Trade Show News

Dallas Market Center is concluding 2026 with a significant increase in retailers and designers attending its markets, with buyer attendance across its 15-market series from January to October rising over 3.0%. New buyer attendance was up 24.4% from 2025, marking the highest total in five years.

Dallas Market Center concluded 2026 with increased buyer attendance across its 15 markets from January to October, marking a 3.0% overall gain. First-time buyers surged by 24.4% from 2025, reaching a five-year high and accounting for 20% of total attendance.

Dallas Market Center is ending 2026 with record buyer attendance, up over 3.0% across its 15-market series from January to October compared to 2025, with new buyer attendance increasing by 24.4%.

Dallas has solidified its position as a premier trade show destination in the U.S., with the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center hosting over a million visitors annually and the Dallas Market Center contributing nearly $800 million to the local economy through its 200+ annual trade shows. The city's efficient freight movement and skilled labor force further enhance its appeal for exhibitors.

Chatham Lodging reported that its Dallas convention hotels experienced a 34% increase in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) in Q3 2026. This rebound occurred despite the respective convention centers being essentially closed for renovations. The company's five convention hotels collectively saw RevPAR expand by 15% in the quarter.

EXPO Convention Contractors, a national provider of general contracting and event services, has expanded its operations into the Dallas–Fort Worth area. This move establishes a strategic hub to support clients and events across Texas.

Rosa Fleming, Director for Convention and Event Services, is leading the implementation of the multi-layered Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Master Plan. In her role, she oversees an annual operating budget of over $114 million and a capital budget exceeding $62 million, managing contracts for KBHCCD and other city venues.

Monique Abed, CMP, is spotlighted as one of Trade Show Executive's 2026 Women to Watch in the November 2026 issue. These leaders are recognized for their achievements and impact within their organizations and the broader events industry.

Dallas Market Center is actively seeking temporary market setup and trade show sales representatives for its January 2027 markets. These positions highlight ongoing activity and staffing needs within the trade show industry in Dallas.

Research from Freeman, unpacked by TSNN, indicates that late event registration has become the new normal for the trade show industry, impacting event registration, attendee decision-making, and exhibitor ROI.

Dallas Market Center has announced a robust schedule of events for 2027, including the AETA International Trade Show, Apparel & Accessories Market, Dallas Men's Show, Total Home & Gift Market, Kidsworld, Lightovation: Dallas International Lighting Show, WESA's International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market, and Archlight Summit.

The TCG National Convention 2027, slated for January 21-24 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, is set to be the world's largest trading card game convention, featuring over 1,400 vendor tables and uniting the global TCG community.

Collect-A-Con Dallas, billed as the nation's largest trading card, anime, and pop culture event, will feature over 900 vendor tables at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

Tradefest lists several upcoming trade shows and conferences in Dallas for 2026 and 2027. These include the Dallas Men's Show from January 23-25, 2027, and MRO Americas from April 13-15, 2027, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

The ArchLIGHT Summit, a commercial and architectural lighting event, will move its 2027 dates from September to June and co-locate with Lightovation. The event will also relocate within the Dallas Market Center to a new ninth-floor space in the World Trade Center building. Lightovation: Dallas Market is scheduled for January 6–9, 2027.

The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas is undergoing an ambitious expansion set to debut in 2030, adding approximately 500,000 square feet of new event space for a total of ~2.1 million square feet. The project includes 750,000 square feet of exhibit halls, 180,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and a 105,000-square-foot grand ballroom, with a focus on sustainability and LEED Gold certification. The existing center will remain operational through phased construction.

The City of Dallas is soliciting concepts from developers for 40 acres of unused parking lots in Fair Park, aiming to generate revenue and stabilize the area. This initiative is linked to the city's decision to hike the hotel tax to support both Fair Park and the convention center.

The City of Dallas is seeking redevelopment proposals for 40 acres of vacant parking lots in Fair Park, aiming to generate revenue and revitalize the area. This initiative follows a hotel tax hike for Fair Park and the convention center, and the city is also considering a third-party operator for the Cotton Bowl stadium.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science announced on November 2, 2026, plans for a four-acre campus transformation, including an outdoor expansion that will double its exhibition space. This project aims to enhance science learning and is expected to break ground in early 2027, opening in late 2028.

Expansion work is currently underway for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, with the master plan aiming to add approximately 500,000 square feet of event space. This includes new exhibit halls, improved meeting rooms, and a massive ballroom, as part of a larger redevelopment project.