Trade Show News

Downtown San José is preparing for the FIFA World Cup, with Team San Jose and city staff working to help local businesses capitalize on the expected influx of visitors. This initiative aims to showcase local businesses and the city's energy, with events planned across downtown.

Team San Jose has launched its first-ever citywide contract to streamline the process of planning meetings in San Jose. This new offering provides planners with access to multiple hotel properties, enhancing flexibility and expanding room block options for a seamless booking experience.

Stay Cal Hospitality has opened the 51-room Voco Ardez Hotel Sunnyvale, a new IHG Hotels & Resorts Voco brand hotel in Silicon Valley, near San José Mineta International Airport. The hotel includes meeting and boardroom space, making it relevant for business and convention travelers.

San Jose is preparing for World Cup 2026, with officials anticipating visitor numbers exceeding those of Super Bowl week. The city expects operational learnings and visibility from the event to support larger, more complex citywide events, including trade shows, in the future.

San Jose is set to be a major activity center for the World Cup 2026, with downtown programming expected to exceed the city's Super Bowl LX footprint. Officials anticipate visitor numbers that could surpass the 459,000 welcomed during Super Bowl week. This event is expected to sharpen the city's approach to future large-scale events and significantly impact the local economy and hospitality sector.

The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) held its annual Legislative Action Day, with a record 226 industry leaders advocating on Capitol Hill for the business and professional events industry. Justin Cowgill of SAP Center at San Jose was welcomed as a new member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM).

The Santa Clara Convention Center has experienced a major shift in management, with the general manager and finance manager resigning in 2025, and a new general manager hired in October. The city's destination marketing organization, Discover Santa Clara, has struggled to meet its revenue goals for the convention center, booking only 14% of its target in 2024/25. This has led to events choosing other venues, including the San Jose Convention Center.

Trade Show Executive is currently accepting nominations for its 2026 Gold 100 Grand Awards and Women to Watch programs, with a deadline for submissions set for July 20. These awards recognize top trade shows and emerging leaders in the industry.

William Hankla, VP of Transformation at The Hershey Company, was featured on the CAIO Connect Podcast, recorded live at TechEx at the San Jose Convention Center. The discussion focused on how AI is reshaping manufacturing and enterprise modernization.

Cultural strategist José Luis Piñeiro explained on a recent Convene Podcast why live events are becoming modern rituals that create collective energy and belonging. He emphasized that in an AI-shaped world, human connection and shared attention are increasingly valuable.

The Cyber Security Congress North America 2026 is scheduled for June 1-2, 2026, and June 2-3, 2026, at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. This event is highlighted as a key conference for cybersecurity professionals.

San Jose will host the International Interconnect Technology Conference 2026 from May 31 to June 3, 2026. This in-person event is one of several professional development opportunities listed for the city.

The International Interconnect Technology Conference 2026 is scheduled from May 31 to June 3, 2026, in San Jose. This event is among the upcoming conferences listed for the city.

The OffKai Expo is scheduled to take place from June 24 to June 26, 2026, at the San Jose Convention Center. This event is dedicated to showcasing the latest innovations in arts and crafts.

TECHSPO Silicon Valley & DigiMarCon Silicon Valley, a premier technology expo, is set to take place from June 16-17, 2026, in San Jose. This two-day event serves as a hub for business innovation, technology, and marketing expertise.

The Santa Clara County Fairgrounds is undergoing a significant change in its governance, with the Fairgrounds Management Corporation board shifting control to allow for greater county oversight. This move aims to enhance collaboration with the county for the future development and commercial activities of the 165-acre public property. The new leadership structure is intended to improve management and utilization of the site, potentially attracting more businesses and events.

The Santa Clara County Fairgrounds is undergoing a shift in its leadership structure to enhance public oversight and accountability, following an audit that revealed questionable contracts under previous management. County Executive James Williams expressed hope that these changes will accelerate the fairgrounds' progress.

The San Jose Convention Center has experienced significant management changes, including the resignation of its finance and general managers from OVG, with a new general manager hired in October. The city's destination marketing organization, Discover Santa Clara, has struggled to meet its goals for booking Priority 1 events at the convention center.

An opinion piece discusses the struggles of the Santa Clara Convention Center and highlights that events, including FIFA press conferences, are choosing other venues like the San Jose Convention Center. This suggests a shift in regional convention business and competition for events.

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) has announced San Jose as the home of its 12th franchise, with the team set to play at SAP Center. This comes as SAP Center is undergoing a $425 million, seven-year renovation, a project approved by the San Jose City Council to anchor the Sharks to the building through 2050–51.