Trade shows are a fantastic time to check out your competition, make industry connections, find customer leads, and help your business stand out. You can make your mark with the big shots at global events for industry leaders, or grow your visibility with local events for small businesses. Both kinds of events are happening year-round across industries, so when should you be marking your calendar for trade show season? Don’t wait! Start your trade show planning now with our guide to the busiest trade show months and the starring events for each one.
Why You Should Start Preparing Early for Trade Shows
Trade shows are an important event for businesses, allowing you the chance to give your audience and others in your industry a brief but powerful look at who you are and what you do. It’s a place to make connections, get a read on the competition, and get valuable visibility for your brand. Here are some things you should be looking at as soon as you know what trade shows you want to attend:
- Travel details: While there are plenty of local events you can attend, big conventions typically require a week of travel. Don’t wait for everything to be booked up before buying your plane tickets, hotels, and car rentals!
- Know who is going: Employees have busy schedules outside of work, and you don’t want them to be on holiday or have a major doctor appointment the week of your biggest trade show! Have your best presenters informed of their participation months in advance so you can be sure their schedule is free. Make sure to have backups picked and informed as well in case someone gets sick.
- Display essentials: There’s nothing worse than finding a typo in your flyers the week before the trade show, or have your shipping delayed in a busy season for your top swag. Order everything well in advance so it’s reviewed and ready long before your big event.
- Your event plans: You can’t see and do everything off the cuff at trade shows. There will be a lot of things to see and do, so check the vendor and presenter lists ahead of time and make a plan for each day you’re attending. Pick your prioritized presentations to attend, what booths you want to scope out, and have backup plans for everything.
Busiest Months for Trade Shows
While each month is packed with hundreds of events in every industry, some months stand out from the others as something of a “trade show season” for many industries. Here are four popular trade show months and some of the major events happening in each.
Trade Shows in January
Most popular with the Technology, Automotive, Construction, Education, and Entertainment industries, January starts off the year packed with trade show marketing potential. Some of the most notable, can’t-miss trade shows in January include:
- Jan 06, 2025 – AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition: For brands that are reaching for the stars! This A manufacturing and engineering event focuses on the aerospace industry, highlighting innovations, goals, and trends in space tech. Held in Orlando, Florida.
- Jan 07, 2025 – Consumer Electronics Show (CES): A globally renowned trade show for consumer technology (CTAs), this is where you go to learn what technologies will be revolutionizing our everyday life, held annually in Vegas.
- Jan 21, 2025 – The SHOT Show: This is the place for gun and rifle shops to learn the tech and trends of the coming year. The largest global firearms trade show for law enforcement, hunting, and outdoor gear, held annually in Vegas.
- Jan 28, 2025 – International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE): Whether you’re farming, processing, or selling, this event is an essential for anyone in the meat, poultry, and animal food industries. Attracting visitors from over 130 countries and held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Trade Shows in February
This month is hot for the Construction, Automotive, Aerospace, and Agriculture industries, packed with popular global events as well as thousands of local ones. Here are some of the largest trade shows you don’t want to miss in February:
- Feb 10, 2025 – AHR Expo: Some like it hot, some like it cold, but everyone needs to come to the largest HVACR industry event! Guests and presenters include engineers, architects, contractors, and more! Held in Orlando, Florida.
- Feb 11, 2025 – POWERGEN International: A key gathering event for electrical and utility providers, and anyone interested in learning this year’s innovations in energy! This trade show takes place in Dallas, Texas.
- Feb 19, 2025 – Vision Expo, East: The yearly brand check-up for eye clinics is happening in Orland, Florida! Make connections and study industry trends with over five thousand leaders in the optical industry.
- Feb 25, 2025 – NAHB IBS 2025: Set up a solid foundation of connections for your building business! Don’t miss this gathering of over 76,000 professionals in the building industry, taking place this year in Vegas.
- Feb 26, 2025 – NAFEM Show: Come hungry to learn to this food-centric event! A key expo for those in the food equipment industry, you won’t want to miss this gathering in the Georgia World Congress Center.
Trade Shows in March
March is big for the Education, Healthcare, and Entertainment industries, as well as having plenty more events for Construction and Technology. Here are some of the major March trade shows you’ll want on your calendar:
- March 01, 2025 – Pittcon: Beakers and bottles and microscopes, oh my! Check out this expo for the scientific community, focusing on analytical chemistry and applied spectroscopy. Held in Boston, Massachusetts.
- March 03, 2025 – HIMSS 2025: Give your clinic a check-up with this major healthcare event! Whether you’re a provider or a medical tech brand, you won’t want to miss this major gathering of 30,000 industry experts! Held in Vegas.
- March 04, 2025 – Natural Products Expo West: Get on a diet of all the right information for your brand! Are you in the health food and wellness industry? Make sure you’re booked for this major gathering of natural products experts held in Anaheim, California.
- March 07, 2025 – American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): This annual meeting brings together the biggest names in skincare and dermatologists, essential for anyone in the health and beauty fields. Show up ready to learn in Orlando, Florida!
- March 10, 2025 – PACK EXPO Southeast: Do you send out or receive climate-sensitive materials? Want to find new ways to package your products? Don’t miss this packaging event in Atlanta, Georgia!
- March 18, 2025 – National Hardware Show: Build business relationships, brand visibility, and more! Globally popular for the hardware industry, you won’t want to miss this if you’re in the home renovation and home improvement sectors. Held in Vegas.
Trade Shows in October
The Food and Beverage, Education, and Entertainment industries get busy again in October, along with the Medicine industry. Start your trade show planning now for these end-of-year events!
- Oct 6, 2025 – IMEX America: The big event for the meeting, event, and trade show industry, this event is a can’t-miss opportunity for anyone who plans or hosts events of their own. Held in Vegas.
- Oct 7, 2025 – SEMICON West: Don’t miss this leading trade show for microelectronics and manufacturing, collecting tens of thousands of attendees every year in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Oct 7, 2025 – Global Gaming Expo: Get your head in the game! From videogames to sports betting, this event touches all over the entertainment sector and is the biggest gathering of gaming professionals in North America. Held in Vegas.
- Date Not Yet Declared – FI North America: Restaurants, mark your calendars! The biggest food and beverage event in North America is being held in Vegas. Come prepared to talk new flavors, ingredient trends, and more.
- Oct 17, 2025 – GIE+EXPO: Mark this National Gardening Industry & Equipment Exhibition on your calendar! This annual event draws in landscapers, hardscapers, and contractors from across the nation. Held in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Oct 27, 2025 – Money 20/20: No matter what industry you’re in, you won’t want to miss this number one expo on financial services tech! Touching everything from POS systems to accounting, this gathering in Vegas brings together the big players in financial tech.
Find Your Trade Shows
Didn’t see your industry in our list? There are so many trade shows happening across the world every year, we’d have to print novels to cover them all! Thankfully, you can find information for each one online. Along with a general web search, here are a few websites you can use to search trade shows according to industry, location, dates, and more.
How to Prepare For a Trade Show
Once you know the when and where for your next trade show, how do you prepare? When going to events this big, don’t wing it! Plan every detail as soon as possible so you have everything ready long before trade show day.
Here are a few essential steps you should take to prepare your in-trade show marketing and booth.
- Make a Script: You may be a smooth talker, but now isn’t the time to rely on skill alone. Plan what you’re going to say, from key phrases to attract a crowd to the full at-the-table pitch.
- Stock Up on Branding: Don’t show up with a bare table and some flyers! Make your logo apparent from a distance with banners, branded table covers, signs, and more. Plus, share promotional swag to attract a big crowd fast.
- Prepare Your Literature: There’s no way you can say everything at the table. Make sure attendees are getting the full picture of your business with informational pamphlets that include your website and contact info for after the event.
- Assemble Your Team: Who is your best sales person? Your friendliest crowd-catcher? Your best table decorator? Get these people scheduled ahead for your trade show of choice so you have your A-team representing your business.
For our comprehensive prep checklist, check out our other blog post on how to prep for a trade show.
