There’s a place where ideas spark … where the year’s biggest deals are born … and where the entire promotional products industry comes together.
It’s a place that’s electric from the moment you walk through the doors – where every glance, every handshake, every display could be the start of something big.
Welcome to The PPAI Expo 2026.
Returning to Las Vegas, the longest-running and largest promo trade show comes to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center for the 23rd year. Registration is now open.
If you’re interested in how to grow your business, help your clients, make connections and level up in branded merchandise, The PPAI Expo is where you need to be.
Drew Holmgreen
President/CEO, PPAI
“I couldn’t be more excited, because the biggest and best event in promo is only getting better,” says PPAI President and CEO Drew Holmgreen. “From new ways to connect and fun features across the floor, to big education and the moments of joy that only The PPAI Expo can deliver, this is where our industry comes alive.
“Last year, Expo was especially important to me, serving as an amazing way to be introduced to this industry and the incredible people who make up our community. Now, it feels like a homecoming, and I can’t wait to see everyone again.”
Advance Yourself
On Monday, January 12, The PPAI Expo 2026 kicks off with The PPAI Expo Conference, a one-day educational event with a curated slate of experts from both within and outside the industry to enlighten promo professionals and spark conversation throughout the rest of Expo.
The PPAI Expo Conference is full of professional development covering different topics that are important to members, such as leadership, strategy, marketing, sustainability, innovation, technology and more. This is where the best-prepared players in promo gather to sharpen their edge before they even set foot in an exhibit hall.
“We certainly need to learn the facts and data and the how-tos, but the sessions that address the behavioral side of the industry and the EQ side of business are just as worthwhile and would definitely be a mistake to pass over,” says Vera Minot, owner of Tucson, Arizona-based distributor Southwest Solutions and a 2025 PPAI Rising Star.
Vera Minot
Owner, Southwest Solutions
Be sure to sign up for your desired sessions early, because the rooms do fill up.
“There are so many people trying to get into those rooms, and there’s only so much capacity,” Minot says. “You want a backup plan or two for every session so that you’re not standing in the hallway wondering ‘What on earth do I do now?,’ knowing that every second that you stand there and wonder, you’re being boxed out of that next best room.”
Adrenaline Rush
Back by popular demand, The Pitch – a combination of Shark Tank and The Voice that sees exhibiting suppliers attempt to impress a lineup of discerning judges – returns for its fourth appearance at The PPAI Expo. Hundreds of conference attendees pack into Mandalay Bay’s biggest ballroom for what is basically a reality show held in front of a live audience.
There’s music, there’s dancing, there’s a bar – it’s a vibe.
“[The Pitch] is so much fun. What a great idea to take a concept that already exists and then to tune it to what we do,” says Nadav Raviv, senior managing director at John Michael Associates, PPAI 100’s No. 37 distributor.
- Last year, Raviv was one of the four judges who voted Rupt CEO Jason Lucash as the winner of the competition for his presentation of the Trinifty, a 3-in-1 power charging station.
“I loved it,” Lucash said moments after his victory. “I design the products. I love talking about something that I created. To do it on this stage with the production of The Pitch, it was awesome. I felt like I was on a game show.”
The Pitch will be Monday’s closing session and will lead directly into The PPAI Expo Opening Reception, which will take place at Skyfall Panoramic Bar & Lounge. It’s the perfect way to kick off your Expo experience with networking, light bites, drinks and entertainment.
And as per tradition, PPAI Icon Award winners – for Distinguished Service, the H. Ted Olson Humanitarian and PPAI Hall of Fame – will be recognized on stage during Expo before enjoying a private, invitation-only dining experience.
Welcome To The Big Show
The PPAI Expo 2026 – roughly 1 million square feet in scope – will open with product pavilions, new exhibitors and thrilling surprises. The trade show will run Tuesday morning through Thursday afternoon and feature nearly 1,000 exhibiting companies from across the promotional products landscape in more than 2,500 booths. If you’re looking for the latest in sustainable, retail, made-in-the-USA or first-time exhibitor products, you’ll find them all in one place at the Product Pavilions.
Kate Nash
Director of Business Development – Promo Sales, Raining Rose
“There’s an energy and a zing from being able to meet with people face to face at what is basically our storefront and talk to them about our products and the new things we have coming up,” says Kate Nash, director of business development and promotional sales at Raining Rose, PPAI 100’s No. 48 supplier.
However, before the exhibit floor opens, you’ll want to swing by the Product Pavilion Sneak Peek. This highly anticipated event gives attendees an opportunity to create a game plan so you can map out the products you want to see and the suppliers you want to meet during the time you have available.
“The PPAI Expo is where people come to connect, discover and get inspired,” says Ashley Van Der Stuyf, senior manager of events and expositions at PPAI. “We’re looking forward to building off last year’s momentum with new experiences that continue to elevate. Whether you’re a longtime attendee or joining for the first time, we can’t wait to see you at the place to be in January.”
Ashley Van Der Stuyf
Sr. Manager of Events & Expositions, PPAI
PPAI also produces content throughout Expo week, including live interviews with industry experts, compelling TED Talk-style presentations by leading professionals and more. The content airs in multiple locations on site and is brought to you from the Expo Live studio located right in the middle of the action. Whether it’s puppies, pickleball or gourmet treats, you never know what might pop up at The PPAI Expo.
Of course, navigating the show floor has never been easier. SAGE Mobile – the official show planning app of The PPAI Expo – allows you to create walk lists to help guide you and your team through the most efficient show floor routes. You can also connect with fellow attendees in real time in the discussion area of the app.
It’s Who You Know
The PPAI Expo 2026 is all about making connections with peers, colleagues and potential customers. Promo & Pints, a beer garden located on the show floor, is the ideal location to meet with clients and network with colleagues. Seating is available anytime the show floor is open, and beer and wine will be available on Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to show close.
“You have to give yourself time to interact,” says Brian Swift, president of Miami-based distributor Swift Sourcing. “I’ve learned to not schedule the time so tightly where I can’t be social because that’s a really big component of Expo. It’s not just about that new product or thing – it’s about the people and the energy that you always leave with.”
Brian Swift
President, Swift Sourcing
On Tuesday, January 13, from 2:30-3:30 p.m., the Inclusive Impact Meetup will be held at Promo & Pints on the show floor, with a cash bar available. The topic of the gathering will be how to drive diversity, equity and inclusion forward in the promo industry.
Also on Tuesday, January 13, from 4-5 p.m., the Women in Promo Meetup will be held at Promo & Pints, with a cash bar available. An offshoot of the popular PPAI Women’s Leadership Conference, this meetup brings together women working in the promo industry.
On Wednesday, January 14, from 8:30-9:30 a.m., the Meet Your Regional Meetup is an opportunity for members to connect with representatives of their local regional association for coffee and collaboration. This will take place in the Level 2 Foyer.
On Wednesday, January 14, from 2:30-3:30 p.m., the Technology Meetup is an opportunity for like-minded promo industry IT professionals, decision-makers and executives who are leading their organizations’ technological health to mingle and discuss the issues relevant to the promo field. It will be held at Promo & Pints, with a cash bar available.
Also on Wednesday, January 14, from 4-5 p.m., the Young Professionals Meetup will be held at Promo & Pints, with a cash bar available. An offshoot of the PPAI Leadership Development Conference, this meetup brings together the 2025 PPAI Rising Stars and other young industry leaders.
- Preregistration is recommended for all meetups at Promo & Pints. If you already registered for Expo, use the link in your confirmation email under “Modify Your Registration.” On the registration page, select the registrant to modify, click the green check mark, then the plus sign next to your name to add items. From there, choose the events you want to add.
The Association is also planning a PPEF Meetup on Wednesday where attendees can come to the PPAI booth to learn more about the Promotional Products Education Foundation – and if they donate a certain amount, they’ll receive a drink.
Kevin Walsh
President, Showdown Displays
Speaking of which, you can participate in the Glen Holt & Fran Ford Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, January 12, at Bali Hai Golf Club in Las Vegas. A hundred golfers from dozens of promo firms raised $47,000 for PPEF’s college scholarship program this past year.
The late Glen Holt, MAS, was a PPAI board member and Hall of Fame inductee who passed away in 2010, and Fran Ford Jr., CAS, was president of supplier Castelli, a division of Magnet, and PPAI Hall of Fame inductee who passed away in 2018. As a dedicated supporter of PPEF, Ford launched the PPEF Glen Holt Scholarship Golf invitational in 2014. The tournament celebrates their lasting legacies with PPEF scholarships named in their honor.
After Hours
It’s a celebration two years in the making… The PPAI Expo Party returns to Allegiant Stadium!
That’s right, we’re taking over the home of the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday night, January 14, to cut loose after days of education and exploring. Enjoy food, drinks, music and games all on the field. Networking is still encouraged, but don’t let it interrupt your grooving.
- It’s $65 per ticket until Dec. 4. Register now!
“I always look forward to The PPAI Expo Party because I love to dance,” says Jade Crider, a sales rep at Ohio-headquartered distributor Hasseman Marketing and a 2025 PPAI Rising Star. “We dance till we drop. I’ve done it for the last two years, and I’m hoping we get to do it again. It’s fun to watch the people that don’t normally dance break loose after they’ve had a glass of wine and hang out.”
Jade Crider
Sales Rep, Hasseman Marketing
One block east of The Strip, the Sphere – the largest spherical structure in the world at 336 feet tall and 516 feet wide – will be showcasing interactive experiences. During the week of Expo, The Wizard of Oz will be playing at the Sphere, which intends to transport audience members inside the classic film for a truly immersive event.
“You can find whatever you want in Las Vegas, good or bad,” says Kevin Walsh, president of Showdown Displays, PPAI 100’s No. 8 supplier, and former PPAI Board Chair. “If you’re looking for fine dining, it’s there. If you’re looking to eat tacos off the street, that’s available as well. The diversity of the offerings that are out in Las Vegas is second to none, and the fact that it’s so accessible makes it that much more rewarding.”
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 nonmember 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.
Nonmember, nonexhibiting suppliers/business services providers are not permitted to attend The PPAI Expo.
Corrigan is deputy editor at PPAI.
