Six Major U.S. Trade Show Cities and the Venues Behind Them

At the Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall has a 40 foot ceiling and the venue permits 36 feet under it. Kentia Hall, in the same building, runs 18 feet at its lowest point, and the venue permits 16. A booth built for the first cannot be installed in the second.

The ceiling is a fact about the building. The permitted height is somebody’s rule, set by the venue or by the show, and where both exist the lower one binds. Build above the permitted height and you will be cutting the booth down on the floor.

You may have the show booked, or you may still be weighing two or three against each other. Either way, what follows is hall by hall for Las Vegas, Orlando, Chicago, Los Angeles, Anaheim and New York: exhibit space and ceiling height, permitted booth height and who sets it, what your own staff may install, how freight moves, and which shows run in which building.

The six markets at a glance

Market	Main venue	Published exhibit space	Published ceiling	Maximum permitted booth height
Las Vegas	Las Vegas Convention Center	2,454,132 sq ft	25 to 42 ft by hall	Set by the show. For any occupied upper deck the venue requires a Nevada stamped engineer’s plan and 100 lb/sq ft live load
Orlando	Orange County Convention Center	2,053,820 sq ft across the West Building and the North-South Building	26 ft 10 in to 40 ft to beam	Set by the show. The venue states that height guidelines are established per event by show management
Chicago	McCormick Place	2.6 million sq ft of exhibit space across four buildings	10 to 50 ft by hall	Set by the show, 8 to 30 ft in current rulebooks, and one show leaves islands to the ceiling. The venue requires sprinklers once an exhibit passes two levels, a 30 ft elevation or 5,000 sq ft of enclosed area
Los Angeles	Los Angeles Convention Center	720,000 sq ft of exhibit space	17 to 40 ft by hall	16 to 36 ft by hall where the venue publishes it. Set by the show in Concourse Hall and Petree Hall
Anaheim	Anaheim Convention Center	813,607 sq ft in Halls A to E, plus 100,000 sq ft on each of ACC North’s two levels	13 ft 8 in to 25 ft by hall	ACC North 23 ft on both levels, published by the venue under Anaheim Fire and Rescue regulations. Halls A to E set by the show
New York	Jacob K. Javits Convention Center	More than 850,000 gross sq ft across all levels	14 to 48 ft 6 in by hall and level, and 81 ft to the glass cube in the River Pavilion	Set by the show, 12 to 25 ft for islands in current rulebooks

 

Where a venue sets a permitted height, the figure above is the venue’s. Everywhere else it is the show’s. The figures here were read in October 2026, from the venue’s own specifications or the show’s own display rules. Both change between editions, so check yours against the service kit before the design goes to production.

Hotels and airport access:

Market	Hotel rooms	Airport access
Las Vegas	150,300 rooms citywide on 2025 data, and approximately 150,000 the convention authority places close to the center	Harry Reid International, 3.5 miles from the center. The monorail’s stations are on the Strip and the campus rather than at the airport
Orlando	Over 5,200 rooms in four hotels joined to the buildings by pedestrian bridge, and nearly 10,000 within walking distance	Orlando International, about 12 miles and about 15 minutes. The LYNX bus system runs routes to the center with connections to the airport
Chicago	2,929 rooms connected to the campus by enclosed sky bridge, across the Marriott Marquis, the Hyatt Regency and the three Hiltons	O’Hare and Midway. The bureau publishes 16 to 17 miles for O’Hare and 10 to 11 for Midway, both measured to downtown. CTA rail reaches the venue from either airport and ends two blocks from the West Building
Los Angeles	More than 10,000 rooms across 12 hotels the bureau lists at 0.1 to 1 mile from the center	Los Angeles International, 16 to 17 miles to Downtown. Long Beach, 23 miles. Both measured to Downtown rather than to the center
Anaheim	Over 3,700 guest rooms in the four hotels adjacent to the center	John Wayne, 13 miles and about 20 minutes. Los Angeles International, 34 miles and up to an hour in traffic. Both measured to Anaheim rather than to the center
New York	18,431 rooms in the West Side hotel zone around the venue, on member-hotel data current to December 2019	John F. Kennedy 15 miles and LaGuardia about 8 miles by highway from midtown. The 7 subway line stops at the building and reaches Times Square in five minutes

 

Connected rooms and rooms within walking distance are two different counts, so check which one a figure refers to before comparing markets.

What this guide covers

Also in this guide: The six markets at a glance · Frequently asked questions

Las Vegas

More than one building holds this market, and treating it as a single venue is where booth designs go wrong here. A supplement brand doing SupplySide Global at Mandalay Bay and a broadcaster doing NAB Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center are not even on the same side of the Strip. Inside a single building the spread is just as wide. The Venetian Expo runs from 13 feet 5 inches in Hall G to 32 feet 5 inches in Halls A to D, and a property designed for one will not stand in the other.

Venue	Exhibit space	Ceiling height	Maximum permitted booth height	Floor load
Las Vegas Convention Center	2,454,132 sq ft across four halls: North 409,077, Central 623,058, West 601,960, South 820,037, including 328,000 sq ft of column-free space in West Hall	North 33 ft to 35 ft; Central 25 ft to 35 ft; West 42 ft; South 25 ft to 30 ft	Set by the show. The venue requires a Nevada stamped engineer’s plan and 100 lb/sq ft live load capacity for any occupied upper deck	450 lb/sq ft in the ground-level halls; 300 lb/sq ft in the two second-floor South halls
Mandalay Bay Convention Center	Bayside Exhibition Halls 861,231 (A 48,722, B 169,587, C 177,929, D 170,052, E 146,979, F 147,961); Shoreline Exhibit Hall 181,800	30 ft in both	Set by the show	Bayside A to D and Shoreline B 350 lb/sq ft live load; Bayside E and F 250 lb/sq ft live load
The Venetian Expo	Hall A 178,000, Hall B 189,000, Hall C 188,000, Hall D 100,600, Hall G 380,000. Maximum contiguous A to D: 655,600	Halls A to D 32 ft 5 in; Hall G 13 ft 5 in	Set by the show. Halls A to D permit hanging signs for islands and peninsulas of 400 sq ft or more, up to 25 ft from the floor. No hanging signs of any kind in Hall G	Halls A to D 250 lb/sq ft static weight; Hall G unlimited
The Venetian Convention Center	Venetian Ballroom 85,000 sq ft on Level 2. Casanova, Marco Polo and Galileo 16,554 sq ft each on Level 1. Bellini, Titian and Veronese 14,400 sq ft each on Level 2. Lido, Murano and San Polo 14,400 sq ft each on Level 3. Delfino, Lando and Marcello 14,400 sq ft each on Level 4	Venetian Ballroom 24 ft 10 in to 27 ft 10 in; Bellini, Titian, Veronese, Lido, Murano, San Polo, Delfino, Lando and Marcello 18 ft to 19 ft 4 in; Casanova, Marco Polo and Galileo 11 ft 4 in to 13 ft 3 in	Set by the show	150 lb/sq ft static weight in the Venetian Ballroom and on Levels 2, 3 and 4
The Palazzo Ballroom	75,000 sq ft, column-free, divisible into 16 sections	28 ft at the highest point, 25 ft at the lowest; 20 ft 11 in under the chandelier	Set by the show	150 lb/sq ft static weight
Caesars Forum	Forum Ballroom 110,000, Summit 110,000, Alliance 40,000, Academy 40,000, totaling 300,000 sq ft. Forum and Summit are pillarless. 550 10 x 10 booths each in Forum and Summit, 200 each in Alliance and Academy	30 ft in all four ballrooms	Set by the show	Ballrooms 250 lb/sq ft; pre-function 100 lb/sq ft
MGM Grand Conference Center	Marquee Ballroom 92,434, Grand Ballroom 61,575, Premier Ballroom 49,225, Chairman’s Ballroom 46,800, Boulevard Ballroom 29,200, Terrace Ballroom 12,672, Studio Ballroom 10,114	Marquee 23 ft to 27 ft 10 in; Grand and Premier 26 ft 6 in to 28 ft; Chairman’s 22 ft to 28 ft; Boulevard 27 ft to 28 ft; Studio 18 ft; Terrace 15 ft to 18 ft	Set by the show	Level 1, holding Grand, Marquee, Boulevard and Terrace: 250 lb/sq ft live load. Levels 2 and 3, holding Premier and Chairman’s: 100 lb/sq ft live load
Fontainebleau Las Vegas	Royal Ballroom 105,264 (pillarless), Cobalt 41,760, Azure 31,680, Cyan 9,087, Lazuli 8,704	Royal Ballroom 28 ft 10 in; Cobalt and Azure 24 ft; Lazuli 18 ft; Cyan 14 ft	Set by the show	Levels 4 and 6: 200 psf live load. Level 2: 100 psf live load
Wynn Las Vegas and Encore	Cristal Ballroom 83,187 (351 ft x 237 ft, 416 10 x 10 booths), Lafite 50,190, Latour 25,350, Encore Ballroom 20,650	Cristal 28 ft; Lafite and Latour 24 ft; Encore Ballroom 25 ft	Set by the show	–
ARIA Convention Center	Bristlecone Ballroom 51,684, Ironwood 38,720, Pinyon 38,544, Mariposa 22,794, Primrose 20,672, Juniper 19,710, Orovada 17,664	19 ft to 24 ft by ballroom	Set by the show	–
Resorts World Las Vegas	The Complex 70,000, fully carpeted	The Complex 24 ft	Set by the show	–
The Expo at World Market Center	North and South Halls 193,858 (North 97,508, South 96,350), with 970 10 x 10 booths, plus 15,316 sq ft of prefunction space	30 ft at the highest point, 18 ft at the lowest	Set by the show	–

Shows in Las Vegas

The buildings above leave the maximum booth height to the organizer, within the venue’s own requirements for hanging signs and upper decks. Ten shows that run here:

Show	Venue and halls	Cadence	Previous edition	Next edition	Booth types and maximum height	Hanging sign
CES	Las Vegas Convention Center and the Venetian Expo, with ARIA and the Fontainebleau alongside	Annual	Jan 6-9, 2026	Jan 6-9, 2027	Linear and corner 8 ft, full cubic content across the whole footprint with no line of sight limit. Perimeter 12 ft. Peninsula and island are set by hall and need a minimum 400 sq ft and 20 ft x 20 ft: at the Las Vegas Convention Center, West 30 ft, North 30 ft, Central Halls 1 and 2 20 ft, Central Halls 3 to 5 30 ft, South Halls 1 and 2 22 ft; at the Venetian Expo, Halls A to D 25 ft and Hall G 12 ft. At ARIA and the Fontainebleau a flat set applies instead: linear 8 ft, island 12 ft	Measured floor to top of sign and capped at the hall figure. Island and peninsula of 400 sq ft or more only, and linear and perimeter booths may not hang a sign at any size. None in Hall G or the Venetian Expo meeting rooms
SEMA Show	Las Vegas Convention Center	Annual	Nov 4-7, 2025	Nov 3-6, 2026	Linear 8 ft 3 in, and 4 ft within 5 ft of an aisle or 10 ft of a neighbor. Perimeter 12 ft, same 4 ft rule. Peninsula 16 ft. Signage above 8 ft facing a neighbor stays 10 ft off that neighbor. Island 16 ft, minimum 400 sq ft	Perimeter linear 12 ft floor to top, flat, 5 ft off the aisle. Peninsula and island at any height with the sign itself no more than 8 ft. None in linear
CONEXPO-CON/AGG	Las Vegas Convention Center	Every 3 years	Mar 3-7, 2026	Mar 13-17, 2029	Linear 10 ft. Perimeter 16 ft at 20 ft depth and 400 sq ft or more. Peninsula 16 ft at 20 ft depth or more, 10 ft below that. Island 16 ft	Measured to the bottom of the sign: at least 4 ft of air between the highest wall and the bottom of the sign. None in a standard exhibit, which is any exhibit under 20 ft deep
IMEX America	Mandalay Bay Convention Center	Annual	Oct 13-15, 2026	Sep 28-30, 2027	One overall cap rather than a figure per type: 20 ft for any element in the booth, strictly enforced. This show does not use the linear, perimeter, peninsula and island categories; its own are hardwall booths and space only stands. Anything above 16 ft 6 in sets back 4 ft from the booth perimeter, and no run of wall over 6 ft is allowed along an open perimeter. Hardwall interior fittings 10 ft. Two stories 20 ft including any name sign or trademark	20 ft. The manual sets no measurement point for that figure, so whether it is read to the top or the bottom of the sign is confirmed with show management
World of Concrete	Las Vegas Convention Center	Annual	Jan 20-22, 2026	Jan 19-21, 2027	Linear 12 ft in the back 5 ft, 4 ft in the front 5 ft. Anything over 8 ft 3 in must be professionally finished. Perimeter 16 ft in the back 5 ft. Island 26 ft for display material and signage where the ceiling permits, and unlimited for equipment and product. Minimum 20 ft x 20 ft	Islands only, 26 ft floor to top of sign, bottom at least 9 ft off the floor, inside the booth’s own perimeter. None in linear or perimeter booths
NAB Show	Las Vegas Convention Center	Annual	Apr 18-22, 2026	Apr 3-7, 2027	Linear 8 ft rear half, 4 ft front half. Perimeter 12 ft rear half, 4 ft front half. Peninsula and island are set by hall and share the same figures: North Hall 30 ft, Center Hall 25 ft, West Hall 30 ft. Islands are a minimum 20 ft x 20 ft, and renderings are required at 800 sq ft and above	Floor to top of sign, the same figure as the structure limit. Island and split island only
PACK EXPO Las Vegas	Las Vegas Convention Center	Every 2 years	Sep 29 to Oct 1, 2025	Sep 27-29, 2027	Set by booth size rather than booth type, and the same for every type: 12 ft under 599 sq ft, 14 ft at 600 to 1,499 sq ft, 18 ft at 1,500 sq ft and over	None under 599 sq ft. Above that the sign counts inside the booth’s own 14 ft or 18 ft limit
NAHB International Builders’ Show	Las Vegas Convention Center, Central, West and South Halls	Annual	Feb 17-19, 2026 (Orlando)	Feb 2-4, 2027	Set by hall rather than booth type, and the same for every type: Central Hall 25 ft, West Hall 25 ft, South Hall 20 ft	Lowest point must not fall between 4 and 9 ft off the floor. Island and peninsula of 400 sq ft or more only, peninsula set 10 ft off the shared common wall. None for in-line booths or any booth under 400 sq ft
SuperZoo	Mandalay Bay Convention Center	Annual	Aug 12-14, 2026	Aug 11-13, 2027	Linear 8 ft, and 4 ft in the front 5 ft. Peninsula 24 ft. Island 24 ft to the highest point, minimum 20 ft x 20 ft	24 ft floor to top of sign. Islands and peninsulas of 400 sq ft or more, and in a peninsula set back 5 ft off the backline
SupplySide Global	Mandalay Bay Convention Center	Annual	Oct 27-30, 2025	Oct 26-30, 2026	Linear 8 ft 3 in in the rear 5 ft, 4 ft within 5 ft of the aisle. With three or more booths combined, the 4 ft applies only within 10 ft of an adjoining booth. Island 16 ft for the booth structure, and higher only where the structure supports an identifying sign in place of hanging one	20 ft floor to top of sign where the ceiling allows, set back 10 ft from adjacent booths. Islands of 20 ft x 20 ft or larger only. None over in-line booths

One thing before you design to a venue’s own figure: a show may set a lower one. Mandalay Bay’s exhibit halls run 30 feet to the ceiling. SuperZoo stops a hanging sign at 24 feet in that building, and SupplySide Global at 20.

The Las Vegas Convention Center publishes its ceiling heights, its floor loads and its dock counts, and the LVCVA’s West Hall expansion fact sheet lists 41 loading docks. A $600 million renovation of the older halls finished in time for CES in January 2026, modernizing the Central Hall grand lobby and adding a climate controlled concourse joining the North and South Halls.

Working in Las Vegas

Nevada is a right to work state. Teamsters Local 631 represents the trade show crafts here, the exhibit builders, riggers, carpet installers, decorators, freight handlers and forklift operators. Jurisdiction bites the moment anyone but your own full time staff touches the work, so self-setup here runs on your own employees or not at all.

You may hand carry material without material handling equipment, but hand carry traffic is barred from the loading dock and freight door areas outright. It comes in through the front, or it comes in as freight.

At the Venetian, rigging is assigned by equipment type. Rated truss, rigging motors, lighting systems and any floor supported item projecting more than 16 feet are all exclusively the house contractor’s, so ground support does not exempt you. Dead hanging is not available in the expo halls at all, and the only route for a sign there is the single point package, capped at 300 pounds. The LVCC restricts stem and track mounted halogen fixtures to self-shielded bulbs of no more than 75 watts.

The Vegas Loop runs five stations across the campus and turns a walk of up to 25 minutes into roughly two minutes, free of charge on campus. Three of the five sit at neighboring properties rather than on convention center ground.

Hall G at the Venetian is a constraint to design around from the start. Thirteen feet five inches of headroom, 426 columns on 30 foot centers, and a flat ban on hanging signs. The booth has to carry its own identification at eye level and work around a column that may land inside your footprint. In Halls A to D, island and peninsula booths of 400 square feet or more may hang up to 25 feet from the floor. Linear and perimeter booths get nothing overhead at all.

If you exhibit at more than one Las Vegas show a year, what matters is whether one property can legally stand in every building you are booked into. Usually the answer is a modular system with two configurations rather than one fixed build.

We produce and store exhibits in Nevada and Southern California, which shortens the freight leg into this market, and we have worked shows here including CES and IBIE. Price a local rental against round trip cross country freight before you commit to owning.

Orlando

Orlando’s calendar is dominated by buying shows. Attractions, golf, pet products, veterinary medicine, sportfishing and professional beauty all hold their main annual event here, and in every one of them a buyer walks the aisle with a purchase order in mind. The market is also built to move freight in volume and to keep visitors in town for an extra two days, and both of those show up in who chooses it.

Venue	Exhibit space	Ceiling height	Maximum permitted booth height	Floor load
Orange County Convention Center, West Building	1,103,538 sq ft of exhibit space: West A 367,200, West B 275,400, West C 108,000, West D 147,808, West E 150,000, West F 48,600. Booth capacity: West A 2,031, West B 1,537, West C 530, West D 762, West E 702, West F 241	West A, B and D 40 ft to beam; West C 33 ft to beam; West E 30 ft to beam; West F 26 ft 10 in	Set by the show. The venue states that height guidelines are established, per event, by show management	–
Orange County Convention Center, North-South Building	950,282 sq ft of exhibit space, including a 92,466 sq ft general assembly area: North A 287,495, North B 187,646, South A 287,495, South B 187,646. Booth capacity 5,120 across all four halls	40 ft to beam in all four halls	Set by the show. The venue states that height guidelines are established, per event, by show management	–

The name misleads people, so state it plainly: this is Orange County, Florida. Orange County, California is where Anaheim is, 2,500 miles away.

The venue’s own wording is that height guidelines are established, per event, by show management, and its rigging department approves the plot rather than setting the limit. If you are bringing heavy equipment, get the hall’s floor load in writing from the general service contractor before the design is signed off.

Shows in Orlando

Ten shows that run here, under ceilings from 26 ft 10 in to 40 ft:

Show	Venue and halls	Cadence	Previous edition	Next edition	Booth types and maximum height	Hanging sign
IAAPA Expo	North and South Buildings	Annual	Nov 17-21, 2025	Nov 16-20, 2026	Linear 8 ft. Perimeter 12 ft. Peninsula 20 ft to the top of the highest point, minimum 20 ft x 20 ft. Island 20 ft to the top of the highest point, minimum 20 ft x 20 ft	25 ft floor to top of sign, with 5 ft of empty space above the structure. Peninsula, split island and island of 20 ft x 20 ft or more
PGA Show	West Building	Annual	Jan 20-23, 2026	Jan 26-29, 2027	Linear 8 ft. Peninsula 12 ft at 200 sq ft and above. Island 12 ft under 400 sq ft, 20 ft at 400 sq ft and above	No hanging signs at this show. A paid ceiling banner only: none under 400 sq ft, and above that to 25 ft at the top with a 5 ft break
NADA Show	Orange County Convention Center	Annual	Feb 3-6, 2026 (Las Vegas)	Feb 17-20, 2027	Linear 8 ft rear half, 4 ft forward of that. Perimeter 12 ft. Peninsula 20 ft including signage. Backing two linear booths, 4 ft within 5 ft of each aisle. Island 20 ft including signage, full cubic content	25 ft floor to top of sign. Peninsula, island and split island only
AACR Annual Meeting	North-South Building, Halls B to D	Annual	Apr 17-22, 2026 (San Diego)	Apr 2-7, 2027	Linear 8 ft including the identification sign. Side rails and counters 48 in, and 4 ft in the front 5 ft. Island 20 ft, minimum 400 sq ft. A 20 ft wide island keeps a 1 ft setback from the floor to 8 ft	22 ft floor to top of sign, islands only
Global Pet Expo	North-South Building	Annual	Mar 25-27, 2026	Mar 17-19, 2027	Linear 8 ft rear half, 4 ft front half. Perimeter 12 ft. Island 16 ft including signage	Islands only, 24 ft floor to top of sign. None over linear
The NAFEM Show	Orange County Convention Center	Every 2 years	Feb 26-28, 2025 (Atlanta)	February 2027	Linear 8 ft at the rear, 4 ft within 5 ft of an aisle. Perimeter 12 ft back wall. Peninsula 16 ft on the center portion of the back wall, minimum 20 ft x 20 ft. Backing two inline booths, 4 ft. Island 16 ft cubic content, 400 sq ft and above	20 ft floor to top of sign with 12 ft of clearance below. Peninsula, split island and island only
VMX	North-South Building	Annual	Jan 17-20, 2026	Jan 16-20, 2027	Linear 10 ft. Anything 4 ft or higher sets back 5 ft from the front. Island 20 ft including logo-bearing crowns. Truss trim 20 ft to the top cord	20 ft trim to the top of the sign. Island and peninsula only, and a peninsula sign sets back 10 ft
ICAST	North-South Building	Annual	Jul 14-17, 2026	Jul 13-16, 2027	Linear 8 ft. Fixtures over 4 ft within 10 lineal ft of a neighbor or a cross aisle go in the back half. Perimeter 12 ft. Island 20 ft, minimum 20 ft x 20 ft, on written approval 60 days out. Stamped structural drawings above 12 ft	–
Surf Expo	Orange County Convention Center	Multiple editions per year	Sep 16-18, 2026	Jan 6-8, 2027	Linear 8 ft, with the back wall allowed to 10 ft including signage. Perimeter 8 ft on the side walls, 16 ft on the back wall. Peninsula 16 ft on all sides. Island 22 ft on all sides	Top at 22 ft, bottom at 10 ft. None over in-line booths or booths under 20 ft x 20 ft
GSX	Orange County Convention Center (2027)	Annual	Sep 14-16, 2026 (Atlanta)	Sep 20-22, 2027	–	–

Same building, same year, and a 400 square foot island runs from 16 feet to 22 feet depending on whose show it is.

Working in Orlando

Florida is a right to work state. The convention center places assembly of equipment, signs and products on the exhibitor or the exhibitor appointed contractor, and it keeps rigging, the movable walls and its own equipment for its own staff. The hand carry and tool limits come from the show and its general service contractor, so that kit is the document to read before you plan an install.

Electricity, aerial rigging and lighting, water fill and drain, natural gas and propane, compressed air and cable television are exclusive to the venue. Internet and Wi-Fi are exclusive too, but the exclusive sits with the venue’s onsite partner rather than with the venue, so you cannot bring your own provider for those either.

Shows here spread across two separate buildings, and the walk between them runs in two bridge segments through the Hyatt Regency. Where you land on the floor plan is worth settling at space selection rather than at move-in.

Chicago

Of the markets whose venue publishes a self-setup rule, Chicago publishes the widest latitude. McCormick Place publishes a plain-language document stating that an exhibitor employee may perform work in a booth of any size, with ladders, hand tools, cordless tools and power tools.

Venue	Exhibit space	Ceiling height	Maximum permitted booth height	Floor load
McCormick Place, South Building	Hall A 840,000 gross sq ft (A1 430,000, A2 410,000). Booth capacity 4,200. Grand Ballroom S100 33,740, Vista Ballroom S406 21,365	Hall A1 and A2 40 ft; 20 ft beneath the food pods	Set by the show, 8 to 30 ft in current rulebooks. The venue requires sprinklers once an exhibit passes two levels, a 30 ft elevation or 5,000 sq ft of enclosed area	Hall A 400 lb/sq ft; Grand Ballroom and Vista Ballroom 100 lb/sq ft
McCormick Place, North Building	Hall B 496,000 gross sq ft (B1 369,000, B2 127,000), booth capacity 2,480. Hall C 209,500 (C1 148,500, C2 61,000), booth capacity 1,047	Hall B1 40 ft under lights; Hall B2 18 ft under lights; Hall C1 26 ft to 29 ft under lights, 19 ft 6 in at the Y columns; Hall C2 10 ft to 20 ft under lights	Set by the show. IMTS limits walls in Hall B2 to 12 ft and permits no double deck booths there	Halls B and C 400 lb/sq ft; Grand Concourse Lobby 250 lb/sq ft
McCormick Place, West Building	Hall F 470,000 gross sq ft (F1 198,336 high ceiling, F2 222,535 high ceiling, plus Registration A 25,981 and Registration C 23,148 low ceiling). Booth capacity 2,401. Skyline Ballroom W375 103,760	Hall F1 and F2 40 ft; Registration A and C 20 ft; Skyline Ballroom 40 ft at the high point, 34 ft at the low point	Set by the show, 8 to 30 ft in current rulebooks. The venue requires sprinklers once an exhibit passes two levels, a 30 ft elevation or 5,000 sq ft of enclosed area	Hall F 350 lb/sq ft; Skyline Ballroom 250 lb/sq ft
McCormick Place, Lakeside Center	Hall D 300,000 gross sq ft (D1 150,000, D2 150,000), booth capacity 1,500. Hall E 283,000, booth capacity 1,415. Lakeside Ballroom E354 44,754	Halls D1 and D2 50 ft and over, 47 ft at the operable track; Hall E 15 ft; Lakeside Ballroom 50 ft, 47 ft at the operable track	Set by the show, 8 to 30 ft in current rulebooks. The venue requires sprinklers once an exhibit passes two levels, a 30 ft elevation or 5,000 sq ft of enclosed area	Hall D 400 lb/sq ft; Hall E 150 lb/sq ft; Lakeside Ballroom 250 lb/sq ft
The Mart	3.7 million sq ft building, with more than 250 design showrooms. Bookable event spaces: WorkLife Meetings 21,000 sq ft, North Lobby 12,000 sq ft, South Lobby, Marshall’s Landing, Founder’s Room, River Park	North Lobby 16 ft 6 in; South Lobby 28 ft at the center section	Set by the show	–

Lakeside Center holds both extremes of this campus: the tallest ceiling at 50 feet, and the weakest exhibit hall floor, Hall E at 150 lb/sq ft.

Shows in Chicago

Ten shows that run here, under those ceilings:

Show	Venue and halls	Cadence	Previous edition	Next edition	Booth types and maximum height	Hanging sign
IMTS	McCormick Place	Every 2 years	Sep 14-19, 2026	Sep 11-16, 2028	Set by booth depth rather than booth type, under the show’s own heading for all booths: 8 ft at 10 ft deep, 12 ft at 20 ft, and 16 ft at 30 ft or deeper. Any exhibit above 16 ft must submit drawings for approval. Perimeter is not a height category here	On written approval, measured floor to bottom of sign: 16 ft in the South Building, North Front B1 and East Level 3; 10 ft in North Rear B2 and East Level 2
PACK EXPO International	McCormick Place	Every 2 years	Nov 3-6, 2024	Nov 5-8, 2028	Set by booth size rather than booth type, and the same for every type: 12 ft under 599 sq ft, 14 ft at 600 to 1,499 sq ft, 18 ft at 1,500 sq ft and over	None under 599 sq ft. Above that the sign counts inside the booth’s own 14 ft or 18 ft limit
RSNA Annual Meeting	McCormick Place, North and South Halls on Level 3	Annual	Nov 30 to Dec 4, 2025	Nov 29 to Dec 3, 2026	Linear 8 ft in the back 5 ft, 4 ft in the front 5 ft. Peninsula 8 ft back wall, called an end cap at this show. Island 24 ft, and the space from 8 ft to 24 ft may be fully occupied	24 ft to the top edge. Islands of 20 ft x 20 ft or larger and mobile units only. None over inline or end cap
AHR Expo	McCormick Place	Annual	Feb 2-4, 2026 (Las Vegas)	Jan 25-27, 2027	Linear 8 ft. Anything over 42 in stays in the back half. Perimeter 20 ft. Peninsula 12 ft, minimum 400 sq ft. Within 10 ft of a neighbor, anything over 42 in stays in the back half of the original inline space. Island 16 ft, minimum 400 sq ft	Top of sign: perimeter 24 ft, peninsula 12 ft, island 20 ft. None over inline booths, and none in North Hall aisles N3600 to N4600
National Restaurant Association Show	McCormick Place	Annual	May 16-19, 2026	May 22-25, 2027	Linear 8 ft 3 in. Perimeter 14 ft. Peninsula 16 ft. Island 16 ft	Islands and peninsulas only, 20 ft floor to top of sign, on written approval. None in Lakeside Ballroom E354 or the B2 expansion area
ProMat	McCormick Place	Every 2 years	Mar 17-20, 2025	Apr 19-21, 2027	Linear 8 ft. Perimeter 12 ft. Peninsula 12 ft for an end cap and for back to back. Island as high as the ceiling permits, with no numeric cap	Bottom no lower than 16 ft, with no stated cap above that. Minimum 600 sq ft
HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition	McCormick Place	Annual	Mar 9-12, 2026 (Las Vegas)	Apr 5-8, 2027	Linear 8 ft in the rear 5 ft, 4 ft in the front 5 ft. Perimeter 12 ft. Peninsula 16 ft for the structure, with a sign or graphic to 24 ft. Minimum 20 ft x 20 ft. Island 24 ft inclusive of all structures and signs. Minimum 20 ft x 20 ft, drawings required in advance	24 ft, no variance, with 3 ft of clearance between the highest point of the booth and the bottom of the sign
ASCO Annual Meeting	McCormick Place	Annual	May 29 to Jun 2, 2026	Jun 4-8, 2027	Linear 8 ft rear half, 4 ft forward of that. Corner booths follow the inline rule. Island 20 ft, typically 400 sq ft or larger	Top of sign at 20 ft, islands only, with 8 ft of clearance below where attendees walk under
ADLM Annual Scientific Meeting and Clinical Lab Expo	McCormick Place	Annual	Jul 26-30, 2026 (Anaheim)	Jul 25-29, 2027	Linear 8 ft background. Side rails, counters and structures 4 ft within 5 ft of the front. Perimeter 12 ft background. Island 16 ft for structures, with signs carved out to 20 ft. Minimum 400 sq ft	20 ft floor to top of sign at 400 sq ft and above. No variances
IFT FIRST	McCormick Place	Annual	Jul 12-15, 2026	Jul 11-14, 2027	Linear 8 ft rear half, 4 ft forward of that. Island 20 ft to the top of the structure or sign, minimum 20 ft x 20 ft. Endcap and peninsula booths are not allowed at this show	Top of structure or sign at 20 ft under 1,000 sq ft, and no maximum stated at 1,000 sq ft and above. Islands only

Under the same roof at McCormick Place, an island is 16 feet at the National Restaurant Association Show and 24 feet at HIMSS.

A multi-level exhibit stays outside the sprinkler requirement only at two levels or fewer, 30 feet of elevation, and under 5,000 square feet enclosed. Blueprints need a licensed structural engineer’s stamp, filed with McCormick Place Fire Safety and the Chicago Fire Prevention Bureau at least 60 days before opening. Second levels stay open and uncovered unless sprinkler protection is installed. McCormick Place does not allow MIS, Octanorm or similar component systems for hanging signs anywhere in the facility.

Working in Chicago

An exhibitor employee means somebody employed full time for at least six months before the show opens, and the right cannot be transferred to contractor personnel. No motorized or hydraulic equipment at any time, by anyone on your side of the line.

Freight is where that permissiveness stops. All material except machinery is handled by Teamsters. Exhibitor personnel may not touch a Genie lift, a scissor lift, a forklift, a pallet jack or a motorized dolly at any time, so plan an install that runs on ladders and needs no lifts. The marshaling yard sits at 31st Street and Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive, with a certified truck scale and 24 hour staffing. The venue is unambiguous about timing: freight shipped to McCormick Place or to the marshaling facility before your licensed move-in date will not be accepted.

One trade is McCormick Place’s own: the Communication Service Technicians under Technology Services, covering internet, telecommunications and cable television. The other trades on the floor are hired by the general service contractor rather than by the building: Carpenters, Cleaning, Decorators, Electricians, Plumbers, Projectionists, Riggers, Stagehands and Teamsters. The invoice and the escalation path for each one run through that contractor.

Two things shape the budget. The first is that your booth crew can be your own people, which saves money on a large install if you plan the travel early.

The second is the biennial calendar. IMTS and PACK EXPO International both run in even years. ProMat and FABTECH run in odd ones, and the AHR Expo rotates its host city and lands here in 2027 and again in 2029, so Chicago has no quiet year. An even year puts two large shows in the same building, IMTS and PACK EXPO International, pulling on hotel and labor capacity across the city. Book against the year you are exhibiting in.

If your product runs on the floor, the booth is partly a machine installation, and power, clearance and the space around a working unit are set by the machine. The medical meetings in the same building ask for the opposite thing: a room with a door.

Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Convention Center is in the middle of an expansion. Construction broke ground on October 1, 2025 and runs to spring 2029, and the venue says it stays fully open throughout. The large conventions secured off the back of that work are booked for 2029 and later. In the meantime the calendar is major public events plus professional association meetings that rotate in once every several years, which is why it looks thinner than the city does.

Venue	Exhibit space	Ceiling height	Maximum permitted booth height	Floor load
Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall	281,495 sq ft (Hall G 96,660, Hall H 76,785, Hall J 76,785, Hall K 33,387, usable only in conjunction with adjacent halls), virtually column free. 1,400 booths at 10 ft x 10 ft	40 ft	36 ft, published by the venue	350 lb/sq ft
Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall	210,685 sq ft (Hall A 147,506, Hall B 63,619), virtually column free. 1,050 booths at 10 ft x 10 ft	36 ft, with a 25 ft soffit	33 ft, and 22 ft in the rear soffit area, published by the venue	300 lb/sq ft
Los Angeles Convention Center, Concourse Hall	26,342 sq ft, column free. 135 booths at 10 ft x 10 ft	17 ft	Set by the show	100 lb/sq ft
Los Angeles Convention Center, Kentia Hall	162,000 sq ft, located below South Hall HJ. 844 booths at 10 ft x 10 ft plus 64 at 8 ft x 10 ft	18 ft minimum	16 ft, published by the venue	Unlimited
Los Angeles Convention Center, Petree Hall	21,557 sq ft (Hall C 9,462, Hall D 11,926). 115 booths at 10 ft x 10 ft	17 ft, with a 15 ft soffit	Set by the show	100 lb/sq ft

This venue publishes permitted booth heights for three of its five halls.

Design to the ceiling and you are 4 feet over in South Hall, 3 feet over in West Hall, and 14 feet over under the soffit. The venue also wants a wet-stamped engineering plan for any booth over 12 feet or any stairs over 30 inches.

Shows in Los Angeles

The venue’s hall figures are the outer limit, not the permission. Where a show here publishes its own figure, that figure is the one that binds, and it will not always fit every hall the show occupies. Ten shows that run here:

Show	Venue and halls	Cadence	Previous edition	Next edition	Booth types and maximum height	Hanging sign
Anime Expo	Los Angeles Convention Center	Annual	Jul 2-5, 2026	Jul 2-5, 2027	–	–
Los Angeles Auto Show and AutoMobility LA	Los Angeles Convention Center	Annual	Nov 21-30, 2025	Nov 20-29, 2026	–	–
L.A. Comic Con	Los Angeles Convention Center	Annual	Sep 26-28, 2025	Oct 30 to Nov 1, 2026	–	–
OFC	Los Angeles Convention Center, Kentia, South and West Halls	Annual	Mar 15-19, 2026	Mar 7-11, 2027	Linear and corner 8 ft back drape, with side rails 4 ft across the front half and 8 ft across the back. Perimeter 12 ft back drape. Island 20 ft in the South and West Halls and 16 ft in Kentia Hall, and multi-story the same. End caps, peninsula and split island booths are not permitted	Islands only, inside the 20 ft allowance. None in in-line or perimeter booths, and none in Kentia Hall
NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo	Los Angeles Convention Center	Annual	May 26-29, 2026 (Orlando)	Jun 1-4, 2027	–	–
ACOG Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting	Los Angeles Convention Center	Annual	May 1-3, 2026 (Washington, D.C.)	May 21-23, 2027	Linear 8 ft in the rear half, 4 ft forward of that to the aisle. With three or more in-line booths combined, the 4 ft applies only within 10 ft of an adjoining booth. Island The show publishes two figures and does not reconcile them: 15 ft in one section and 20 ft in another. Minimum 400 sq ft, open on all four sides	20 ft floor to top of sign, over island booths. None over in-line booths
Star Wars Celebration	Los Angeles Convention Center, West Halls A and B, South Halls G, H, J and K, Petree Hall and Concourse Hall	Every 2 years	Apr 18-20, 2025 (Chiba, Japan)	Apr 1-4, 2027	Linear 12 ft. Peninsula 20 ft. Island 25 ft	Peninsula 20 ft and island 25 ft, floor to top of sign. Booths at least 20 ft deep and 20 ft wide
ACP Internal Medicine Meeting	Los Angeles Convention Center, Hall GHJ	Annual	Apr 16-18, 2026 (San Francisco)	Apr 15-17, 2027	Linear 8 ft including signs, company name, logo and product information. Island 20 ft including signage and towers. Islands made from a full block of 400 sq ft or larger	Islands only, inside the same 20 ft allowance
APIC Annual Conference	Los Angeles Convention Center	Annual	Jun 15-17, 2026 (Nashville)	Jun 14-16, 2027	Linear 8 ft rear half, 4 ft forward of that. Perimeter 12 ft back wall. Island 20 ft total cubic content, including signage, banners, trusses and hanging lighting	20 ft floor to top of sign, islands only
MakeUp in Los Angeles	Los Angeles Convention Center	Annual	Mar 4-5, 2026	Feb 23-24, 2027	–	–

The building publishes 720,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, the smallest of the six, plus 147,000 square feet of meeting room space. One freight detail matters now: Pico Boulevard between South Figueroa Street and LA Live Way closed on December 4, 2025 and stays closed through March 31, 2028.

Working in Los Angeles

The show, through its service kit, sets what your own staff may do here. The venue routes exhibit set-up to the event’s LACC authorized general service contractor, and Local 831 holds jurisdiction over the installation, repair and building of all temporary exhibits. Any allowance for your own staff comes from the show’s service kit, so read that before you commit to a build.

Exhibitor freight does come to the building, which has its own docks and 34 truck bays at the South Dock. Once it arrives, moving it is the general service contractor’s work under union jurisdiction. The Business Center in the Concourse Hall corridor handles small package shipping and receiving. Four unions divide the work: Local 831 covers trade show and sign crafts, which includes exhibit installation and dismantle, IATSE Local 33 covers staging and rigging, Teamsters Local 986 covers drayage and forklifts, and IBEW covers electrical.

Kentia Hall has an unlimited floor load, so it looks like the place to put heavy equipment. It also has an 18 foot minimum ceiling and a 16 foot permitted booth height, so a structure built to South Hall’s permitted height will not fit in it. The gap between the two halls is 22 feet on the ceiling and 20 feet on permitted height. Check which hall your space is in before the design goes to production.

If you are exhibiting at more than one Los Angeles show, the public events and the association meetings want different things from the same budget, so plan the property around the harder of the two.

Anaheim

A two story booth here needs drawings stamped by a California licensed structural or civil engineer. The show’s floor plan goes to Anaheim Fire and Rescue before booth space is sold, and at least 30 days before the event.

Venue	Exhibit space	Ceiling height	Maximum permitted booth height	Floor load
Anaheim Convention Center, exhibit halls	813,607 sq ft total: Hall A 145,841 (736 booths), Hall B 147,335 (736), Hall C 155,673 (791), Hall D 221,284 (1,140), Hall E 143,474 (650)	Hall A 18 ft 6 in to 24 ft; Halls B and C 20 ft 6 in to 25 ft; Hall D 25 ft; Hall E 13 ft 8 in	Set by the show. Anaheim Fire and Rescue requires displays to stay 18 in below sprinklered ceilings and 2 ft below the ceiling in non-sprinklered areas	Halls A, B, C and E 350 PSF unreduced, on slab on grade; Hall D 250 PSF unreduced, on a framed floor
Anaheim Convention Center North	100 Level 100,000 gsf of carpeted, flexible multipurpose meeting or exhibit space with 10 columns. 200 Level 100,000 sq ft, column free, 500 booths at 10 ft x 10 ft	25 ft on each level, with a 23 ft restriction on both levels under Anaheim Fire and Rescue regulations	23 ft on both levels, published by the venue under Anaheim Fire and Rescue regulations	100 Level 350 PSF; 200 Level 250 PSF, or HS15-44 axle load

Shows in Anaheim

In Anaheim the low ceilings do more of the work than the rulebooks do. Hall E, at 13 feet 8 inches, is the constraint to design around. ACC North is the one space where the venue publishes the number itself. The NAMM Show caps islands and peninsulas at 16 feet and allows truss and lighting to 20 feet only with written approval. APEX EXPO allows 20 feet on an island outright. Same building, four feet apart, and in both cases the show’s figure is the one that binds. Eight shows that run here:

Show	Venue and halls	Cadence	Previous edition	Next edition	Booth types and maximum height	Hanging sign
Natural Products Expo West	Anaheim Convention Center	Annual	Mar 3-6, 2026	Mar 2-5, 2027	The show’s own types are inline, corner, peninsula and island. Its display rules sit in the exhibitor service kit behind the exhibitor console, so no height is carried here	Island and peninsula booths only, measured floor to top of sign
The NAMM Show	Anaheim Convention Center, with Hall E on its own lower set	Annual	Jan 20-24, 2026	Jan 26-30, 2027	Linear 8 ft in the back 5 ft, 4 ft forward of that. Hall E 8 ft. Perimeter 12 ft back wall. Hall E 12 ft. Peninsula 16 ft on the center portion of the back wall, and 20 ft under the theatrical truss exception. Hall E 12 ft. Island 16 ft including signage, and 20 ft for peninsula, island and split island where the product on show is theatrical truss, lighting, speakers or fixtures, on written approval, with branding and graphics still capped at 16 ft. Hall E 12 ft	Peninsula, island and split island only, floor to top of sign, within the booth type’s own limit. None in Hall E
MD&M West	Anaheim Convention Center	Annual	Feb 3-5, 2026	Feb 9-11, 2027	–	–
APEX EXPO	Anaheim Convention Center	Annual	Mar 14-19, 2026	Apr 5-8, 2027	Linear 8 ft 3 in. Perimeter 12 ft. Peninsula 16 ft, minimum 400 sq ft and 20 ft in length and depth. Island 20 ft, truss excepted. Minimum 400 sq ft	Floor to top of sign: island 20 ft, peninsula 16 ft. None over in-line or perimeter booths
SIGGRAPH	Anaheim Convention Center	Annual	Jul 19-23, 2026 (Los Angeles)	Aug 8-12, 2027	–	–
VidCon Anaheim	Anaheim Convention Center	Annual	Jun 25-27, 2026	Jul 8-10, 2027	One overall cap rather than a figure per type: 14 ft to 16 ft depending on location in the hall	–
WonderCon	Anaheim Convention Center	Annual	Mar 27-29, 2026	Mar 26-28, 2027	–	–
Premiere Anaheim	Anaheim Convention Center North	Annual	Feb 1-2, 2026	Feb 7-8, 2027	Linear 10 ft back wall. 8 ft on the side walls within 5 ft of the back wall, 4 ft in the remaining 5 ft. Peninsula 10 ft on the center 10 ft of the back wall, 4 ft beyond that. Island 16 ft overall	20 ft floor to top of sign, and no more than half the booth’s own perimeter. Exhibitors with fewer than four booths may not hang at all

The show formerly called IPC APEX EXPO now runs as APEX EXPO under the Global Electronics Association, and an unrelated airline industry event is also called APEX EXPO. Name the organizer as well as the show on anything you send a freight carrier.

Hall D is the largest of the five halls and the weakest floor, because it is framed rather than poured on grade. With heavy equipment, that 100 lb/sq ft difference decides the booth.

Working in Anaheim

Exhibit build here belongs to exhibitor appointed contractors or to the show’s general service contractor. Any allowance for your own staff is set in the show’s service kit.

Move-in and move-out for the main halls happens on the west side of the building, with no east side access. ACC North loads through its own 100 Level docks off Hotel Way, and inside it only single trip hand carry is permitted, with no dollies or carts. There are 44 docks, non-exclusive except numbers 31, 32 and 38, and semi-trucks serving ACC North can use only the ACC North docks. The venue’s own guide says there is no standard designated marshaling area on ACC property. Car Park 5 and part of Car Park 7 may be requested for truck marshaling during move-in and move-out, on approval by the ACC parking department, with nothing guaranteed and nothing available on show days. The Claudina yard is 2.1 miles out, and staging on Hotel Way is prohibited at all times.

Anaheim Fire and Rescue charges an expedite fee on floor plans submitted inside 21 days of the show, and a higher one inside 72 hours.

ARAMARK holds food and beverage exclusively, Smart City Networks holds voice, data and internet, and Encore is the preferred vendor for audio visual and holds rigging exclusively outside the trade show floor. On the trade show floor, in Halls A to E and ACC North’s 100 Level, the show’s general service contractor may rig booth and signage points, though Encore still approves every rigging design. The structural limits are 500 pounds on secondary steel and 1,000 pounds on primary steel in the halls, and 1,600 pounds per point in ACC North. The booth price and the services attached to it arrive as two separate invoices.

Let the floor drive the design. Expo West and NAMM are order-writing shows: a buyer walks up, looks at the product, and either takes a sample or does not. The booth has to let somebody reach the product, pick one up and set it down again without anybody stepping aside. Aisles at Expo West put the decision at the edge of the booth rather than across the hall.

For a brand shipping in from outside California, run the local build question before you accept the freight quote. We produce and store exhibits in Southern California and have built for shows in this building including Natural Products Expo West and MD&M West.

New York

Three things shape a New York budget: what your own staff may do, where your crate may go, and what the city adds to the invoice. The restrictions start before the building. The Holland Tunnel takes trucks to 12 feet 6 inches and the Lincoln Tunnel to 13 feet. No truck is permitted in the Lincoln’s center tube, so freight from the west routes around those limits.

Venue	Exhibit space	Ceiling height	Maximum permitted booth height	Floor load
Javits Center, South Building Level 1	Hall 1A 70,000, 1B 80,000, 1C 80,000, 1D 30,000 (carpeted), 1E 45,000 (carpeted) gross sq ft	1A and 1E 16 ft 9 in; 1B and 1C 19 ft 7 in at the lowest point, which is the sprinkler, and 16 ft 10 in at the 1B/1C border; 1D variable 18 ft to 21 ft 6 in	Set by the show, 8 to 12 ft for linear and up to 25 ft for islands in current rulebooks. Double tiered booths are not permitted in the Level 1 halls	350 lb/sq ft
Javits Center, South Building Level 3	Hall 3A 116,000, 3B 158,000, 3D 17,000, 3E 119,000 gross sq ft	3A, 3B and 3E 33 ft to the space frame, 28 ft at the 90 ft x 90 ft bay borders; 3D 14 ft	Set by the show, 8 to 12 ft for linear and up to 25 ft for islands in current rulebooks. Not permitted in Hall 3D	350 lb/sq ft
Javits Center, South Building Level 4	River Pavilion 45,000 gross sq ft, column free	45 ft to the bottom of the space frame, 40 ft at each 90 ft x 90 ft bay border, 81 ft to the glass cube at the center	Set by the show	100 lb/sq ft
Javits Center, North Building	Hall 3 90,000 gross sq ft, plus 7,000 sq ft of pre-function space. The Pavilion 15,000 sq ft on Level 4, The Terrace 13,500 sq ft, The Overview 54,400 sq ft on Level 5	Hall 3 38 ft; Hall 3 pre-function 48 ft 6 in; The Pavilion 20 ft; The Overview 47 ft	Set by the show. Double tiered booths are not permitted on Levels 4 and 5	Hall 3 350 lb/sq ft; Level 4 North 125 lb/sq ft; Level 5 North 250 lb/sq ft

The campus publishes more than 500,000 gross square feet contiguous on one level. A completed expansion added a new exhibit hall and a dedicated truck marshaling facility.

Shows in New York

At Javits the show’s rulebook sets the maximum booth height, and the gap between shows in the same building is large. Halls 3A, 3B and 3E are listed at 33 feet to the space frame, and what you may build under them changes with the show:

Show	Venue and halls	Cadence	Previous edition	Next edition	Booth types and maximum height	Hanging sign
New York Comic Con	Javits	Annual	Oct 8-11, 2026	Oct 7-10, 2027	Linear 12 ft. Peninsula 20 ft. Island 20 ft	None in linear. Peninsula 20 ft and island 25 ft, floor to top of sign, in booths at least 20 ft deep and 20 ft wide
NRF: Retail’s Big Show	Jacob K. Javits Convention Center	Annual	Jan 11-13, 2026	Jan 10-12, 2027	–	–
New York International Auto Show	Javits	Annual	Apr 3-12, 2026	Mar 26 to Apr 4, 2027	Set by hall rather than booth type. In-line booths in the River Pavilion are capped at 8 ft. Outer perimeter spaces may build a 20 ft wall on show management’s prior approval, kept 10 ft off any space border. Peninsula and island are not categories in this rulebook	Top of sign: Halls 3A, 3B and 3E 31 ft; Hall 3D 13 ft; Hall 1A 14 ft 6 in; Halls 1B and 1C 16 ft
Summer Fancy Food Show	Javits	Annual	Jun 28-30, 2026	Jul 25-27, 2027	Linear 8 ft rear half, 4 ft front half. Peninsula 16 ft cubic content, minimum 400 sq ft, and 20 ft in the International Pavilions. Island 16 ft cubic content, minimum 400 sq ft, and 20 ft in the International Pavilions	Top at 16 ft, bottom at 10 ft. Peninsula and island only
Greater New York Dental Meeting	Javits, Halls 3E, 3B and 3D	Annual	Nov 28 to Dec 3, 2025	Nov 27 to Dec 1, 2026	Set by exhibit space number rather than booth type: 28 ft generally, and 14 ft in spaces 1900 to 2400. No partition between exhibits may pass 48 in unless it sits at least 5 ft off the nearest aisle. Peninsula back wall 10 ft. Island plans are due 90 days out	Top at 28 ft, bottom no lower than 16 ft
Toy Fair	Javits, Level 3 halls 3, 3A, 3B and 3E	Annual	Feb 14-17, 2026	Feb 20-23, 2027	Linear 8 ft 3 in rear half, 4 ft within 10 ft of a neighbor. Perimeter 12 ft rear half. Peninsula 16 ft, and 12 ft in Hall 3D and on Level 1. Island 16 ft, and 12 ft in Hall 3D and on Level 1	Oversized linear, walk-thru, peninsula and island of 400 net sq ft or more. On Level 3 top at 30 ft and bottom at 16 ft, on Level 1 top at 14 ft and bottom at 11 ft. None in Hall 3D
NY NOW	Javits, Halls 3A and 3B	Multiple editions per year	Aug 2-4, 2026	Jan 31 to Feb 2, 2027	One combined cap rather than a figure per type: 20 ft, measured between any ground supported structure and anything hung above it	Peninsula and island of 400 sq ft or more only, on show management approval
INTERPHEX	Javits	Annual	Apr 21-23, 2026	Apr 13-15, 2027	Linear 10 ft. Peninsula 16 ft, minimum 400 sq ft. Island 20 ft, minimum 400 sq ft	Nothing above the booth type’s own limit, signs, banners and truss included
MD&M East	Jacob K. Javits Convention Center	Annual	May 20-22, 2025	May 19-20, 2027	–	–
ICFF	Javits, Halls 1A, 1B and 1C	Annual	May 17-19, 2026	Nov 14-16, 2027	Linear 10 ft, with line of sight required. Perimeter 10 ft, under the same line of sight rule. Island 12 ft under 400 sq ft, and 12 ft to 16 ft at 400 sq ft and above on show management approval. Peninsula booths are addressed only as to orientation and two story approval, with no height attached	None permitted

If you exhibit at MD&M West in Anaheim, MD&M East is the same audience on the other coast.

Hanging loads need the venue’s approval in advance and sit within 20 percent of load capacity. The recessed points in Halls 1B and 1C take 100 pounds each and must be spaced at least 2 feet on center each way. In Halls 1A, 3D and 1E the load hangs from the partition tracks at 50 pounds per point, which can stop a sign well below the ceiling.

Working in New York

What you may do here without union personnel is narrow and specific. The venue’s own Operational Policies and Guidelines set the threshold at displays of 250 square feet or less, erected or dismantled by employees of the exhibiting company, without tools or ladders. Those employees must carry identification. Your show may set a tighter limit, so check its service kit before you plan an install around the venue’s figure.

The venue’s Operational Policies and Guidelines name the trades and the locals: Teamsters Local 553 on freight handling, Teamsters Local 237 on meeting room set-up and cleaning, the Carpenters and Joiners New York District Council on booth set-up, IBEW Local 3 on electrical and telephone, and Plumbers Union Local 1. Jurisdiction can shift between editions, so confirm it against your own show’s service kit.

New York City applies a combined 8.875 percent sales tax: the 4 percent state rate, the 4.5 percent city rate, and a 0.375 percent Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District surcharge.

Installing a trade show display is a taxable service. A charge for dismantling is not, provided it is reasonable, separately stated and separately purchasable. The capital improvement exclusion does not reach trade show displays, because they are not meant to be permanent. On a large install this is a line in the budget, so confirm the treatment of your own invoices with your tax adviser.

The building does not accept advance deliveries before the contracted move-in date, and all deliveries are received by the show’s general service contractor. Marshaling is at 369 12th Avenue.

Double tiered booths are permitted only in the River Pavilion and Halls 3A, 3B and 3E.

Where they are permitted, a New York City Building Department permit is required whenever the second tier will be walked on, or for any solid overhead structure over 120 square feet. That is a municipal permit on a booth, and the lead time has to sit in the schedule well before move-in.

Space in this building is tighter than in Chicago or Orlando, and the shows are sized accordingly. For a smaller exhibitor that is good news: a 10 by 20 at the Summer Fancy Food Show is a real presence in a way the same footprint would not be at IMTS.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a venue’s ceiling height and the maximum permitted booth height?

A ceiling is a dimension of the building. A permitted height is somebody’s rule, and it usually sits below the ceiling. Two cases from different sides of that split. ACC North in Anaheim has a 25 foot ceiling and the venue itself caps a booth at 23. Hall 3E at Javits has a 33 foot ceiling and no venue cap at all, so Toy Fair’s 16 foot island limit is the number that binds. Design against the permitted height for the specific show and hall you are in, and treat the ceiling as the number that tells you whether that permitted height is even achievable.

Where can my own staff legally build the booth?

Of the venues that publish a rule, Chicago publishes the widest latitude: an exhibitor employee may build a booth of any size, using their own tools including power tools, provided they have been employed full time for six months. Las Vegas allows self-setup with show management’s approval, by full time employees of the exhibiting company who carry credentials, limited to hand carried material with no material handling equipment. New York allows displays up to 250 square feet, without tools or ladders, by employees of the exhibiting company carrying identification. In Orlando, Los Angeles and Anaheim the allowance is set by the show and its general service contractor, so the show’s service kit is the document to read.

Does a right to work state mean I can set up my own booth?

No. Right to work governs whether union membership can be required as a condition of employment. Who may install an exhibit on a show floor is governed by the venue’s rules and the general service contractor’s published work rules for your specific show.

Why does ceiling height matter more than square footage?

Because floor space is something you buy and headroom is something you are given. A 20 by 20 island is a 20 by 20 island in any of these buildings. The same island with a 20 foot hanging sign works in South Hall in Los Angeles and in Halls A to D at the Venetian. It cannot be installed at all in three others: Hall G at the Venetian, which bans hanging signs outright; Kentia Hall in Los Angeles, where the permitted height is 16 feet; and Hall 1E at Javits, where the hanging point limit is 50 pounds. Confirm the hall as well as the show.

Which of these six venues is the biggest?

McCormick Place, at 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, then the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Orange County Convention Center. The Los Angeles Convention Center is the smallest of the six, and the Javits Center runs its buying shows on less floor than Chicago.

Do these shows always stay at the same venue?

Not reliably. Some are anchored, like RSNA at McCormick Place through 2032 or Toy Fair at Javits through 2032. Others rotate on a fixed cycle: Vision Expo, ADLM, HIMSS and ACP all move between cities, and Vision Expo West was discontinued in favor of a single rotating edition. Money20/20 USA moves to the Las Vegas Convention Center and Resorts World with its October 2027 edition. Confirm the venue for the specific edition you are planning for, not the one you attended last.

Why do some of these shows only happen every two or three years?

Because their industries buy on that cycle. IMTS and PACK EXPO International are biennial and run in even years, ProMat is biennial and runs in odd years, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG runs every three years. Capital equipment purchases get planned around these shows, which is why the on-year editions are so large and why the host city’s hotel and labor capacity tightens in those years.

Which of these markets is easiest for a first-time exhibitor?

Anaheim and Orlando. Natural Products Expo West, Global Pet Expo, ICAST and Surf Expo all have substantial sections of smaller exhibitors. The Chicago equipment shows are the hardest place to start, because the cost of putting working machinery on a floor sets a high entry price on the whole exercise.

Can I use the same booth at more than one of these shows?

Usually, with adjustments. A modular system reconfigures between footprints, so a 20 by 20 island at one show rebuilds as a 10 by 20 inline at the next. A booth built for one job rarely works for another, and the height rules above will stop some properties outright. Check the hall before you assume the property travels.

Should we rent a booth or ship our own to these venues?

Do one or two shows a year on the other side of the country and the arithmetic usually favors renting. Round trip freight and material handling on a custom built exhibit can approach or exceed the cost of a comparable booth rented locally. Run the numbers on your actual calendar and account for drayage on both sides. We go through the trade-off in renting versus buying a booth.

Are the biggest shows always the best shows to exhibit at?

No. A large show costs more in space, freight, labor and staff time, and it puts you next to competitors with much larger budgets. Look at who attends before you look at how many, and work through a show selection process before you commit the budget.

Methodex handles trade show booth design, rental, production and installation for exhibitors at these venues and others across the country, with production and warehousing in Southern California and Nevada. Send us the show and the hall, and we will tell you what the space will take and what it will cost to fill it.