National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers - NASGW 2026
Event Date
October 13–15, 2026
Location
Phoenix, AZ
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe NASGW Expo & Annual Meeting is the shooting sports industry's premier business-to-business event, hosted by the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers. The NASGW Expo is designed to bring together manufacturers with distributors to discuss products, programs for sales, and pricing. The number of buyers at the Expo are much smaller than other shows, since the only buyers are distributors who then sell to the dealers and retailers.
Unlike consumer-facing firearms events, the NASGW Expo is a focused wholesale marketplace where manufacturers meet directly with the distributors who move products through the two-step supply chain to dealers and retailers. Attendees are primarily wholesale sporting goods buyers, manufacturers, and sales representative groups in the shooting sports and firearms industry.
The Expo is worth attending because it offers concentrated, high-value face time with the industry's key distribution decision-makers, a look at new products ahead of the coming sales season, and networking across every facet of the trade. New companies have shared they were impressed with how many interactions they were having with distributors and even other manufacturers for potential partnerships. One of the great benefits of the Expo is you really get to network with all facets of the industry, with time to develop those relationships.
Show Highlights
- New Product Showcase & Caliber Awards — The Expo hosts the NASGW Caliber Awards, recognizing the best products of the year. Categories include Best New Rifle, Best New Handgun, Best New Shotgun, Best New Ammunition, Best New Optic, Best New Suppressor, and Best New Accessory. An independent panel of 18 industry judges selects the winners, ensuring an unbiased approach to recognition.
- First-Time Exhibitor "Elevator Pitch" / Speed Dating Series — Introduced at the 2021 NASGW Expo, first-time exhibitors are given the opportunity to present a three-minute "elevator pitch" to buyers, sales rep groups and other manufacturers in the hour before the Expo's official start. This format has become a must-attend event in the show's early-morning hours.
- SCOPE Lounge & Data Programs — The show features NASGW's SCOPE program, an industry-owned, distributor-led data analytics initiative that aggregates and shares market intelligence with members.
- Annual Appreciation Dinner — A signature networking and awards evening for attendees.
- Agenda sessions, sponsorships, and the SCOPE Luncheon round out the week's programming.
Attendance
Historical figures from recent Expos indicate a focused, high-caliber audience of wholesale buyers and manufacturers. In 2022, the show drew about 1,700 attendees, up 400 to 500 more than the 2021 show. The attendee snapshot is wholesale sporting goods buyers. On the exhibitor side, of the 242 exhibitors signed up for the 2021 Expo, 235 exhibited, including 40 first-time exhibitors. In 2021 and 2022 the NASGW Expo was affected by the pandemic, but attendance in 2023 returned to normal, with the event being sold out for several months.
Registration
Registration for the 2026 NASGW Expo is handled online through the official registration portal.
- Attendees register at the NASGW Annual Meeting and Expo attendee registration page (register.gtrnow.com), with step-by-step registration instructions and an FAQ available on the Expo website.
- Exhibitors register through the dedicated exhibitor registration portal and should review the Exhibitor Registration Instructions, Rules & Regulations, and Exhibitor Quick Facts published on nasgwexpo.org.
- Prospective exhibitors can complete the NASGW Expo Exhibitor Questionnaire ("Is the Expo Right for You?") to confirm eligibility before applying.
Because the Expo has sold out well in advance in recent years, early registration is strongly advised. Consult the official website for current deadlines.
History
Founded in 1953, the NASGW celebrated 70 years of bringing buyers and sellers together in 2023. The Association was originally known as the Sporting Goods Jobbers Association, changing its name in 1962. Over the decades the organization has grown into the shooting sports industry's leading distribution association, and its annual Expo has become the industry's key wholesale marketplace. In recent years the show has evolved its format, introducing innovations such as the first-time exhibitor "elevator pitch"/speed dating series in 2021 and the SCOPE data program. Recent host cities include Columbus, Kansas City, and Grapevine, Texas, with the 2026 Expo taking place in Phoenix, Arizona.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 2026 NASGW Expo?
The 2026 NASGW Expo & Annual Meeting takes place October 13-15, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. The official host hotels are the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown and the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, both in downtown Phoenix near the Phoenix Convention Center.
Who should attend the NASGW Expo?
The Expo is a business-to-business event for the shooting sports industry, bringing together manufacturers with the wholesale distributors who buy their products. Buyers are primarily distributors who then sell to dealers and retailers, along with sales representative groups and manufacturers.
How do I register for the NASGW Expo?
Attendees and exhibitors register online through the official registration portal linked on nasgwexpo.org, which offers separate attendee and exhibitor registration pages plus detailed instructions. Prospective exhibitors can first complete the NASGW Expo Exhibitor Questionnaire to confirm the show is right for them.
What makes the NASGW Expo worth attending?
The Expo delivers concentrated face time with the industry's key distribution decision-makers, previews of new products ahead of the sales season, and broad networking across the trade. Signature features include the Caliber Awards, the New Product Showcase, the first-time exhibitor elevator-pitch series, and the SCOPE data lounge.
How do I book a hotel for the Expo?
All hotel reservations must be made through NASGW's authorized housing bureau, Orchid Events, at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown (headquarters hotel) or the Hyatt Regency Phoenix. NASGW advises booking early on a first-come, first-served basis and warns against unauthorized third-party hotel solicitations.
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