The PPAI Expo 2026, the industry’s largest and longest-running trade show, gives attendees the opportunity to see hundreds of thousands of promotional products and more from the leading branded merchandise suppliers.
The four-day event, to be held January 12-15, 2026, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, begins with a professional development conference, followed by three days of an open show floor featuring products from domestic and international brands.
Beyond the show floor, The PPAI Expo Conference, the show’s educational program, provides attendees with a foundation for business growth as they kick off 2026. It’s an ideal opportunity for attendees to earn CEUs toward their Certified or Master Advertising Specialist certification.
Advance Your Skills At Every Level
PPAI’s recently revamped professional development program – home of the Association’s certification programs: the Trained Advertising Specialist (TAS), Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS) and Master Advertising Specialist (MAS) – offers foundational training all the way up to advanced leadership development, allowing promo professionals to follow a highly personalized learning journey.
“We rebuilt it to match how professionals want to learn and engage with content today,” says Jessica Gibbons-Rauch, MBA, MAS, PPAI’s senior manager of professional development.
Jessica Gibbons-Rauch, MBA, MAS
Sr. Manager of Professional Development, PPAI
The curriculum is designed to reflect the wide range of responsibilities in the promotional space. Content categories include sales strategy, marketing fundamentals, customer experience, supply chain operations, finance, compliance and leadership.
“Our industry is incredibly diverse in the types of roles people hold,” Gibbons-Rauch says. “We made it a point to provide learning opportunities that speak to everyone – from someone brand-new to the industry to seasoned executives looking to refine their leadership approach.”
Education That Reflects Every Market
The PPAI Expo Conference’s educational sessions and workshops reflect the current promo products market landscape, highlighting opportunities and challenges.
One overarching theme focuses on helping promo pros develop a performance mindset. Interactive workshops, such as “ROLL CALL: Where High Performers Report for Duty,” emphasize discipline, accountability and proactive planning for high-growth sales professionals.
Starting at 7:30 a.m., when high performers seize the day, attendees will build their 2026 roadmap. Using a workbook packed with field sales management tools, such as goal-setting templates, pipeline trackers and client qualification systems, early risers will proactively plan their year, quarter by quarter, qualify and protect their accounts, and strengthen their mental game.
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Other popular themes and classes include:
- Adapting to constant change is a top concern for attendees. Sessions like “Staying Nimble in Our Ever-Changing Times” offer actionable ways to stay resilient, including re-engaging old customers, acquiring new ones, using social and email marketing effectively, and applying AI tools to boost efficiency.
- On the sales and marketing side, attendees can walk away from “The Power of Stories in Promo Sales” with a renewed focus on using authentic brand stories to connect with clients, as well as question outdated assumptions and adopt today’s data-driven marketing approaches in “Marketing Myths You’ve Heard but Shouldn’t Believe.”
- AI and tech integration are can’t-miss topics, and sessions like “AI + Promo: Trends and Tools Every Pro Needs Now“ put a clear emphasis on mastering new digital technologies to streamline marketing and sales workflows, uncover creative possibilities, and future-proof businesses.
- Industry pros shouldn’t forget to beef up their financial and legal fluency. The breakout session, “Sales Tax Made Simple for Promo Pros,” breaks down the real-world sales tax traps that distributors and suppliers face, such as double taxation on drop shipments and surprise nexus rules when sales reps cross state lines. Attendees will leave with practical fixes they can apply right away, along with actionable tips to stay audit-ready.
- To learn which sustainability claims are legitimate, the session, “Sustainability and Compliance,” helps attendees distinguish genuine, impactful sustainability practices from greenwashing, providing a checklist to evaluate supplier credibility and align with clients’ eco goals.
The Ease Of Universal CEUs
The most transformative update has been the introduction of universal CEUs, which simplifies the process. Now, any qualifying learning experience contributes toward certification goals, regardless of the level being pursued.
That means learners spend less time figuring out logistics and more time focused on growth. If you’re pursuing your Certified or Master Advertising Specialist certification, you can earn CEUs through a variety of experiences, including attending live sessions at events like The PPAI Expo.
“You don’t have to wonder whether a session counts for CAS or MAS – it does,” Gibbons-Rauch says. “All your learning is measured the same way.”
Register Now
Don’t wait any longer – register and book your trip to The PPAI Expo 2026 right now.
PPAI member distributors may have their registration fees waived based on their membership tier. It’s $50 per person for additional registrants.
Qualified non-member distributors may access the exhibits and conference for $250 per person if they register by December 4 and $350 per person after that date. Members of industry regional associations but not PPAI can receive a code from their executive director for a discounted rate.
Suppliers and business services providers who are members but not exhibiting will be charged $750 per person for access to the exhibit hall but may attend The PPAI Expo Conference for no additional cost.
Non-member, non-exhibiting suppliers/business services providers are not permitted to attend The PPAI Expo.
