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. National Retail Federation
10. International Roofing Expo 13. New York Travel & Adventure Show 17. DISTRIBUTECH International |
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When: January 11 – 13, 2026
Where: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York
About The Trade Show:
NRF 2026 is a central gathering for retail chains, consumer brands, omnichannel solution providers, POS vendors, and supply chain technology firms. It brings together over 5000 brands from 100+ countries, with the show floor welcoming more than 1,000 exhibitors. NRF conducts over 175+ sessions, and features a Startup Hub, a Foodservice Innovation Zone, and a new AI Stage.
In addition, exhibitors can apply for “Exhibitor Big Ideas” stages to host short talks directly from their booth or adjacent staging areas. This gives them the chance to deliver thought leadership content while driving foot traffic to their island or in-line booth. The event also includes launch platforms where exhibitors reveal new retail technologies, enabling early visibility among buyers and media.
When: January 11 – 13, 2026
Where: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA
About The Trade Show:
Winter FancyFaire 2026 is a fashion, bridal, and formalwear industry trade expo, bringing together over 15,000 attendees worldwide. These comprise retail buyers, bridal boutiques, prom retailers, and accessory distributors. Exhibitors build boutique-style custom trade show rental booths with garment racks, lighting accents, mannequin displays, fabric drape zones, and accessory walls.
The show floor features trend showcases, designer runway previews, trunk show events, wholesale ordering windows, and private buyer-designer appointments. It provides a curated environment for formalwear producers to present seasonal collections, negotiate minimums, and generate orders.
When: January 12 – 14, 2026
Where: Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, NV
About The Trade Show:
Affiliate Summit West 2026 is the world’s largest affiliate‑marketing meet‑up, drawing over 7000 performance marketers, affiliate networks, ad tech providers, publishers, and media buyers. Exhibitors often rent an island or inline booth designed with demo pods, lead-capture kiosks, partner lounge zones, and interactive dashboards. The show includes “meet market” tables, pitch sessions, and networking happy hours to facilitate introductions.
Additionally, the conference features panel discussions on CPA strategies, influencer marketing, affiliate optimization, program analytics, and fraud detection. Many exhibiting firms schedule 1-on-1 meetings in their booth or nearby meeting suites to convert leads. This environment rewards clarity in messaging and efficient lead capture via QR codes or badge scanning.
4. PPAI Expo
When: January 13 – 15, 2026
Where: Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
About The Trade Show:
PPAI Expo 2026 is the central event for promotional products, imprinting, giveaways, corporate gifts, and branding solutions. Education sessions guide distributors and corporate buyers on branding trends, compliance, and sustainability, while the show floor offers tactile access to the newest swag. Exhibitors typically deploy branded swatch walls, digital imprint kiosks, interactive sampling zones, and modular booth rentals.
The expo includes trend forums, pavilion launches, live product awards, and showfloor education. Distributors and decorators often walk with order pads and place orders on site. Vendors use this show to launch new imprintable products, sustainability lines, and customization technology to attract distributor partners.
When: January 16 – 17, 2026
Where: Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
About The Trade Show:
Franchise Expo South 2026 is North America’s largest franchise expo, bringing together franchisors, brokers, investors, and prospective franchisees. At the show, investors and entrepreneurs connect with top franchise brands, explore business models, and learn about financing and legal essentials.
Exhibitors set up trade show booth rentals that include interactive brand videos, financial information kiosks, investor briefing rooms, and signage outlining franchise models. The show includes educational breakout sessions on franchise law, financing, site selection, and growth-phase strategies. The expo is a strategic venue to seed leads, arrange discovery days, and convert site agreements.
6. VMX
When: January 17 – 21, 2026
Where: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
About The Trade Show:
VMX 2026 is the major meeting for veterinary professionals, featuring clinical CE tracks, practice management sessions, and a robust expo. It draws nearly 30,000 attendees to the show and welcomes over 712 exhibitors on the show floor. Exhibitors showcase diagnostic equipment, imaging systems, pharmaceuticals, surgical tools, software platforms, and pet care products. Trade show booths often include live demos, microchip scanning stations, veterinary instrument displays, and in-booth training zones.
The conference also hosts wet labs, cadaver labs, hands-on training sessions, poster forums, and keynotes on trends in veterinary care, telemedicine, and diagnostics. Vendors use this show to pitch directly to veterinarians, practice owners, and hospital decision-makers.
When: January 20 – 22, 2026
Where: The Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
About The Trade Show:
Photonics West 2026 is a flagship optics and photonics event that integrates five exhibitions (BiOS, AR/VR/MR, Photonics West, Quantum West, Vision Tech) alongside 60 technical courses and over 100 conferences. The expo attracts about 1,200 exhibiting companies and over 24,000 industry participants.
Exhibitors often bring highly technical systems such as laser subsystems, fiber amplifiers, micro-optics, quantum testbeds, imaging sensors, and AR/3D sensing modules. Various booths at the show include instrument demos, optical benches, clean-room mockups, alignment rigs, and beam test zones. The show also features technical poster sessions, business forums, networking sessions, and startup showcases.
When: January 20 – 22, 2026
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
About The Trade Show:
World of Concrete 2026 is the leading global event for the commercial concrete and masonry industries. It features an indoor/ outdoor exhibit floor with heavy equipment, formwork systems, shotcrete gear, admixtures, and finishing tools. Exhibitors use rugged trade show booths, live demo pits, over-pour zones, crane displays, and structural mockups.
The show includes technical forums, concrete design competitions, safety workshops, and live demonstrations. Suppliers often run pour zones adjacent to their booth to show real-world performance. Top exhibitors use custom trade show rental booths equipped with elevated platforms, lighting rigs, and video walls to maximize visibility in the high-noise, high-footfall environment.
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When: January 22 – 24, 2026
Where: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
About The Trade Show:
The NAMM Show 2026 is the principal trade show for the music products, pro audio, sound, lighting, and music technology sectors. The show features product launches, artist showcases, educational tracks on audio engineering, lighting design, digital audio workstations, and music business topics.
Vendors also host evening jam sessions, demo tours, and media previews. It is a key venue to exhibit new instruments, audio DSP platforms, pro audio gear, and lighting solutions to dealers and retailers. Exhibitors rent island booths with performance stages, demo rooms, instrument hands-on pods, sound booths, amp rigs, and lighting arrays.
10. International Roofing Expo
When: January 20 – 22, 2026
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
About The Trade Show:
IRE 2026 is North America’s largest roofing expo, uniting roofing contractors, manufacturers, distributors, and service providers. Exhibitors on the show floor showcase the latest roofing membranes, solar roof mounts, gutter systems, insulation, tools, and inspection tech. Booths often include mock roofing sections, drone inspection demos, shingle displays, and aerial lift units.
The show includes technical education sessions, installation clinics, safety workshops, and contractor panels. Many exhibitors run live demo zones adjacent to their booths. It is a strategic venue for roofing suppliers to secure contracts, showcase innovations, and network with residential and commercial roofing buyers.
11. SHOT Show
When: January 22 – 23, 2026
Where: Venetian Expo + Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, NV
About The Trade Show:
SHOT Show 2026 is the premier B2B event in the firearms, hunting, law enforcement, tactical, and outdoor industries. Exhibitors on the show floor gain access to roughly 52,000 industry professionals and over 2,200 media representatives. The show floor welcomes more than 2700 exhibitors each year, so planning for a trade show booth rental must begin early to secure a premium location.
Attendees witness a wide array of product categories at SHOT, from cutting-edge firearms, ammunition, optics, and suppressors to protective gear, accessories, and enforcement solutions. Exhibitors often deploy secure glass-case displays, demo bays, weapon display walls, ballistic test zones, and VIP meeting suites. The show includes education tracks, networking receptions, and “SHOT Week” events that run outside the main expo hours.
12. PGA Show
When: January 20 – 23, 2026
Where: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
About The Trade Show:
The PGA Show 2026 is the central trade-only event for the global golf industry. It brings together over 1,000 brands across equipment, apparel, technology, course management, training aids, and accessories. The show draws thousands of attendees, including PGA professionals, course operators, pro-shop owners, and merchandisers.
Exhibitors often deploy premium demo greens, swing simulators, putting greens, and interactive tech zones to showcase gear performance in real time. The show also includes Demo Day on the course grounds, education tracks, networking events, and brand launch stages to engage directly with key decision-makers.
13. New York Travel & Adventure Show
When: January 24 – 25, 2026
Where: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York
About The Trade Show:
The New York Travel & Adventure Show 2026 is a flagship consumer-travel expo blending public and trade audiences. The show draws over 150,000 attendees, including tour operators, cruise lines, and travel service providers. The show floor welcomes more than 350 exhibitors showcasing the latest in travel. It also includes 60+ seminar sessions, keynotes, and media highlights, allowing exhibitors to combine face time with content marketing.
To maximize impact, exhibitors often use interactive maps, destination kiosks, photo experience zones, VR tours, and themed pavilions. Top exhibitors secure premium placements well in advance through turnkey trade show booth rentals to gain high-visibility corners and flow from adjacent theater zones.
14. IPPE
When: January 27 – 29, 2026
Where: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA
About The Trade Show:
IPPE 2026 is the world’s largest annual trade show for the meat, poultry, egg, and animal food industries. The 2026 edition has already reported more than 1,130 exhibiting participants across 629,000 square feet of exhibit space, making it the largest show floor in IPPE history.
Exhibitors in this industry often deploy processing line mockups, meat or poultry inspection stations, control room dashboards, and ingredient blending rigs. The event features technical sessions, plant tour options, live demonstrations, and networking tracks designed for supply-chain decision-makers in protein, feed, processing, and packaging verticals.
20×40 Trade Show Exhibit AT HIMSS Show 2025, Las Vegas, NV
15. The NGA Show
When: February 01 – 03, 2026
Where: MGM Conference Center, Las Vegas, NV
About The Trade Show:
The NGA Show 2026 is the premier trade event exclusively for the independent grocery industry, bringing together retailers, wholesalers, suppliers, and solution providers under one roof. This year, the show expects 300+ exhibitors across categories such as center-store, fresh, store design, operations services, tech, and merchandising innovations.
Top exhibitors use immersive product displays, automation demos, cold-chain tech pods, shelf-set mockups, and digital commerce kiosks to engage buying teams and category managers. The newly added “Fresh Pitches” (speed networking), expanded breakfast roundtables, and leadership & HR forums create more structured touchpoints between brands and grocery decision-makers.
16. AHR Expo
When: February 02 – 04, 2026
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
About The Trade Show:
AHR Expo 2026 is the flagship U.S. event for the HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration) industry. It brings together manufacturers, component suppliers, systems integrators, facility engineers, contractors, and building automation professionals under one roof. The show hosts educational tracks, live demonstrations, networking sessions, and standards forums, making it a hub for technical decision-makers in HVACR procurement and system design.
Many trade show exhibits at AHR Expo feature live equipment cutaways, ductwork mockups, VR control-system demos, IoT sensors, and energy-management dashboards.
17. DISTRIBUTECH International
When: February 02 – 05, 2026
Where: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA
About The Trade Show:
DISTRIBUTECH 2026 is the leading U.S. event for transmission, distribution, grid modernization, and utility technology providers. It attracts around 12,000 attendees from 67+ countries and hosts over 475 exhibits across power delivery, automation, DER integration, smart grid, and grid-edge domains.
Utility vendors and tech providers often use modular control-room mockups, live DER/AMI integration demos, and network analytics kiosks to capture attention from utility buyers, consultants, and regulatory agencies. The show also features “Knowledge Hubs” on the floor, technical tracks, roundtables, and networking receptions to facilitate deal-making and thought leadership.
18. MD&M West
When: February 03 – 05, 2026
Where: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
About The Trade Show:
MD&M West 2026 unites the MedTech, automation, design & manufacturing, plastics, and packaging verticals into one converged show floor. The show draws over 1,700 exhibitors and more than 14,000 attendees, positioning the event as a major hub for medical device development and advanced manufacturing sourcing.
Within the event, booths with clean-room modular enclosures, prototype validation stations, automation integration demos, micro-assembly workcells, and component R&D displays. The show also offers technical tracks, regulatory compliance forums, and supplier matchmaking tools, making it ideal for OEMs, contract manufacturers, and component suppliers aiming to close sourcing contracts or validate next-gen design partnerships.
19. NADA Show
When: February 03 – 06, 2026
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
About The Trade Show:
The NADA Show 2026 serves as the primary gathering for automotive retailers, OEM partners, fintech vendors, aftermarket service providers, and digital retail platforms. This year, the show floor is expected to host 600+ exhibitors in its largest marketplace ever. The show’s “Product Demo Stage” showcases fast-paced launches and trend reveals directly from exhibitors.
Top exhibitors at the NADA Show integrate product display bays, vehicle platforms, charging stations, and interactive tech kiosks to draw dealer traffic.
When: February 07 – 16, 2026
Where: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
About The Trade Show:
The Chicago Auto Show 2026 is North America’s longest-running and one of the largest auto trade shows. In 2025, it attracted nearly 217,000 visitors and featured record-breaking in-vehicle experiences across indoor test tracks and outdoor drives. Exhibitors on the show floor showcase nearly 1,000 vehicles across more than 20 manufacturers, from electric and concept models to SUVs, trucks, and performance cars.
Top exhibitor displays often integrate vehicle presentation bays, AR/VR test drive simulators, charging stations, and mobility technology kiosks to attract both consumer and trade traffic. The show includes themed “First Look for Charity” evenings, daily ride experiences, and curated technology zones for EV and connected vehicle innovations.
21. ITEXPO
When: February 10 – 12, 2026
Where: Fort Lauderdale, FL
About The Trade Show:
ITEXPO 2026 is a telecom, UCaaS, cloud communications, and unified communications show. It gathers over 7000 attendees, including telecom and IT professionals from enterprises, service providers, and MSPs. It hosts 150+ conference sessions, three demo theaters, visionary keynotes, and multiple networking events. The show floor welcomes more than 300 exhibitors showcasing the latest in the telecom industry.
Top exhibitors rent booths furnished with demo labs, live call centers, testing rigs, interactive dashboards, and network gear. They often embed video conferencing, softphone demos, SIP trunks, VoIP systems, and cybersecurity tools.
22. World AG Expo
When: February 10 – 12, 2026
Where: International Agri-Center, Tulare, CA
About The Trade Show:
World AG Expo 2026 is one of the most prominent agricultural shows in California. It brings together over 100000 attendees from over 70 countries. Exhibitors showcase the latest farm equipment, precision ag sensors, drones, irrigation systems, inputs, and data platforms. Booths often expand outdoors with full machinery displays, demo fields, drone flight zones, and sensor demo stations.
The show also includes educational seminars on precision farming, sustainability, ag data analytics, and equipment financing. Many vendors run live field demos adjacent to the show floor. The expo is ideal for OEMs in agtech, machinery, sensors, and agrochemical sectors.
23. NAHB International Builders’ Show
When: February 17 – 19, 2026
Where: Orlando, Florida
About The Trade Show:
International Builders’ Show 2026 is a premier trade show, drawing more than 70,000 homebuilders, residential construction, materials, systems, and design professionals. The show floor welcomes over 1700 exhibitors showcasing windows, roofing solutions, structural systems, interior finishes, smart-home solutions, modular units, and energy systems. Booths often include room mockups, VR house tours, façade displays, and modular pods.
The show includes education on codes, design trends, building science, sustainability, and construction technology. Many exhibitors schedule walk-through demos inside their booth. It is a critical venue for homebuilding suppliers, material manufacturers, home automation providers, and design firms.
24. PACK EXPO East
When: February 17 – 19, 2026
Where: Philadelphia, PA
About The Trade Show:
PACK EXPO East 2026 is one of the most exclusive shows in the packaging, processing, and materials handling industry, drawing more than 8000 attendees. Over 500 exhibitors at the show showcase filling machines, labeling equipment, robotics, inspection systems, conveyors, and sustainable packaging. Booths often include live production line mockups, inspection zones, and sorting systems.
The show features packaging innovation forums, material trends, sustainability tracks, and supply chain optimization sessions. Many vendors run sample packaging runs or inline demos. This is a key event for brands, converters, OEMs, and automation integrators seeking exposure to packaging buyers.
25. 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.
26. Natural Products Expo West
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.
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. Game Developers Conference
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.
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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