry professionals from across the country and abroad. Its 2027 calendar includes established events in cybersecurity, healthcare, specialty food, and scientific research. Each brings a different audience to the city, making San Francisco an important meeting point for businesses operating in these sectors.
For exhibitors planning their next event, this guide covers upcoming trade shows in San Francisco, including their dates, venues, and what makes each one relevant to its industry. It also offers a closer look at the event formats and audiences to help businesses prepare for their participation.
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| 1. Biotech Showcase
6. Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy |
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1. Biotech Showcase
When: January 11 – 13, 2027
Where: Hilton San Francisco Union Square, San Francisco, CA
About The Trade Show:
At Biotech Showcase, the main objective for many participating companies is securing investor interest. Founders present their businesses to investors who want to understand the science, commercial potential, and development plans behind each venture.
The 2027 edition marks the event’s 19th year. Informa Connect and Demy-Colton organize the showcase, which brings together more than 350 presenting companies and over 1,200 investors from 35 countries.
Company presentations introduce investment opportunities, while one-on-one partnering meetings give participants time for more detailed discussions. Seed Showcase focuses on emerging companies, and DigiMed Showcase covers digital medicine. A separate digital partnering session follows on January 19–20.
Unlike a conventional product exhibition, Biotech Showcase places considerable emphasis on scheduled business meetings. Companies evaluating trade show booth rentals in San Francisco should first confirm whether their participation includes exhibit space or centers on presentations and partnering appointments.
When: January 17 – 19, 2027
Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
About The Trade Show:
Winter FancyFaire returns the Specialty Food Association’s winter event to San Francisco for the first time since 2020. Replacing the Winter Fancy Food Show, the new format brings more than 1,000 exhibitors together with retailers, distributors, and specialty food buyers.
New products get a dedicated space in the Debut District, where buyers can discover emerging food brands. The one-day Good Food Mercantile adds another opportunity to explore specialty products. Beyond Moscone Center, the Campus Tasting Trail brings the event into three local restaurants with specially prepared menus.
For food brands exhibiting at Winter FancyFaire, product sampling should be a prominent feature of the booth. Trade show displays in San Francisco can accommodate tasting counters and product shelving, allowing buyers to examine the range before discussing distribution opportunities.
When: January 30 – February 04, 2027
Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
About The Trade Show:
Lasers and optical technologies take center stage at SPIE Photonics West. The exhibition covers everything from optical components and imaging systems to the equipment engineers use for precision measurement.
The event occupies three buildings at Moscone Center. Exhibitors use the lower levels of Moscone North and South, as well as the first level of Moscone West. Specialized events such as Quantum West, Vision Tech, and AR | VR | MR expand the exhibition into related technology fields. The Embedded Vision Summit also joins the event, bringing computer vision and physical AI into the technical discussions.
Across the full week, approximately 24,000 researchers, engineers, students, and business professionals attend. The technical program includes more than 4,500 presentations.
For manufacturers, trade show booth design in San Francisco for Photonics West needs to account for the equipment on display. Optical instruments can require stable demonstration surfaces and controlled.
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20×20 Custom Trade Show Exhibit at RSA Conference 2026, San Francisco, CA
4. AAD
When: March 19 – 23, 2027
Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
About The Trade Show:
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting focuses on the research and clinical practices that shape dermatology care. Physicians attend educational sessions across the specialty and earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.
The exhibit area gives dermatologists a closer look at products and technologies they can use in clinical practice. Research presentations also introduce findings that could influence future treatment approaches.
Exhibitors have an audience that understands the clinical applications of their products. A trade show booth in San Francisco for AAD can use demonstration stations to explain device operation. Supporting displays can present clinical information for physicians to review during product discussions.
5. RSAC Conference
When: April 05 – 08, 2027
Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
About The Trade Show:
Cybersecurity buyers arrive at RSAC Conference with specific problems to solve. Some need to secure AI applications. Others want to understand how AI fits into their security operations. Cloud protection and identity security also feature in the 2027 agenda.
RSAC has grown considerably since its first cryptography conference in 1991. Today, its North Expo and South Expo bring together security vendors and professionals evaluating new technologies. The Learning Labs offer hands-on education, while Birds of a Feather sessions encourage smaller group discussions.
For exhibitors, the challenge is explaining what their security product actually does. Trade show booth design in San Francisco for RSAC can accommodate live software demonstrations. Screens showing real workflows give buyers something specific to evaluate instead of relying on broad product claims.
6. Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
When: April 13 – 16, 2027
Where: Moscone West Convention Center, San Francisco, CA
About The Trade Show:
Drug coverage decisions involve more than clinical performance. Health plans and pharmacy benefit managers also evaluate treatment costs and patient outcomes. These considerations shape many of the discussions at AMCP 2027. The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy brings approximately 4,000 managed care professionals together for the meeting. Attendees include health plan leaders, pharmacy benefit managers, and biopharmaceutical representatives.
Scientific posters and spotlight theaters give participants opportunities to examine research on drug therapies and disease management. Exhibitors can use these discussions to explain how their products support formulary decisions and value-based care.
For biopharma companies, exhibit rentals in San Francisco can include dedicated areas for reviewing clinical evidence with managed care professionals. Display space for research findings also helps keep technical discussions focused on the information buyers need.
7. International Society for Stem Cell Research
When: June 15 – 18, 2027
Where: Moscone West Convention Center, San Francisco, CA
About The Trade Show:
A stem cell researcher presenting early findings has different priorities from a biotech company developing a commercial application. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting brings both groups into the same scientific community.
Returning to San Francisco in 2027, the meeting connects established scientists with early-career researchers and biotechnology companies. Poster presentations give research teams a platform to share their findings and discuss ongoing work.
ISSCR also places considerable emphasis on developing researchers. Trainees can present their work, apply for travel awards, and connect with mentors. For exhibitors supplying laboratory technologies or research tools, technical conversations matter more than elaborate presentations. Trade show exhibits in San Francisco can feature equipment demonstrations and displays explaining how a product supports stem cell research.
8. Small Business Expo
When: June 23, 2027
Where: South San Francisco Conference Center, San Francisco, CA
About The Trade Show:
Small business owners come to this expo seeking practical ways to run and grow their businesses. The Small Business Expo brings them together with service providers offering solutions for everyday business needs. The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is free to attend. Workshops cover business operations, marketing, and finance. Attendees can also hear from entrepreneurs who share lessons from building their companies.
Speed networking gives business owners a chance to meet other professionals during the day. On the exhibit floor, vendors can speak directly with founders and business owners evaluating services for their companies. For exhibitors offering business software or professional services, trade show booth rentals in San Francisco can include demonstration stations where visitors can explore products or discuss specific business challenges.
9. American Psychological Association
When: August 12 – 14, 2027
Where: San Francisco, CA
About The Trade Show:
The American Psychological Association (APA) Convention 2027 is expected to draw more than 8,000 psychology professionals. Its audience extends beyond clinical practitioners to researchers, educators, and professionals working in applied psychology.
One distinctive feature is the role of APA divisions. Each division develops sessions around its own area of psychology. The Society for Personality and Social Psychology, for example, contributes research-focused programming. Attendees can participate in person or online, giving researchers and practitioners different ways to access the convention.
For organizations planning trade show exhibits in San Francisco, the audience offers opportunities to introduce psychological assessment tools, research resources, and professional education services. lighting. Technical screens also allow engineers to examine performance specifications without interrupting live demonstrations.
Conclusion
San Francisco’s trade show calendar extends beyond conventional product exhibitions. Moscone Center hosts large exhibit floors alongside technical conferences, research presentations, and industry-specific meetings. That distinction matters when planning an exhibit. The space and setup that work for a product launch won’t necessarily suit a conference built around technical discussions or scheduled appointments.
Once you’ve confirmed your event, review its exhibitor requirements before finalizing your booth. Hall assignments, display regulations, and installation schedules can affect what you build and how you use the available space.
Exponents provides trade show booth rentals in San Francisco, with custom design, in-house production, full pre-builds, and on-site installation and dismantling. A dedicated project manager handles coordination, while fixed, itemized pricing gives exhibitors a clear view of their costs before production begins. Explore our trade show displays in San Francisco to plan an exhibit suited to your upcoming event.