Las Vegas briefs this month point to steady convention demand, major sports and entertainment planning, and milestone moments for Strip properties as May’s tradeshow calendar brings large groups back to the city.
Tradeshows & Conventions
Las Vegas May Calendar Lists Four Largest Tradeshows by Exhibitor Count
Las Vegas lists several May 2026 tradeshows across the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), The Venetian, and other major venues. The largest by exhibitor count is JCK, running May 29 through June 1 at The Venetian, with 1,835 exhibitors and 29,364 attendees. Other top May shows include Sweets & Snacks Expo, May 19 through 21 at the LVCC, with 1,000 exhibitors and 16,000 attendees; International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Las Vegas, May 18 through 20 at the LVCC, with 803 exhibitors and 24,520 attendees; and Advanced Clean Transportation Expo (ACT Expo), May 4 through 7 at the LVCC, with 480 exhibitors and 12,000 attendees.
See all the May shows on ECN’s Tradeshow Calendar.
Coverings 2026 Draws West Coast Attendance in Las Vegas
Coverings 2026 ran March 30 through April 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show drew thousands of industry professionals and more than 750 exhibitors from nearly 40 countries. Organizers said attendance from California and Nevada rose 412 percent compared with the 2025 show in Orlando. Architect and designer attendance increased 24 percent compared with the last Las Vegas edition in 2022.
PCA Sets 2027 Trade Show Dates in Las Vegas
The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced its 2027 trade show will run March 5 through 8 in Las Vegas. The announcement followed PCA26 in New Orleans, which drew 262 exhibitors, nearly 2,540 retailers from 970 accounts, and more than 5,900 total attendees. PCA leadership cited strong show floor activity and member participation as momentum for the 2027 event.
NAB Show Reports 58,000 Attendees in Las Vegas
The 2026 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show ran April 18 through 22 in Las Vegas and reported more than 58,000 registered attendees. Attendees came from 146 countries, with 22 percent traveling from outside the United States and 48 percent attending for the first time. The show featured more than 1,100 exhibitors, 530 conference sessions, and about 900 speakers. Organizers said content creators, enterprise media teams, and sports media professionals helped drive audience growth.
ReMA 2026 Draws Recycling Professionals to Las Vegas
The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) 2026 convention and exhibition drew about 7,000 recycling professionals to Las Vegas in mid-April. The event included more than 400 exhibitors on the tradeshow floor at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Recycling International was among the exhibitors. The next ReMA convention is scheduled for April 12 through 15, 2027, in Nashville.
ISS World Expo Brings Self-Storage Industry to Las Vegas
Inside Self-Storage (ISS) World Expo 2026 ran April 7 through 10 in Las Vegas, with exhibits April 8 and 9. The event brought together self-storage owners, managers, developers, investors, and suppliers. Organizers reported more than 250 exhibiting companies, including Extra Space Storage, Janus International Group, Modern Storage, and Public Storage. Education sessions covered investing, development, management, marketing, technology, and international business. The 2027 ISS World Expo is scheduled to return to Las Vegas at Caesars Forum Conference Center, with education from March 30 to April 2 and exhibits March 31 and April 1.
MGM Reports Las Vegas Revenue Growth as Convention Demand Strengthens
MGM Resorts International reported $2.2 billion in Las Vegas net revenue for the first quarter of 2026, marking its first Las Vegas revenue growth in more than a year. President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Hornbuckle said convention business, including CES and CONEXPO-CON/AGG, helped drive performance. Convention business accounted for 20 percent of MGM Resorts’ room nights in the quarter. MGM reported record average daily rates at its hotels during the quarter, supported by group demand and upcoming meetings with companies including Google and Cisco.
Tourism & Major Events
Mayweather-Pacquiao Rematch Talks Shift Toward MGM Venues
Plans for a Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao rematch are shifting away from Sphere and toward MGM Resorts International venues in Las Vegas. T-Mobile Arena or MGM Grand Garden Arena are now under discussion, with a possible mid-August date instead of September 19. The bout is expected to stream on Netflix and be sanctioned as a professional contest. Mayweather defeated Pacquiao by unanimous decision in their 2015 fight.
A’s Ballpark Construction Hits Milestones in Las Vegas
Construction on the Athletics’ $2 billion Las Vegas ballpark has reached several milestones, with the project still on time and on budget. Steel work began March 4, and crews have added steel seating girders, suite-level framing, and upper-deck framing. The final portion of concrete decking was poured in late April, completing the lower concourse around the 9-acre site. Roof truss installation is scheduled to begin June 1, and the 33,000-seat stadium is expected to open for the A’s in 2028.
Entertainment
KISS Kruise Returns to Las Vegas in November
KISS will bring KISS Kruise: Land-locked in Las Vegas back to Virgin Hotels Las Vegas from Nov. 13 through 15. The fan event is expected to include question-and-answer panels, KISS karaoke, meet and greets, late-night DJs, interactive exhibits, and two unmasked shows by the band. The event will also include an Ace Frehley All-Star Tribute. Tickets go on sale May 5, with presale access for KISS Army VIP members beginning April 30.
Hotels & Casinos
The STRAT Marks 30 Years on Las Vegas Skyline
The STRAT marked its 30th anniversary with a daylong celebration that included giveaways, live music, and special offers for guests and employees. The event featured a free poolside performance by Better Than Ezra at Swim & Social, with DJ Santos and Empire Records opening the afternoon. The property also offered anniversary deals, including $30 Sky Jump access for the first 30 guests. More than 120 employees have worked at the tower since it opened, and the property recognized day one, 20-year, and 10-year team members during anniversary events.
Photo caption: MGM Grand’s lion overlooks construction near the future Athletics ballpark site in Las Vegas, where stadium work continues as MGM Resorts reports stronger convention-driven demand on the Strip. Photo by Mark Hebert — Exhibit City News
