The Exhibitor's Daily
Today's trade show briefing
Independent reporting on exhibit costs, labor rules, materials and the business behind the booth.
IMEX America 2026: A Full Appointment Calendar Needs a Booth That Can Keep Up
As meeting professionals prepare for Las Vegas, exhibitors should test the space between booking a buyer and holding a useful conversation—from arrival and seating to screens and follow-up.
The latest
More from the newsroom
- The Cost DeskSEMA and AAPEX 2026: The Builds, Breakthroughs, and Business Behind Las Vegas’ Biggest Automotive Week
- The Cost DeskThe Booth Quote Isn’t the Trade Show Budget: Where the Rest of the Money Goes
- The BusinessInside Mitsubishi Electric’s HVAC Trade Show Booth: A Walkthrough of the Design
- The BusinessAI Is Everywhere in the Trade Show Industry. Almost None of It Is Where You'd Expect.
- The FloorHow Early to Book Trade Show Labor — and How Often to Re-Shop Storage
- The Cost DeskWinter Trade Show Travel: Where the Money Actually Goes
- The BusinessWhy Is the Trade Show Industry Down?
Show Calendar
On the calendar
Verified dates, venues and practical exhibit context for the shows your team needs to plan around.
| Show | Dates | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMEX America 2026 | Oct 13–Oct 15, 2026 | Las Vegas | Mandalay Bay |
| PACK EXPO International 2026 | Oct 18–Oct 21, 2026 | Chicago | McCormick Place |
| FABTECH | Oct 21–Oct 23, 2026 | Las Vegas | Las Vegas Convention Center |
| SEMA Show | Nov 3–Nov 6, 2026 | Las Vegas | Las Vegas Convention Center |
| CES 2027 | Jan 6–Jan 9, 2027 | Las Vegas | Las Vegas Convention Center |
| NRF 2027: Retail’s Big Show | Jan 10–Jan 12, 2027 | New York | Jacob K. Javits Convention Center |
The desks
What we cover
The Cost Desk
What exhibiting actually costs. Drayage, labor, booths, graphics, freight — with the numbers and where they came from.
Read the desk →The Floor
Union jurisdictions, EAC rules, move-in schedules, and what you are and aren’t allowed to do in your own booth.
Read the desk →Materials
Aluminum, fabric, wood, print. How booths are actually built and what that means for your budget.
Read the desk →The Business
Who bought whom, what it costs to run an exhibit house, and where this industry is going.
Read the desk →