Las Vegas briefs this month track two forces moving in opposite directions: big-show volume inside the halls and softer demand signals outside them. April’s calendar is anchored by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), while March closed with strong attendance at CONEXPO-CON/AGG and Bar & Restaurant Expo. At the same time, new data points to continued pressure on visitation and Strip gaming, even as the city lines up future tentpoles like Super Bowl LXIII and a wave of new entertainment and hotel plays.
Tradeshows & Conventions
Las Vegas April Calendar Lists Four Tradeshows
Las Vegas lists four April 2026 tradeshows across the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), Caesars Forum, and The Venetian. The largest by exhibitor count is the NAB Show, running April 18–22 at the LVCC (1,146 exhibitors and 54,007 attendees). Other April shows include the ReMa Convention (Recycled Materials Association), April 13–16 (275 exhibitors and 4,830 attendees); Inside Self-Storage World Expo (ISS World Expo), April 7–10 at Caesars Forum (271 exhibitors and 3,526 attendees); and Channel Partners Conference & Expo, April 13–16 at The Venetian (155 exhibitors and 4,300 attendees).
See all the shows on ECN’s Tradeshow Calendar.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 Drew 140,000+ Attendees to Las Vegas
CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 ran March 3–7 in Las Vegas, drawing more than 140,000 attendees from 128 countries. Organizers reported 2,000+ exhibitors across more than 3 million square feet of exhibit space, with equipment, jobsite technology, and fleet solutions highlighted alongside education programming. The next CONEXPO-CON/AGG is scheduled for March 13–17, 2029.
Bar & Restaurant Expo Marks 40th Anniversary With 10,000+ Attendees
Bar & Restaurant Expo ran March 23–25 in Las Vegas and marked its 40th anniversary. Organizers reported more than 10,000 attendees over three days and highlighted education sessions, keynotes, and an exhibit floor focused on food-and-beverage operations and restaurant tech. Questex said the show will return March 22–24, 2027, in Las Vegas.
TOURISM & MAJOR EVENTS
Fewer Las Vegas Visitors, Satisfaction Stays High
ECN reporter Ray Smith notes Las Vegas visitation fell 7.5 percent in 2025, but most visitors still reported they were satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their trip. A 2025 Visitor Profile briefing to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board linked the decline to fewer mid- and lower-income travelers. It also put first-time visitation at 10 percent. Food-and-beverage and shopping spend dipped, while gambling participation held steady.
See Ray’s full story here.
Las Vegas Set to Host Super Bowl LXIII as Businesses Cite Super Bowl LVIII Lift
Las Vegas is preparing to host Super Bowl LXIII. Local operators pointed to the city’s hosting of Super Bowl LVIII in 2024, when the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) estimated about 330,000 visitors. Some vendors credited the NFL Business Connect program for linking local businesses to Super Bowl-related contracting and said the exposure continued beyond game week.
Strip Gaming Win Fell 11% in January
Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) figures show Las Vegas Strip gaming win fell 11% year over year in January 2026, to $747.7 million. Statewide gaming win totaled $1.35 billion, down 6.6%, while Downtown Las Vegas slipped 5.2% to $79.4 million and Reno rose 2.9% to $69.0 million.
NBA Expansion Vote Spurs Early Las Vegas Team Name Odds
After the NBA Board of Governors voted March 25 to formally explore expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle, Las Vegas fans jumped to branding, with Bookies.com posting early odds that list Mirage as the favorite, followed by Scorpions, Vipers, and Phantoms; the vote did not award a franchise, but it kicked off deeper review of ownership, arena plans, and market readiness, accelerating the name debate in Las Vegas while Seattle fans largely default to “SuperSonics” if the league returns.
ENTERTAINMENT
Lisa Books Caesars Palace Residency Dates in November
Blackpink’s Lisa will stage her first Las Vegas residency, “Viva La Lisa,” at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Nov. 13–14 and Nov. 27–28. The announcement also described the run as the first Las Vegas residency by a K-pop artist. Ticket sales include an artist presale starting April 22 at 10 a.m. PT, with a general onsale set for April 23 at 10 a.m. PT.
Justin Timberlake in Early Talks for Park MGM Residency
Justin Timberlake is reportedly in early discussions with MGM Resorts and Live Nation about a possible residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM, with a potential start date cited as 2028. The report framed the concept as a hits-driven run and noted Timberlake previously downplayed the idea of a Vegas residency. The item did not confirm dates, deal terms, or an official announcement.
Celine Dion Paris Run Signals Return After Hiatus
Celine Dion is expected to return to the stage with a run at Paris La Défense Arena, with reports pointing to weekend dates in September and October. The venue is a 40,000-seat arena acquired by Live Nation in January. Dion has not toured since March 2020 and disclosed a Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis in 2021.
Hotels & Casinos
Bellagio Books The Aviary Cocktail Pop-Up May 1–31
Bellagio will host a monthlong residency by Chicago cocktail bar The Aviary at The Vault from May 1–31. The pop-up will run Wednesday through Sunday and include a three-cocktail flight with paired bites, plus a limited à la carte menu alongside The Vault’s regular offerings.
Downtown Grand Placed in Receivership, Sale Process Underway
Downtown Grand hotel-casino has operated under a court-appointed receiver since early January after its owners defaulted on a $90 million construction loan, according to court records cited in industry coverage. The receiver, Paul Huygens of Henderson-based Province LLC, has begun marketing the property for sale following action by lender Banc of California. Reports tied the default to missed interest payments beginning in March 2025 and noted the loan was used to finance the property’s expansion, including its third hotel tower.
Vanderpump Hotel Opens May 26 as Cromwell Rebrand on Strip
Caesars Entertainment will open The Vanderpump Hotel on May 26, rebranding The Cromwell at Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road. Caesars said GIADA, Drai’s After Hours, Interlude casino lounge, casino operations, and the Caesars Sportsbook will remain open during the transition. The boutique property will feature 188 guest rooms and suites redesigned by Lisa Vanderpump and partner Nick Alain, with bookings now live through Caesars channels.
Image caption: A “Welcome to Las Vegas” marquee inside MGM Grand highlights the resort’s main concourse. Photo by Mark Hebert, Exhibit City News.
