Upcoming 30 Must-Participate Trade Shows in the USA in 2026
The United States remains the most competitive and opportunity-rich trade show market in the world, hosting over 13000 shows annually. Every year, thousands of exhibitors across technology, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and consumer sectors invest heavily in custom trade show booth rentals in the US to connect with decision-makers and buyers. The U.S. trade show industry is a key growth ecosystem, driving billions in B2B transactions, partnership deals, and new product launches.
To drive ROI, exhibitors need well-designed, turnkey trade show booths that combine creativity with strategy. Whether you plan to rent a booth or purchase one, understanding the country’s most influential events helps you focus on resources and maximize ROI.
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| 1. AAOS
7. New York International Auto Show 8. Inside Self-Storage World Expo 23. Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America 24. MRO Americas Conference & Exhibition |
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1. AAOS
When: March 02 – 06, 2026
Where: New Orleans, LA
About The Trade Show:
AAOS 2026 is the principal gathering for orthopedic surgeons, device manufacturers, robotics, biomaterials, and instrumentation firms, drawing over 7500 attendees. The show floor hosts more than 600 exhibitors showcasing implants, surgical robotics, navigation systems, joint systems, bone grafts, and regenerative technologies. Trade show exhibits often include surgical simulators, VR anatomy stations, robotic demos, and cadaveric training zones.
The meeting includes scientific sessions, instructional courses, clinical tracks, and poster forums. Many vendors offer hands-on workshops in their exhibit hall or adjoining labs. It is a strategic venue for device OEMs and suppliers to engage surgeons and hospital purchasers.
When: March 03 – 06, 2026
Where: Anaheim, CA
About The Trade Show:
Natural Products Expo West 2026 is one of the premier events for the natural, organic, and healthy products industry. It hosts over 2000 exhibitors covering sectors like food & beverage, personal care, supplements, and wellness. The show also includes educational tracks on trends, clean-label innovation, supply chain transparency, regulatory compliance, and retail strategy. Exhibitors on the show floor showcase clean-label foods, beverages, supplements, cosmetic ingredients, sustainable packaging, and plant-based innovation.
Booths often include sampling counters, cold-chain display cases, nutrition kiosks, and brand immersion zones. Many exhibitors schedule product launch events, media tastings, and influencer meetups. It is an essential platform for CPG brands, ingredient suppliers, and wellness marketers.
When: March 03 – 07, 2026
Where: Las Vegas, NV
About The Trade Show:
CONEXPO-CON/AGG is North America’s foremost construction and infrastructure trade show, bringing together heavy-equipment OEMs, aggregates suppliers, concrete tech providers, site-automation firms, and jobsite services in one massive floor plan. The show features over 2000 exhibitors across 2.9 million square feet of indoor and outdoor display space. It also features more than 150 educational sessions on sustainability, digitalization, and operational efficiency.
The show floor features demonstration zones, test drive lanes, safety training, industry forums, and new-product showcases. Booths at the show are often massive, with outdoor displays, demo lanes, working equipment, operator cabins, and structural mockups.
4. IBS New York
When: March 08 – 10, 2026
Where: New York, NY
About The Trade Show:
The International Beauty Show (IBS) 2026 is one of the longest-running and most influential trade shows in the professional beauty industry. It typically draws over 22,000 attendees and features more than 200 exhibitors spanning hair care, skincare, makeup, nail, spa equipment, and salon furnishings. The exhibit hall features hundreds of premier brands, ranging from hair care and nail products to aesthetic equipment, with live product demonstrations.
Top exhibitors aim for premium aisle or corner layouts to maximize traffic, visibility, and ROI. Booth designs typically include demo bars, service stations, sample walls, LED mirrors, and interactive education zones. The show also hosts master classes, trend stages, and live shows, providing multiple touchpoints to engage salon owners, stylists, buyers, and brand decision-makers planning new launches or distribution deals.
5. HIMSS
When: March 09 – 12, 2026
Where: Las Vegas, NV
About The Trade Show:
HIMSS 2026 is a major health IT and medical systems trade show inviting global experts to explore interoperability, cybersecurity, AI, and patient‑engagement technologies. Exhibitors present electronic health record systems, interoperability platforms, telehealth, AI in healthcare, wearable devices, digital diagnostics, and population health tools.
HIMSS draws leading hospital CIOs, provider systems, government agencies, payers, and health tech firms from across the world. The show also hosts keynotes, educational tracks on healthcare policy, digital transformation, interoperability, cybersecurity, and data analytics. Many exhibitors run live demos, integration sprints, and workflow simulations within their booth space.
When: March 09 – 13, 2026
Where: San Francisco, CA
About The Trade Show:
GDC 2026 is North America’s largest trade show of game developers, with hundreds of sessions on game design, programming, AI, business, and marketing. The event typically attracts tens of thousands of developers, publishers, and media outlets. It also features tracks on rendering, AI, VR/AR, monetization, narrative, engine development, and business.
Exhibitors deploy developer booths featuring playable game demos, motion-capture rigs, engine showcases, and creative display pods. While others schedule playable demos, press preview times, partner meeting suites, and indie showcases. It is essential for middleware, game engine providers, tool developers, and studios to engage devs and publishers.
7. New York International Auto Show
When: April 03 – 12, 2026
Where: Jacob Javits Center
About The Trade Show:
The New York International Auto Show is one of the most established automotive events in North America, bringing together global automakers, suppliers, media, and mobility innovators. The show spans production vehicles, concept cars, electric and autonomous technology, and consumer-facing automotive experiences, reflecting how the industry is evolving toward electrification and connected mobility.
For participating brands, the event balances consumer visibility with industry credibility. Exhibitors that clearly communicate innovation, performance, and design relevance tend to generate stronger engagement in a market where competition for attention is intense and expectations are high.
8. Inside Self-Storage World Expo
When: April 08 – 09, 2026
Where: Caesars Forum Conference Center
About The Trade Show:
Inside Self-Storage World Expo is the leading trade event for the self-storage industry, serving owners, operators, developers, and service providers. The show focuses on facility operations, technology platforms, construction solutions, security systems, and revenue optimization strategies across a rapidly consolidating sector.
Exhibitors benefit from a highly targeted audience focused on operational efficiency and scalability. Booths that prioritize clarity, real-world use cases, and ROI-driven solutions resonate most with attendees managing both single-site facilities and national portfolios.
9. International Sign Expo (ISA)
When: April 08 – 10, 2026
Where: Orange County Convention Center
About The Trade Show:
ISA International Sign Expo is the premier event for the signage, graphics, and visual communications industry. It brings together sign manufacturers, printers, fabricators, designers, and brand specialists showcasing innovations in digital signage, wide-format printing, materials, and installation technology.
The show floor rewards hands-on engagement. Live equipment demos, material comparisons, and application-focused displays allow exhibitors to demonstrate performance and durability in an industry driven by precision, quality, and turnaround speed.
10. Small Business Expo
When: April 08 , 2026
Where: Charles E. Smith Center
About The Trade Show:
Small Business Expo is a national platform designed to support entrepreneurs, startups, and growing small businesses across industries. The event connects business owners with service providers, technology platforms, financial partners, and educational resources aimed at scaling operations and improving efficiency.
Exhibitors succeed by offering practical value rather than abstract messaging. Clear solutions addressing cash flow, marketing, operations, and growth strategy tend to attract business owners actively seeking actionable support.
When: April 09 – 11, 2026
Where: Portland, Oregon
About The Trade Show:
The Oregon Dental Conference is one of the largest regional dental meetings in the U.S., bringing together dentists, hygienists, specialists, and dental staff. The event blends continuing education with a robust exhibit hall featuring dental equipment, materials, technology, and practice-management solutions.
Exhibitors that focus on workflow efficiency, patient outcomes, and practice economics connect well with attendees balancing clinical excellence and business sustainability.
12. NSBA
When: April 10 – 12, 2026
Where: San Antonio
About The Trade Show:
The NSBA Conference serves school board members, superintendents, administrators, and education leaders shaping K–12 policy and governance. Programming centers on leadership, equity, funding, infrastructure, technology, and student outcomes across public school systems.
Exhibitors engaging this audience benefit from clear, mission-aligned messaging. Solutions tied to accountability, long-term planning, and measurable impact resonate most in an environment driven by public responsibility and policy oversight.
When: April 10 – 13, 2026
Where: Washington, D.C.
About The Trade Show:
The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Annual Meeting is a global gathering for ophthalmic surgeons and eye-care professionals. The event highlights advancements in surgical techniques, medical devices, diagnostics, and clinical outcomes in vision care.
High-performing booths emphasize education and clinical relevance. Technology demonstrations, data-driven results, and surgeon-to-surgeon dialogue support meaningful engagement in a highly specialized medical environment.
14. MODEX
When: April 13 – 16, 2026
Where: Atlanta, GA
About The Trade Show:
MODEX is one of North America’s largest trade shows for material handling, supply chain, and logistics technology. It brings together manufacturers, distributors, system integrators, and solution providers focused on automation, robotics, warehousing, and fulfillment optimization.
Exhibitors gain traction by showcasing operational impact. Live automation demos, simulation tools, and workflow visualizations help decision-makers evaluate solutions designed to improve speed, accuracy, and scalability.
Browse through our portfolio to find perfect booth for your upcoming Trade Show!
15. Space Symposium
When: April 13 – 16, 2026
Where: Colorado
About The Trade Show:
Space Symposium is the leading global forum for the space industry, uniting government agencies, defense organizations, commercial space companies, and research institutions. The event addresses policy, security, exploration, satellite systems, and commercial space infrastructure.
Exhibitors operate in a credibility-first environment. Clear positioning around reliability, innovation, and long-term capability is critical when engaging stakeholders operating at national and international levels.
When: April 13 – 16, 2026
Where: Miami, USA
About The Trade Show:
Seatrade Cruise Global is the cruise industry’s most influential B2B event, connecting cruise lines with suppliers, shipbuilders, port authorities, and technology providers. The show covers ship design, onboard systems, guest experience, sustainability, and destination development.
Successful exhibitors focus on operational performance and passenger experience. Booths that communicate efficiency, safety, and innovation perform well in a sector balancing growth with regulatory and environmental pressures.
17. AAE
When: April 15 – 18, 2026
Where: Salt Lake City
About The Trade Show:
The AAE Annual Meeting is the leading educational and exhibition event for endodontic specialists. It features advancements in root canal treatment, diagnostics, imaging, instruments, and clinical best practices.
Exhibitors benefit from a focused audience seeking precision and reliability. Clinical demonstrations, evidence-backed claims, and workflow integration resonate strongly with practitioners prioritizing outcomes and efficiency.
When: April 17 – 22, 2026
Where: San Diego Convention Center
About The Trade Show:
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting is the world’s largest gathering dedicated to cancer science and translational research. The event brings together researchers, clinicians, biotech companies, and pharmaceutical leaders.
Exhibitor engagement is driven by science and credibility. Data-rich presentations, research collaboration frameworks, and technology demonstrations support meaningful conversations in a research-intensive environment.
19. NAB Show
When: April 18 – 22, 2026
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center
About The Trade Show:
NAB Show is the premier event for media, entertainment, and broadcasting professionals. It spans content creation, production, distribution, streaming, and emerging media technology across film, television, radio, and digital platforms.
Exhibitors stand out by demonstrating real-world application. Interactive demos, workflow integrations, and future-facing media solutions attract decision-makers navigating rapid technological change.
20. NPGA
When: April 19 – 21, 2026
Where: Music City Center, Nashville
About The Trade Show:
NPGA events serve propane marketers, suppliers, and energy professionals across residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural markets. Programming focuses on safety, regulatory compliance, equipment innovation, and business growth.
Booths that emphasize reliability, compliance, and operational efficiency align well with an audience managing critical energy infrastructure and customer safety.
20×40 Trade Show Exhibit at HIMSS Show 2025, Las Vegas, NV
When: April 19 – 22, 2026
Where: National Harbor, MD
About The Trade Show:
Sea-Air-Space is the largest maritime defense exposition in the U.S., connecting military leaders, defense contractors, shipbuilders, and technology providers. The event focuses on naval platforms, aerospace systems, cybersecurity, and national defense strategy.
Exhibitors operate in a mission-critical environment where trust and capability matter most. Clear, security-conscious presentations and solution-driven messaging are essential.
When: April 20 – 25, 2026
Where: Indianapolis, IN
About The Trade Show:
FDIC International is the world’s largest event for fire and rescue professionals. It combines hands-on training, education, and a large exhibit hall showcasing firefighting equipment, safety technology, and emergency-response solutions.
Exhibitors that highlight durability, usability, and real-world performance resonate with first responders evaluating tools that directly impact safety and effectiveness.
23. Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America
When: April 20 – 22, 2026
Where: Philadelphia, PA
About The Trade Show:
CBC & BrewExpo America is the largest trade event for the craft brewing industry, bringing together brewers, suppliers, and service providers. The show spans ingredients, equipment, packaging, technology, and operations.
Exhibitors succeed by addressing scalability and consistency. Solutions that help brewers improve efficiency while maintaining quality are particularly relevant in a competitive market.
24. MRO Americas Conference & Exhibition
When: April 21 – 23, 2026
Where: Orlando
About The Trade Show:
MRO Americas is the leading event for aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul professionals. It brings together airlines, OEMs, suppliers, and service providers focused on fleet maintenance, parts supply, and operational reliability.
Exhibitors benefit from emphasizing uptime and compliance. Clear technical messaging and lifecycle-focused solutions support high-value conversations.
25. The NAMA Show
When: April 22 – 24, 2026
Where: Los Angeles
About The Trade Show:
The NAMA Show serves the convenience services industry, including vending, micro-markets, coffee services, and unattended retail. The event highlights technology, product innovation, and evolving consumer behaviors.
Booths that demonstrate ease of deployment and consumer appeal connect best with operators managing distributed retail environments.
26. DMEMS
When: April 22 – 23, 2026
Where: San Diego
About The Trade Show:
DMEMS connects defense manufacturing leaders, engineers, and suppliers focused on production readiness and industrial capability. The event emphasizes collaboration across government, prime contractors, and the supply chain. Exhibitors succeed by demonstrating manufacturing reliability, scalability, and alignment with defense requirements.
When: May 02 – 05, 2026
Where: Chicago
About The Trade Show:
DDW is the premier international meeting for gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and digestive disease research. The event attracts clinicians, researchers, and medical device manufacturers. Exhibitors benefit from clinical clarity. Data-driven demonstrations and patient-outcome-focused messaging resonate with a highly specialized medical audience.
28. Offshore Technology Conference
When: May 04 – 07, 2026
Where: NRG Park, Houston
About The Trade Show:
OTC is a leading global event for offshore energy professionals, covering exploration, drilling, production, and emerging offshore technologies. The show attracts operators, engineers, and service providers from around the world.
Exhibitors gain traction by emphasizing safety, efficiency, and technical performance in complex operating environments.
29. ACT Expo
When: May 04 – 07, 2026
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center
About The Trade Show:
ACT Expo is North America’s largest event focused on clean transportation and fleet sustainability. It brings together fleet operators, OEMs, technology providers, and policymakers addressing emissions reduction and alternative fuels.
Exhibitors that provide practical pathways to adoption—rather than aspirational messaging—connect best with fleets balancing sustainability goals and operational realities.
30. Precision Med Tri-Conference
When: May 04 – 05, 2026
Where: San Francisco
About The Trade Show:
The Precision Med Tri-Conference is a leading life sciences event focused on precision medicine, diagnostics, biomarkers, and translational research. It brings together biotech, pharma, diagnostics, and academic leaders.
Exhibitor engagement is strongest when grounded in science and collaboration. Clear positioning around data integrity, clinical relevance, and scalability supports meaningful partnerships.
Conclusion
Early 2026 offers one of the strongest trade show calendars in recent years, spanning innovation in construction, health tech, retail, manufacturing, and digital industries. Each event attracts a highly qualified audience of buyers, distributors, and partners ready to engage in person. For exhibitors, this means sharper competition and a greater need for distinctive booth design, targeted messaging, and seamless execution.
Exhibitors should plan early to secure exhibit rentals that reflect their brand’s identity and align with defined marketing objectives. In-booth engagement should be tailored to attract and convert your target buyer, whether through interactive demos, product showcases, or consultative discussions. Each event in the lineup presents measurable potential to generate qualified leads, strengthen partnerships, and build brand authority. With a reliable booth partner and a data-driven event strategy, your presence can transform into meaningful ROI and long-term market impact.
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