For the inventor trying to turn his or her invention into a new product, new product trade shows are key for getting in front of the right people: investors, licensing partners and more. Below we’ve listed the invention trade shows and conferences we most highly recommend for inventors looking to take their new product to the next level in 2018.
Our Top New Product Trade Shows and Conferences of Inventor Interest
Click here to download a copy of our 2018 trade show calendar.
JANUARY
9-11: International Builders’ Show (IBS)—Light-construction building industry. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. 800-368-5242, Ext. 8184.
9-12: International Consumer Electronics Show (CES)—Technology. Las Vegas Convention Center. 866-233-7968.
23-26: PGA Merchandise Show—Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. 800-840-5628.
27-Feb. 1: SPIE Photonics West (Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers)—Biophotonics for brain research and health care; lasers; core optical components for consumer products. Moscone Center, San Francisco. 888-504-8171.
FEBRUARY
6-8: Medical Design Manufacturing West (MDM West)—Medical technology, from prototyping to full-scale manufacturing. Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center. 310-445-4200.
12-14: MAGIC Marketplace—Fashion apparel, accessories, resources. Las Vegas Convention Center. Fall show Aug. 13-15. 877-554-4834.
13-16: ITEXPO—Telcom, IT professionals. Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 203-852-6800.
17-20: American International Toy Fair: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City. 212-675-1141.
MARCH
5-9: HIMSS Annual Conference and Exhibition (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society)—Health care IT. Venetian-Palazzo Sands Expo Center, Las Vegas. 855-326-8342.
5-9: International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE)—Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. 800-927-5007.
10-13: International Home and Housewares Show (IHA)—McCormick Place, Chicago. 847-292-4200.
11-15: OFC (Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition)—San Diego Convention Center. 855-326-8341.
19-23: Game Developers Conference (GDC)—Video games. Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco. 415-947-6926.
21-23: Global Pet Expo—Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. No phone contact for show; submit form online.
APRIL
30-May 3: Interop ITX—For tech leaders. Business technology event consisting of five individual comprehensive IT conference and expos around the world. The Mirage, Las Vegas. 866-535-8992.
MAY
7-11: International Plastics Showcase (NPE) —From emerging technologies to utility for inventors. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. No phone contact for show; submit form online.
8-10: National Hardware Show—Las Vegas Convention Center. First-time exhibitors: 203-840-5363.
22-24: Licensing International Expo—Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas. 888-644-2022.
22-24: Society for Information Display (SID)—For products such as televisions and computer monitors. Los Angeles Convention Center. 800-350-0111.
JUNE
4-7: BIO International Convention—Biotechnology. Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. [email protected].
10-14: Cisco Live—Technology. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. 650-416-8768.
12-14: Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)—Computer and video games. Los Angeles Convention Center. No phone contact for show; submit form online.
26-28: SuperZoo Show—Pet industry. Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas. 626-447-2222.
JULY
15-18: IFT18 Food Expo (Institute of Food Technologists)—Food science professionals, processes, packaging suppliers. McCormick Place, Chicago.
29-Aug. 2: AACC Clinical Lab Expo (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)—Laboratory medicine, technology. McCormick Place, Chicago. 703-631-6200.
AUGUST
22-25: International Woodworking Fair—Material processing and design. Georgia World Congress Center. 404-693-8333.
SEPTEMBER
12-14: GSMA Mobile World Congress Americas—Core mobile technologies, consumer and industrial applications in the Internet of Things, more. Los Angeles Convention Center. No phone contact for show; submit form online.
24-27: Solar Power International (SPI)—Anaheim Convention Center. 703-738-9460.
OCTOBER
9-11: ABC Kids Expo—Products for juveniles. Las Vegas Convention Center. [email protected].
9-11: Global Gaming Expo (G2E)—Sands Expo, Las Vegas. 888-314-1378.
14-17: PACK EXPO International/Healthcare Packaging Expo—Packaging, pharma production. McCormick Place, Chicago. 571-612-3200.
No major events in November or December.
Note: Some events are not open to the general public. Contact shows for details.
Did we miss any important events for inventors? Which new product trade shows will you be attending? Tell us in the comments below!
