Top Trade Shows in the US – May 2026
May 2026 is one of the most commercially packed months on the US trade show calendar. Across energy, foodservice, retail real estate, consumer goods, travel, and utilities, decision-makers are gathering with clear budgets and active buying intent. For B2B marketers and sales teams, this window represents one of the highest-density outreach opportunities of the entire year.
Here is a close look at the major events happening this month, who attends, who exhibits, and why they matter.
Offshore Technology Conference (OTC 2026)
📅 May 4–7, 2026 | NRG Center, Houston, Texas
OTC 2026 brings together 30,000+ professionals and features over 360 technical presentations across more than 220,000 square feet of exhibit space — making it the world’s largest offshore energy technology event.
Attendees include a diverse mix of senior executives, engineers, project managers, sales and marketing professionals, business operations specialists, consultants, researchers, technical experts, and university students — all actively working across oil, gas, and emerging offshore renewables.
The conference features over 2,000 exhibitors, spanning global oilfield service companies, subsea equipment manufacturers, drilling technology providers, and clean energy innovators. With 14 international country pavilions, OTC serves as a catalyst for bringing together industry leaders, investors, buyers, and entrepreneurs to develop markets and build business partnerships.
The event theme — Steering Offshore Energy Innovation into the Future — underscores how the sector is advancing both traditional and alternative offshore energy sources. Since 1969, OTC has served as a central hub convening energy professionals from around the world to share ideas, debate pressing topics, and build consensus across the offshore energy sector.
Why it matters for outreach: Attendees here control large-scale project budgets and come with active procurement requirements. Pre-event outreach to engineers and procurement heads can open conversations that take months to land otherwise.
National Restaurant Association Show 2026
📅 May 16–19, 2026 | McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois
Last year the NRA Show welcomed almost 58,000 attendees and exhibitors combined, and organizers expect a similar or slightly higher number in 2026.
The Show draws over 35,000 decision-making operators, dealers, and distributors, including independent restaurant owners, franchise operators, large hospitality chains, procurement heads, chefs, and food distributors. The biggest segment of attendees are independents, who come specifically to find trends and new suppliers or equipment.
With over 2,000 exhibitors showcasing solutions across 900+ product categories, attendees gain access to industry-leading insights, efficiency-boosting equipment, and global flavor trends. Exhibitor categories range from kitchen equipment and food and beverage brands to SaaS platforms, robotics, automation, and supply chain partners. The Show features insights from over 70 expert speakers and covers cutting-edge advancements across AI, robotics, plant-based foods, and sustainable packaging.
With representation from all 50 states and 110 countries, there is no other place to reach the entire foodservice industry ecosystem in one setting.
Why it matters for outreach: This is a buyer-heavy show where purchasing intent is immediate. Many attendees walk the floor specifically to source new suppliers, upgrade equipment, or adopt new technology — making it ideal for early outreach.
ICSC Las Vegas 2026
📅 May 18–20, 2026 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Nevada
With more than 25,000 decision-makers in attendance, ICSC Las Vegas is a premier platform for dealmaking, networking, and industry insights, featuring keynote sessions, an expansive exhibit hall, and curated experiences such as ICSC+PROPTECH and ICSC+WOMEN IN CRE.
Attendees include retail brand executives, leasing managers, commercial real estate developers, brokers, and institutional investors — all directly responsible for deciding where stores open, how properties are developed, and which partnerships move forward. The event features 500+ exhibitors.
New for 2026, ICSC is debuting the ICSC+PROPTECH pavilion, which will spotlight the latest property technology tools running alongside the main show. Topics spanning phygital retail experiences, sustainable development, and the evolving role of shopping centers in community-building will dominate the agenda.
Unlike most trade shows built around product displays, ICSC is structured around deal-making. Conversations move quickly from introductions to negotiations — which means timing your outreach for before the event can set you up to walk into pre-warmed conversations.
Why it matters for outreach: The attendees here control real estate expansion decisions and investment partnerships. Reaching leasing managers and retail executives before they hit the floor gives you a significant edge.
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2026
📅 May 19–21, 2026 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Nevada
The 2026 Sweets & Snacks Expo draws over 10,000 attendees across retail, foodservice, and manufacturing, with a strong commercial focus — people come to write orders, build distribution relationships, and find new products worth putting on shelves.
The annual show convenes thought leaders and industry experts to share insights, connect with fellow professionals, and drive the candy and snack industries forward. Attendees are primarily retail buyers, category managers, distributors, and brokers who are responsible for selecting products to be stocked in stores.
Over 800 exhibitors from across the globe present a diverse range of confectionery and snack products. Many exhibitors use this platform to launch new products and secure distribution deals. The Supplier Showcase returns on May 18 and 19, providing a dedicated marketplace for suppliers to showcase ingredients, machinery, packaging, and other services that support manufacturers in addressing evolving consumer needs.
Why it matters for outreach: Attendees control shelf space. Reaching category managers and buyers before they commit to competing brands is where pre-show outreach delivers its highest ROI.
WasteExpo 2026 (Waste Leadership Summit Edition)
📅 June 8–10, 2026 | Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C. (Note: WasteExpo has moved to a biennial format — the 2026 edition is the Waste Leadership Summit)
WasteExpo is North America’s largest waste and recycling trade show, bringing together more than 13,000 industry professionals and nearly 600 exhibitors each year. In partnership with NWRA, WasteExpo has moved to a biennial format and introduced The Waste Leadership Summit in alternate years, starting in 2026 — an executive-level gathering focused on leadership, policy, and future-shaping industry discussions.
Attendees include municipal decision-makers, waste management companies, contractors, landfill operators, and facility operators responsible for large-scale infrastructure and service decisions. Exhibitors showcase heavy equipment, recycling systems, fleet solutions, and environmental technologies.
WasteExpo 2025 brought together over 14,000 professionals from 100+ countries for an impactful week. The 2026 summit format creates an even more concentrated, executive-level environment with direct access to policy and procurement decision-makers.
Why it matters for outreach: This is a procurement-focused environment. Municipal buyers and operations heads who attend are often authorizing large contracts. Pre-event outreach cuts through the noise before the show floor gets crowded.
IEEE PES T&D Conference & Exposition 2026
📅 May 4–7, 2026 | McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois
This year’s IEEE PES T&D Conference & Exposition 2026 is expected to draw more than 15,000 attendees and over 900 exhibitors, underscoring both the scale of industry transformation and the importance of collaboration in the power and utility sector.
Attendees can visit more than 800 exhibitors at McCormick Place Convention Center. Attendees include utility companies, engineers, infrastructure planners, grid operators, and policymakers focused on improving grid reliability, integrating renewable energy, and modernizing power systems.
The conference theme — “Powering Reliability, Engineering Resilience” — highlights how utilities are moving beyond maintaining the grid to actively designing systems that can withstand new challenges including rapid load growth, aging infrastructure, and extreme weather.
The conference features four dynamic exhibit hall stages with high-impact presentations covering AI for grid management, cybersecurity, renewable integration, and evolving regulatory and business models. Technical tours offer insights into state-of-the-art technologies at facilities like Argonne National Lab and local substations.
Why it matters for outreach: T&D procurement cycles are long and technical. Reaching utility executives and infrastructure planners before the event — with messaging aligned to their specific grid challenges — is the most effective way to get ahead of the competition.
AAAE Annual Conference & Exposition 2026
📅 May 3–5, 2026 | Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California
The 98th Annual AAAE Conference & Exposition is the flagship event of the American Association of Airport Executives — the most concentrated gathering of airport leadership professionals in North America. Held this year in Los Angeles under the theme “Where Dreams Take Flight,” the event brings together more than 2,500 airport and aviation professionals from over 250 airports.
Attendees are drawn from upper and mid-level management across commercial, general aviation, and reliever airports, alongside representatives from the FAA, DHS, and TSA. A standout characteristic of this audience: 85% of attendees are purchasing decision-makers who attend specifically to find business solutions — making it one of the highest concentrations of qualified buyers at any industry event. Conference coverage reaches millions, including leaders at more than 900 airports nationwide.
Exhibitors showcase solutions across airport operations, infrastructure, security systems, passenger experience, aviation technology, electrification, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. The dynamic exhibit hall is designed to bring breakthrough technologies and practical solutions directly to the executives responsible for evaluating and approving them.
Why it matters for outreach: Airport procurement decisions involve long lead times, multiple stakeholders, and significant capital commitments. Reaching operations managers, security heads, and airport executives before the conference — when their calendars and priorities are still being set — gives vendors a meaningful head start over competitors waiting to meet them on the show floor.
Experiential Marketing Summit 2026
📅 May 18–20, 2026 | MGM Grand Conference Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
The Experiential Marketing Summit (EMS) is the only conference focused entirely on live brand experiences — and after more than 20 years, it remains the premier gathering for the event marketing industry. The 2026 edition is expected to draw 1,000+ brand marketers and event industry professionals, with this year’s theme centered on “Human Connection in the Digital Age.”
Attendees include senior brand-side marketers, CMOs, experiential directors, creative producers, agency executives, event strategists, trade show organizers, meeting planners, and partnership leads — primarily from Fortune 1000 companies. Each year, brands such as American Express, IBM, Ford, Sephora, Salesforce, PepsiCo, and Pernod Ricard send senior representatives to share how they are using events, sponsorship activations, and experiential campaigns to connect with customers and drive measurable business results.
Exhibitors gather in the Hall of Ideas to showcase event technology, creative services, activation platforms, venue solutions, and measurement tools. The conference delivers deep dives into trends, best practices, and case studies across brand experience — and culminates in the annual Ex Awards, recognizing the most effective event campaigns of the year.
Why it matters for outreach: EMS attendees are execution-focused decision-makers who control experience budgets and vendor selection. Reaching creative directors and brand event leads before they lock in their calendars is where pre-show outreach delivers its highest return.
ABC Kids Expo 2026
📅 May 13–15, 2026 | Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
ABC Kids Expo is the largest juvenile products trade show in the Western Hemisphere — and the 2026 edition marks the 22nd anniversary of the event. Held across 300,000 net square feet at Mandalay Bay, the show is projected to sell out for the fourth consecutive year, with 350–400 exhibitors and 4,000–5,000 attendees expected on the floor.
Attendees are drawn from every channel of retail: major chains, boutique specialty stores, online sellers, wholesale distributors, and international buyers — all looking to discover new products, build supplier relationships, and place orders for upcoming seasons.
Exhibitors range from global industry leaders to first-time startups introducing innovations across baby gear, strollers, toys, apparel, furniture, educational products, and gifts. The show is organized to maximize face-to-face opportunities between manufacturers and buyers, with the show floor structured around product discovery and deal-making.
Why it matters for outreach: ABC Kids Expo is a buyer-driven show where orders are placed and distribution agreements are signed. With the event selling out each year and exhibitor wait lists regularly exceeding 300 companies, pre-show outreach to retail buyers and category managers is the most effective way to get on their radar before they finalize their sourcing decisions.
Turning These Events Into Sales Opportunities
Understanding these events is only half the equation. The businesses that convert trade show momentum into real revenue are the ones who engage before the doors open.
The most effective approach involves three things:
- Accessing verified attendee and exhibitor data — rather than relying on badge scans or booth conversations, verified databases let you identify and reach the exact decision-makers attending each event.
- Targeting by role and industry — whether you’re after energy executives from OTC, restaurant owners from the NRA Show, retail developers from ICSC, utility planners from IEEE PES T&D, airport executives from AAAE, or brand marketers from EMS, precise segmentation is what separates noise from pipeline.
- Starting outreach before the event begins — the best conversations at trade shows are the ones that started weeks earlier. Pre-event email and LinkedIn outreach warms up prospects so they already know your name when they arrive.
How ExpoAttendeeList Helps You Get There
The difference between a successful trade show season and a forgettable one often comes down to one thing: who you reach, and when you reach them. ExpoAttendeeList gives you the tools to get ahead of the competition before the show floor even opens.
With ExpoAttendeeList, you get access to verified attendees and exhibitors email lists for all major US trade shows, covering events across energy, foodservice, retail real estate, aviation, waste management, consumer goods, and more.
Every contact is segmented by industry and role, so you can filter precisely by job title, company size, seniority, and sector — ensuring your outreach lands in front of the decision-makers who actually matter to your pipeline.
All data is maintained at 95% accuracy and regularly refreshed, so you are never working from outdated or bounced contacts. Every dataset is ready to deploy across email, LinkedIn, and multi-channel outreach campaigns the moment you receive it.
Instead of waiting to collect business cards on the show floor — or hoping a prospect stops by your booth — you can reach the right people directly, weeks before the event begins.
That means warmer conversations, pre-booked meetings, and a pipeline that is already moving by the time you arrive.
Final Thoughts
May 2026 is not just a busy month — it is a concentrated window where the most important buyers, operators, developers, and decision-makers across more than a dozen industries are all moving at the same time. The companies that win are the ones that plan early, target precisely, and engage before the doors open.
👉 Get Your Targeted Expo Email List Today and start connecting with verified attendees and exhibitors through ExpoAttendeeList.