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A Comprehensive List of the Upcoming 2025–2026 Winter Trade Shows & Why You Should Attend
The transition from one year to the next marks the beginning of the annual trade show circuit, with the winter months hosting some of the most influential business-to-business (B2B) events in North America. These winter trade shows set the stage for major industry trends and provide a crucial platform for lead generation, making early planning essential for success.
For exhibitors looking to maximize their ROI, knowing which events to prioritize is the first critical step. We’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the upcoming 2025–2026 winter trade shows so you can schedule your exhibition calendar and begin designing your award-winning display now.
Benefits of Attending Winter Trade Shows
While summer and fall shows offer great opportunities, the early-year winter trade shows hold unique strategic advantages for your business:
- First Look at the Year’s Trends: Many major shows in January and February, particularly in tech, retail, and construction, serve as the launchpad for new technologies and industry-wide themes. Attending puts you ahead of the competition.
- Budget Finalization: Winter attendees are often senior-level decision-makers and buyers with finalized annual budgets, ready to commit to purchases.
- Maximum Media Exposure: Events like CES and NRF generate massive global media buzz, providing an opportunity for your company to secure press mentions and industry headlines.
- Beat the Summer Rush: By securing leads early in the year, your sales team can get a jumpstart on pipeline development before the high volume of summer and fall events begins.
14 Our Recommended 2025–2026 Winter Trade Shows You Should Attend
Here is a look at eight of the largest and most influential upcoming 2025–2026 winter trade shows across key industry verticals.
CES 2026 (Consumer Electronics Show)
Event Type: Major Tech & Innovation Expo
Who Should Attend and Why
CES is a must for any company operating in technology, automotive, smart home, digital health, or manufacturing. It is the premier global stage for innovation, attracting media and global investors looking for the future of consumer and B2B technology. Your exhibit must be highly experiential to compete.
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Approximate Dates: January 6–9, 2026
2. NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show
Event Type: Annual Retail & Technology Convention
Who Should Attend and Why
This is the essential event for the retail industry, including e-commerce platforms, retail technology solutions, supply chain providers, and payments processors. NRF draws high-level executives looking to overhaul their strategies and invest in types of trade show booths that can showcase complex integrated systems and interactive customer journeys.
- Location: New York, NY
- Approximate Dates: January 11–13, 2026
3. The PPAI Expo 2026
Event Type: Promotional Products Trade Fair
Who Should Attend and Why
The PPAI Expo is crucial for anyone in the promotional products, branding, or marketing industry. If you produce or supply branded merchandise, this show is your primary buying and selling hub. It’s also vital for corporate marketing teams seeking fresh ideas for their own trade show booth incentives.
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Approximate Dates: January 13–15, 2026
4. World of Concrete (WOC) 2026
Event Type: Commercial Construction & Masonry Exhibition
Who Should Attend and Why
The World of Concrete expo is exclusively for professionals in the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries. Suppliers of construction materials, heavy equipment, and specialized construction software will find an engaged audience ready to buy and see live demos of industrial equipment.
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Approximate Dates: January 20–22, 2026
5. International Roofing Expo (IRE) 2026
Event Type: Roofing & Exterior Construction Conference
Who Should Attend and Why
The IRE is the largest event in North America for the roofing and exterior construction industry. Manufacturers of roofing materials, exterior building components, and related services should attend to connect with contractors, distributors, and specifiers.
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Approximate Dates: January 20–22, 2026
6. The International Surface Event (TISE) 2026
Event Type: Flooring, Stone, and Tile Marketplace
Who Should Attend and Why
If you are in the flooring, stone, or tile sectors (including manufacturing, distribution, and installation), TISE is the central marketplace. It requires a strong focus on material display and lighting to showcase product quality effectively.
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Approximate Dates: January 27–29, 2026
7. AHR Expo 2026
Event Type: HVACR Industry Trade Show
Who Should Attend and Why
The largest trade show in North America for the HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration) industry. Professionals involved in engineering, contracting, building management, and energy solutions must attend to see the latest climate control technologies.
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Approximate Dates: February 2–4, 2026
8. NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) 2026
Event Type: Residential Construction & Design Expo
Who Should Attend and Why
NAHB International Builders’ Show is the largest annual light-construction show, held concurrently with the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in what is known as “Design & Construction Week.” This is the top event for residential building professionals, from builders and architects to suppliers of interior finishings, home technology, and construction management services.
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Approximate Dates: February 17–19, 2026
9. AAPEX 2025 (Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo)
Event Type: Global Automotive Aftermarket Trade Fair
Who Should Attend and Why
AAPEX is the must-attend event for the global automotive aftermarket industry. Attendees include parts manufacturers, service providers, repair shop owners, and distributors. If your business involves vehicle maintenance, repair, or accessory products, this show gives you direct access to the buyers driving the future of the automotive ecosystem, including new trends in electric vehicles and diagnostics.
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Approximate Dates: November 4–6, 2025
10. MAGIC Las Vegas 2026
Event Type: North America’s Largest Fashion Marketplace
Who Should Attend and Why
MAGIC is essential for fashion brands, retailers, and suppliers across apparel, footwear, and accessories. It’s a massive, multi-category event that covers contemporary, modern, and high-volume styles. Exhibitors here need dynamic, visually appealing booths with plenty of display space and private meeting areas for closing wholesale deals. The show is held concurrently with PROJECT Las Vegas, which focuses on contemporary men’s and women’s fashion.
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Approximate Dates: February 17–19, 2026
11. IPPE (International Production & Processing Expo) 2026
Event Type: Food Production & Processing Expo
Who Should Attend and Why
IPPE is a massive global event for the poultry, meat, and feed industries. It brings together over 1,100 exhibitors and covers the full chain from animal health and production technology to food safety and packaging. If your company provides industrial equipment, large-scale processing technology, or specialized ingredients, this is your key winter event.
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Approximate Dates: January 27–29, 2026
12. SHOT Show 2026 (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show)
Event Type: Shooting Sports & Outdoor Recreation Expo
Who Should Attend and Why
The SHOT Show is the largest trade show for professionals in the shooting sports, hunting, outdoor recreation, and law enforcement industries. It’s strictly trade-only. Exhibitors include firearms manufacturers, optics companies, gear suppliers, and tactical equipment providers. Booths here often prioritize secure, high-quality product display and immersive, rugged branding.
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Approximate Dates: January 20–23, 2026
14. NY NOW Winter 2026
Event Type: Home, Gift, and Lifestyle Marketplace
Who Should Attend and Why
If your products fall into home design, gifts, stationery, or luxury lifestyle goods, NY NOW is a primary destination for retailers and buyers. This show often requires elegant, modular displays that effectively showcase product aesthetics and manage inventory, contrasting with the large industrial needs of the construction shows.
- Location: New York, NY
- Approximate Dates: February 1–3, 2026
How IGE Can Make Your Winter Trade Show a Success
Attending these major winter trade shows means competing against the largest companies in the world. Your exhibit must be engineered to stand out, generate traffic, and handle the specific demands of the event.
At IGE, we specialize in delivering custom exhibit solutions tailored to the needs of these high-stakes shows:
- Experiential Designs: For massive tech and retail shows like CES and NRF, we design types of trade show booths that are immersive, incorporating interactive features, large-scale video walls, and customized demo areas to capture media and executive attention.
- Logistical Mastery: Many winter shows, especially those in Las Vegas and Orlando, run back-to-back. Our national reach and project management ensure seamless execution, storage, and transport, allowing you to focus purely on your sales goals.
- Integrated Solutions: Whether you need a massive custom island exhibit for WOC to showcase heavy machinery or a modular display that can be easily reconfigured for the IBS, we provide turn-key solutions that maximize every square foot of your floor space.
To ensure you cover every step of the planning, design, and execution process for your upcoming events, download our comprehensive trade show booth checklist.
Here to Help You Shine
Don’t let the opportunity of these high-impact upcoming 2025–2026 winter trade shows pass you by. Early planning is the most effective way to guarantee the best booth location, secure resources, and deploy a truly custom exhibit that delivers exceptional ROI.
The time to start planning your winter strategy and design your exhibit is right now.
Contact IGE today to start discussing your 2026 trade show exhibit needs.