Trade Show News

The San Francisco Travel Association's 2026 tourism forecast predicts visitor spending will reach $9.9 billion, surpassing pre-pandemic records, with 24.2 million visitors projected. The report highlights the convention pipeline, with 38 events at Moscone Center, as a key driver of this recovery, contributing significantly to tax revenue and job creation.

San Francisco launched its PermitSF Portal on February 13, 2026, and plans to expand it in June 2026, aiming to streamline permitting for startups, small businesses, and event organizers. This reform seeks to modernize city operations, reduce red tape, and enhance the city's economic competitiveness.

San Francisco tourism leaders are strategically scheduling back-to-back conventions to counteract lower-than-anticipated bookings for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Anne Marie Presutti, President and CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association, stated that the city's strong convention calendar is expected to ensure a good month for tourism despite the World Cup booking challenges.

A local San Francisco art and event space, 111 Minna Gallery, noted that lucrative conventions at the nearby Moscone Center were a significant source of pre-COVID business, and that the Downtown Revitalization Fund has provided a "shot in the arm" to local businesses as the city recovers.

San Francisco's hotel market is experiencing significant recovery, with a 28% RevPAR growth and a 14.2% increase in room demand compared to last year's Memorial Day weekend. This performance reflects the market's steady recovery over the past six months.

A confidential search is underway for a Vice President of Hospitality & Strategy for Convention Centers in San Francisco. The role requires a minimum of 10 years of multi-unit leadership experience in hospitality, convention centers, or large-scale sports and entertainment venues, with a focus on strategic leadership, service innovation, and business development.

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) in San Francisco issued an RFQ to create a Prequalified Pool of vendors for various services, including 'Major SF Arts & Innovation Conference/Festival Design.' The initial contract awards are anticipated to total $2,300,000 across all program areas, with contracts beginning July 1, 2026, or later.

Pinnacle Live is seeking a Venue Manager for Audio Visual and Event Technology in San Francisco. The role involves managing daily AV operations and service delivery for an assigned venue, including supervising staff and ensuring client satisfaction for events.

InVision Communications, headquartered in Walnut Creek with offices in San Francisco and New York, has been recognized as one of the top event management agencies for 2026. The company is noted for its expertise in enterprise experiential and production management across live and digital programs, including global conferences and product launches. This highlights a key player in the San Francisco event industry.

Ebony Beckwith, former Chief Business Officer at Salesforce, will share insights from her career, including her insider perspective on Dreamforce, the company's annual meeting in San Francisco. Her upcoming keynote at CEMA Summit will focus on leadership and how her experience has sharpened her connections to business events. This highlights the importance of major corporate events in the city's industry landscape.

Microsoft kicked off its annual Build developer conference in San Francisco on June 2, 2026, showcasing new PC and cloud AI tools. The event, running from June 2-3, is a key platform for Microsoft to reveal updates for its Windows operating system and new hardware. CEO Satya Nadella presented a keynote, emphasizing AI's potential to unlock human capabilities.

Microsoft's annual Build Conference is taking place in San Francisco from June 2-3, 2026, at the Fort Mason Center. The event focuses on AI for developers, technical leaders, and enterprise developers, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella kicking off with a keynote.

San Francisco is set to host several major conferences in 2026, including Stripe Sessions (April 28–30), Dreamforce 2026 (September 15–17), SF Tech Week (October 5–11), and Microsoft Ignite (November 17–20). These events are significant drivers of corporate attendance and economic activity in the city.

The Hilton San Francisco Union Square is scheduled to host several conventions, including the Law and Society Association Annual Meeting from May 28-31, 2026, and the APGA 2026 Annual Conference from June 9-11, 2026.

SEMICON West 2026, a prominent trade show for the semiconductor and microelectronics industry, is scheduled to take place from October 13-15, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The event is anticipated to feature over 750 exhibitors and thousands of attendees, highlighting advancements in IC design, testing, AI, and other related sectors.

The Moscone Center launched its inaugural art exhibition, 'Tales of San Francisco,' in partnership with 111 Minna Gallery, featuring local painters Alec Huxley, Daniel Chen, and Ursula X. Young, celebrating the city's diverse culture.

Tagvenue USA published a guide on May 15, 2026, identifying the 16 top convention venues available for rent in San Francisco. The article advises event organizers to book venues 6-10 months in advance, particularly during the peak season from May to October.