
PPAI | Promotional Products Association International 2027
Event Date
January 12–14, 2027
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Expected Exhibitors
1,000
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe PPAI Expo is the promotional products industry's largest and longest-running trade show, produced annually in Las Vegas by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI). The event pairs a professional development conference with a sprawling show floor where suppliers present branded merchandise, premiums, apparel, awards and business services to distributors and resellers. The industry's largest trade show provides the opportunity to see tens of thousands of promotional products and more than a thousand exhibitors, and serves as the launchpad for the year, with new events and products unveiled each January at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
This four-day event begins with a professional development conference followed by three days of open show floor with products from both domestic and international brands. The audience is overwhelmingly professional: exhibit privileges are generally open to North American Supplier and Business Service members in good standing with PPAI, while distributor members and non-members attend to source products.
For distributors, buyers and industry professionals, the Expo is a single destination to discover new products, attend education sessions, and build supplier relationships. No other industry event draws more committed, professional distributor attendees, and 81% of distributors attending seek out exhibitors they wouldn't see at other trade shows.
Show Highlights
- PPAI Expo Conference: A day of professional development, keynotes and education sessions that open the event before the trade floor.
- Product Pavilions: Sustainable, retail, made-in-the-USA and first-time-exhibitor products gathered in dedicated Product Pavilions.
- New Product Pavilion: In 2026, more than 400 items were showcased in the New Product Pavilion.
- The Pitch: A returning promo hybrid of Shark Tank and The Voice in which contestants get three minutes each to pitch ideas to a panel of industry judges.
- The PPAI Expo Party: A signature networking party that has been held at Allegiant Stadium, home to pro football and major concerts.
- Networking meetups: Gatherings such as the DEI and Women In Promo Meetups at Promo & Pints.
- Education focus: A clear message that education at The PPAI Expo is no longer supplemental — it's foundational.
Attendance
Recent editions draw roughly 10,000 distributor attendees plus suppliers and service providers. Spanning roughly 1 million square feet, The PPAI Expo 2026 trade floor featured about 2,600 booths from nearly 1,000 exhibiting companies, including 70 first-time exhibitors, and some 10,000 distributors attended over the course of the four-day event. Historically the show has been even larger: The 2020 edition projected pre-registered attendance of more than 13,000 distributors from over 4,300 companies and 30 countries, with more than 1,200 exhibitors and a sold-out floor of more than 3,100 booths occupying one million square feet. The event draws an international audience, with participants historically coming from the U.S. and roughly 30 countries.
Registration
Registration and hotel housing for The PPAI Expo 2027 open ahead of the January event. On the official Expo page, prospective attendees can join the notification list via the "Notify Me When Housing & Registration Open" form. Exhibitors apply separately through the Exhibitor Hub using the "Apply To Exhibit" link. Exhibit privileges are generally open to North American Supplier and Business Service members in good standing with PPAI who have executed the exhibitor's contract. Note the age policy for all attendees: no one under the age of 16 is allowed access to the show floor, education seminars or events during move-in, show days and move-out periods.
History
The PPAI Expo is produced by Promotional Products Association International, a not-for-profit trade association. Founded in 1903, PPAI is the world's largest and oldest not-for-profit association serving the promotional products industry. Trade shows became part of the association's conventions in 1914, with 32 exhibitors present at the first event. The show was long based near PPAI's Texas headquarters: The PPAI Expo was held in Dallas for 27 years. The first PPAI Expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas took place in 2003, and Magic Johnson spoke during that opening session. In 2007, Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac performed a live concert for Expo attendees. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PPAI hosted its first virtual trade show, PPAI Expo Direct-2-You, in 2021, before returning to an in-person format in 2022. The 2026 edition marked the show's 23rd year at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
Exhibitors
Exhibitor Information
Detailed exhibitor list is being compiled. Check back soon or visit the official show website for the most current information.
Venue & Travel
Venue
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
3950 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89119
The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) is one of the largest convention centers in the world, offering approximately 2.5 million square feet of exhibition space and 390,000 square feet of meeting room space across a campus of more than 200 acres. The facility spans multiple halls—North, Central, South, and the expansive West Hall—providing flexible configurations for large-scale trade events.
Navigation across the sprawling campus is made fast and effortless by the Vegas Loop, a free underground transportation system using all-electric Tesla vehicles that connects all major halls in under two minutes. On-site amenities include FedEx Office business centers (Grand Lobby Concourse at West Hall and front of South Hall), multiple dining options—Lucky's Restaurant, Honey Salt, Prima Stampa, and Starbucks in the Grand Lobby, Aces Restaurant in South Hall, and food trucks at Central Plaza—plus bag and coat check services. The LVCC is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).
Parking
Daily parking is available in the Bronze and Silver lots at the LVCC at a standard rate of $15 per day (credit and debit cards only; cashless). In-and-out privileges are included with a paid parking receipt on the same day; overnight parking is not permitted. The campus accommodates more than 5,000 vehicles, though lots tend to fill quickly during major events—early arrival is strongly recommended.
The free on-campus Vegas Loop (underground Tesla vehicle system operated by The Boring Company) connects all parking areas to each exhibit hall without the need to navigate surface roads. Nearby hotels including Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino and Resorts World Las Vegas offer their own parking facilities with direct Vegas Loop access to the LVCC.
Getting There
Nearest Airport: Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is approximately 4 miles from the Las Vegas Convention Center. Taxi fare from the airport to the LVCC runs approximately $29; Lyft rides can start around $15. Car rental is available at the airport's centralized Rental Car Center, open 24 hours with continuous shuttle service to all terminals.
Las Vegas Monorail: The Monorail runs 3.9 miles along the Strip and includes a dedicated station adjacent to the LVCC (Silver Lot/South Hall). The line connects MGM Grand in the south to SAHARA in the north, with intermediate stops at Paris Las Vegas, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, and Harrah's/The LINQ. Fares start at $5 per ride; multi-day unlimited passes offer better value. Trains run every few minutes during show hours.
Vegas Loop: The free on-campus underground Loop (all-electric Tesla vehicles) connects West Hall, Central Hall, and South Hall in under two minutes. Extended service to Resorts World Las Vegas, Westgate, and Encore at Wynn requires a paid ticket.
Rideshare (Uber & Lyft): Designated drop-off and pick-up zones are located near each hall entrance. Surge pricing is common during major convention weeks, so Monorail or Loop transit is often a more economical choice.
Public Bus: The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) operates public bus routes that serve the LVCC campus.
Nearby Hotels
MAGIC Las Vegas's official hotel booking partner is OnPeak; attendees are encouraged to book early for best rates on a first-come, first-served basis. Hotels in close proximity to the LVCC include:
- Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino – directly adjacent to the LVCC with a dedicated Vegas Loop station providing door-to-hall access.
- Resorts World Las Vegas – connected to the LVCC via the Vegas Loop.
- Fontainebleau Las Vegas – approximately a 10-minute walk from the convention center, on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip.
- Wynn Las Vegas / Encore at Wynn Las Vegas – on the Strip near the LVCC, accessible via the Vegas Loop.
- SAHARA Las Vegas – on the northern Strip near the LVCC, served by the Las Vegas Monorail.
- Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel – located close to the convention center campus.
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott Las Vegas Convention Center – convenient option near the LVCC.
- Las Vegas Strip hotels along the Monorail line (MGM Grand, Paris Las Vegas, Flamingo/Caesars Palace area, Harrah's/The LINQ) offer quick, affordable Monorail service with a dedicated stop at the convention center.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is The PPAI Expo 2027?
The PPAI Expo 2027 takes place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The exhibits run January 12–14, 2027, with a professional development conference on January 11, 2027.
Who should attend The PPAI Expo?
The show is designed for promotional products professionals, especially distributors, resellers and buyers who source branded merchandise, as well as suppliers and business-service providers. It is the industry's largest and longest-running trade show and a key annual gathering for the promo community.
How do I register or exhibit at The PPAI Expo 2027?
Attendees can join the notification list on the official Expo page to be alerted when housing and registration open. Companies wishing to exhibit apply through the PPAI Exhibitor Hub; exhibit privileges are generally open to North American Supplier and Business Service members in good standing with PPAI who have signed the exhibitor's contract.
How big is the show and how many exhibitors attend?
The Expo is very large in scale, with a trade floor spanning roughly 1 million square feet. In 2026 it featured about 2,600 booths from nearly 1,000 exhibiting companies, and around 10,000 distributors attended over the four-day event.
What is there to do besides the trade floor?
The event opens with the PPAI Expo Conference featuring keynotes and education sessions, and includes Product Pavilions, the New Product Pavilion, competitions like The Pitch, and networking events such as the PPAI Expo Party and various meetups. Education has become a foundational part of the experience alongside product sourcing.
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