For exhibitors planning 2026 shows, the math no longer adds up. The booth program that cost $100,000 before the pandemic can now run nearly twice as much, and every part of the tradeshow budget, from drayage to rigging, feels heavier on the balance sheet.
The Experiential Design Authority (TEDA) will present the 2026 CES BOSS Awards (Best of Show Stand Awards) on February 18 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. PST at Balkan Bar and Grill in Las Vegas. The in-person event recognizes standout experiential exhibits from the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and the designers and exhibit houses behind them.
International briefs this month span strong January buyer traffic in Hong Kong, new show launches and venue activations in India and Australia, and a packed 2026 calendar across Europe and the United Arab Emirates, with organizers emphasizing attendance targets, exhibitor growth, and expanded programming.
Structure has appointed Dave Callahan as director of operations in Chicago. Callahan brings more than 30 years of experience across the tradeshow, event, and museum industries. His background includes production, warehouse operations, site supervision, project management, estimating, sales, and accounting, giving him direct experience with both day-to-day execution and operational oversight.
The 43rd United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) General Convention transformed The Paris Las Vegas into a celebration of its leaders and members, and of the craftsmanship that unites them.
Miami Beach is known for sunshine and spectacle, but at the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC), owned by the City of Miami Beach and managed by Oak View Group), something quieter is shaping the city’s future: collaboration. At “SkillBuild at the Beach,” contractors, union leaders, and venue management came together not to negotiate, but to train the next wave of skilled labor.
The 2025 Year in Review includes a moment of remembrance for industry professionals whose careers left a lasting imprint on the exhibit and events community. These brief entries reflect decades of work behind the scenes, on show floors, and in leadership roles that helped move the industry forward.
Paris does not need another admirer. What it benefits from here is an explanation. In Nobody Sits Like the French: Exploring Paris Through Its World Expos, Charles Pappas argues that the city most often praised for its beauty is better understood through the seven Universal Expositions that reshaped it between 1855 and 1937.
Welcome back to “A Look Back at Tradeshow History.” This month, we turn to January issues from the past 25 years, a snapshot of how the industry has responded to disruption, growth, and change.
December closed out a consequential year for Orlando’s meetings and tourism sector, marked by a major convention center expansion, new hotel investment tied to future demand, record tourism metrics, and heavy airport traffic heading into 2026.
Chicago closed 2025 with a steady flow of convention, consumer, and civic developments that point to a busy year ahead. New data ranks the city third nationally for scheduled business conferences in 2026, while flagship events including the Chicago Auto Show, Cubs Convention, and Discover Boating Chicago Boat Show set dates and unveiled new programming.
As 2026 begins, the tradeshow and events industry is looking toward a year of careful planning and cautious optimism. Economic growth has slowed, costs remain high, and policy uncertainty continues to weigh on travel and investment decisions.
