11 Grocery Trade Shows You Can’t Afford to Skip in 2026
Grocery Madness: Running a grocery store means balancing trends, supply chain issues, and avoiding customer uproar over missing favorite products like oat milk.
Shop with a List!: Skipping grocery trade shows is like shopping without a list; you miss the latest market trends and advancements competitors use.
Avoid Stale Supplier Networks: Not attending trade shows keeps supplier networks outdated, hindering negotiations and creativity in product offerings.
Trade Show Extravaganza: Grocery trade shows are essential for networking, deal-making, and glimpsing food retail's future while enjoying free snacks.
2026 Trade Show Highlights: Plan to attend the NGA Shows 2026 in Las Vegas and other key trade shows for insight and innovation in grocery retail.
Running a grocery business isn’t just about stocking shelves and scanning barcodes—it’s a wild ride of shifting trends, supply chain headaches, and customers who will absolutely riot if you run out of their favorite oat milk.
If you’re not hitting the right grocery trade shows, you’re basically grocery shopping without a list:
- You’ll miss out on the latest trends, like AI-powered checkout or the next kombucha-level craze, and end up playing catch-up while your competitors cash in.
- Your supplier network will stay as stale as last week’s bread—good luck negotiating better deals when you don’t know who else is out there.
- You’ll be stuck in the same old routine, missing out on fresh product ideas that could boost margins and keep customers coming back for more.
Trade shows are where the grocery world’s best and brightest gather to talk shop, make deals, and showcase the future of food retail. Plus, let’s be real—where else can you network and score free snacks at the same time?
Here’s a roundup of the best grocery trade shows to check out this year. Pack your comfy shoes and bring an extra tote bag—you’re gonna need it.
The Best Grocery Trade Shows to Shop in 2026, Your Handy Shortlist
Here's my shortlist of the best grocery trade shows I think are worth attending in 2026:
- NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show - New York City, NY (January 11-13, 2026)
- The NGA Show - Las Vegas, NV (February 1-3, 2026)
- KeHE Summer Show - Denver, CO (February 4-5, 2026)
- Natural Products Expo West - Anaheim, CA (March 3-6, 2026)
- Food & Drink Expo - Birmingham, England, (April 13-15, 2026)
- Grocery & Specialty Food West - Vancouver, Canada (April 21-22, 2026)
- Sweets & Snacks Expo - Las Vegas, NV (May 18-21, 2026)
- Summer Fancy Food Show - New York City, NY (June 28-30, 2026)
- Groceryshop - Las Vegas, NV (September 22-24, 2026)
- NACS Show - Las Vegas, NV (October 6-9, 2026)
- Grocery Innovations Canada - Toronto, Canada (October 27-28, 2026)
The 11 Best Grocery Trade Shows You'll Want to Attend in 2026
OK, now for the actual details, which naturally include each event’s dates, location, pricing, and unique offerings.
1. NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show - New York City, NY (January 11-13, 2026)
- Dates: January 11-13, 2026
- Location: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
- Pricing: From $1,200
- Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook
Retail's Big Show, put on by the National Retail Federation (NRF), is one of the largest and longest-running trade shows in the U.S. It's built for retailers, brands, and technology vendors across grocery, CPG, and broader retail sectors. The event regularly draws thousands of attendees from around the world and features speakers from across the retail industry, including CEOs, innovators, and strategists.
Why attend? This annual event brings together a mix of large grocery chains, tech startups, and retail thought leaders in one massive expo floor. You’ll walk through future-facing store tech, hear what’s working on the operational side, and join tactical sessions on everything from supply chain to loyalty.
There’s also space for emerging brands and hands-on showcases, giving you and your team ideas you can actually apply. It’s not just grocery—it’s retail at large, which gives your team a bigger view of what’s next.
2. The NGA Show - Las Vegas, NV (February 1-3, 2026)
- Dates: February 1-3, 2026
- Location: MGM Grand Conference Center
- Pricing: From $845 (member discounts available)
- Social Media: X, Facebook
The NGA Show is an annual conference tailored to the independent sector of the food retail industry. Hosted by the National Grocers Association (NGA), the event has become a central gathering for grocers, wholesalers, and suppliers. It draws regional chains, cooperatives, and industry groups focused on community-based retail.
Why attend? At The NGA Show, you’ll get access to workshops on regulatory issues, merchandising, and omnichannel growth. The expo floor features tech vendors and CPG brands that focus on smaller formats. Networking events, including retailer-only sessions and case studies from peer grocers, give your team real-world ideas they can bring home.
3. KeHE Summer Show - Denver, CO (February 4-5, 2026)
- Dates: February 4-5, 2026
- Location: Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO, USA
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: LinkedIn
KeHE Summer Show is a regional grocery trade show hosted by KeHE Distributors, a major natural and organic food distributor in North America. It’s designed for retailers, buyers, and category managers in the grocery industry. The event offers exclusive access to new products and seasonal deals across fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable categories.
Why attend? At this show, you and your team get direct access to limited-time promotions, product launches, and emerging brands before they hit the broader market. It’s built around dealmaking, so much of the activity centers on placing seasonal orders and discovering upcoming food trends.
The show floor focuses on natural, organic, specialty, and fresh products, with dedicated zones for innovation and supplier spotlights. Unlike multi-vendor expos, it’s exclusive to KeHE partners, which keeps the experience streamlined and focused on decision-making.
4. Natural Products Expo West - Anaheim, CA (March 3-6, 2026)
- Dates: March 3-6, 2026
- Location: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: Instagram, LinkedIn
Natural Products Expo West is one of the largest grocery trade shows focused on natural, organic, and wellness products. The show is organized by Informa Markets and includes education sessions alongside an expansive expo hall, attracting thousands of CPG brands, retailers, and distributors.
Why attend? This show gives your team early access to product launches across food & beverage, supplement, and personal care categories. You’ll see emerging trends play out in real time—from functional ingredients to sustainability.
Beyond the show floor, the event includes town halls, brand incubators, and innovation showcases. It’s designed for discovery and connection across every level of the natural products supply chain.
5. Food & Drink Expo - Birmingham, England (April 13-15, 2026)
- Dates: April 13-15, 2026
- Location: National Exhibition Centre (NEC)
- Pricing: Free
- Social Media: X, LinkedIn
Food & Drink Expo is a UK-based grocery trade show for professionals across retail, wholesale, foodservice, and manufacturing. It gathers industry buyers, brand owners, and suppliers, showcasing new product launches and sector innovations across categories like chilled, deli, and ambient goods.
One past attendee shared: "It's a place where we get suppliers, restauranteurs under one roof, where everybody gets to mingle, taste, sample and open up everyone's little gems to everybody in the industry."
Why attend? The trade show connects big retailers and small producers in a shared space, creating chances to meet procurement leads, discover emerging brands, and benchmark against leading competitors. You'll see tailored zones for grocery innovation, sustainability, and shopper insights, along with panel discussions, live interviews, and trend briefings specific to UK retail and wholesale.
If you're aiming to place a product on a shelf or understand what’s shaping tomorrow’s consumer behavior, this event gives you a real-world edge.
6. Grocery & Specialty Food West - Vancouver, Canada (April 21-22, 2026)
- Dates: April 21-22, 2026
- Location: Vancouver Convention Centre East Building
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
Grocery & Specialty Food West is a leading Canadian grocery trade show hosted annually in Vancouver. It brings together regional and national retailers, specialty food manufacturers, importers, and distributors to explore the latest in grocery innovation.
This event caters to professionals in food retail, product development, category management, and merchandising. It’s a key meeting ground for independent and chain retailers alike.
Why attend? GSFW focuses specifically on the Western Canadian grocery and specialty food market, offering a more regional lens than other national events. You’ll experience a product-forward floor layout, chef-led food demonstrations, retail-focused education sessions, and category trend spotlights that speak directly to independent retailers.
With a strong emphasis on food innovation and local sourcing, it’s designed to give your team direct access to upcoming brands, merchandising tactics, and sales-building strategies tailored for Western markets.
7. Sweets & Snacks Expo - Las Vegas, NV, (May 18-21, 2026)
- Dates: May 18-21, 2026
- Location: Las Vegas Convention Center
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook
Sweets & Snacks Expo is an annual food expo tailored to the confectionery and snack industries. It serves manufacturers, retailers, product developers, and category buyers from grocery, convenience, and mass-market channels. Past keynote speakers have included retail strategist Wendy Liebmann and trend expert Phil Lempert, offering insights on shopper behavior and merchandising.
Why attend? This is a highly targeted event focused on candy, snacks, and specialty treats. You’ll see what’s trending across salty, sweet, and better-for-you categories, all in one place.
There’s a dedicated innovation showcase, product pitch sessions, and a strong focus on seasonal merchandising and impulse buying strategy. It’s an efficient way for your team to spot fast-moving items, compare packaging trends, and make sourcing decisions tied directly to shopper habits.
8. Summer Fancy Food Show - New York City, NY (June 28-30, 2026)
- Dates: June 28-30, 2026
- Location: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: Instagram
The Summer Fancy Food Show is a leading event for the specialty food industry put on by the Specialty Food Association. It attracts thousands of exhibitors and showcases innovative products, essential for buyers, retailers, and food service professionals.
Why attend? At the Summer Fancy Food Show, you can walk thousands of square feet filled with samples, new flavors, and direct vendor connections. The floor is divided by country and category, so it’s easy to scout trends and meet with both global brands and smaller artisan makers.
You’ll get exposure to emerging product lines, watch live demos, and connect with supply chain players all in one space. If your team works in procurement, category management, or food retail strategy, the experience is practical, tactile, and refreshingly sales-free.
9. Groceryshop - Las Vegas, NV (September 22-24, 2026)
- Dates: September 22-24, 2026
- Location: Mandalay Bay
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: LinkedIn
Groceryshop is an annual grocery trade show that brings together leaders from across the grocery and CPG ecosystem, including established retailers, direct-to-consumer brands, and startups. It caters to senior decision-makers in merchandising, marketing, technology, and supply chain.
Why attend? At Groceryshop, you’ll hear from grocery and tech leaders tackling AI, automation, retail media, digital merchandising, and omnichannel transformation. The agenda prioritizes innovation across operations and customer experience, with dedicated sessions for startups and disruptive tech. You’ll get access to curated meetings, exhibitor halls, and original research. If you’re shaping grocery’s future, this is where strategy meets execution.
10. NACS Show - Las Vegas, NV (October 11-14, 2026)
- Dates: October 11-14, 2026
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: Facebook
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show is a prominent event focused on the convenience and fuel retailing industry. It attracts executives, category managers, and buyers from c-stores, wholesalers, and fuel retailers. The show offers a mix of educational seminars, product showcases, and networking events.
Why attend? This show covers more than grocery—it’s built around convenience retail. You’ll walk through a massive expo hall with new products, foodservice innovations, and fuel tech. Sessions focus on the latest trends, store operations, and emerging regulations.
You’ll also have chances to meet top vendors, explore franchise opportunities, and hear real-world strategies from fellow operators. It’s designed for retailers who move fast and want practical ideas they can apply right away.
11. Grocery Innovations Canada - Toronto, Canada (October 27-28, 2026)
- Dates: October 26-27, 2026
- Location: Toronto Congress Centre
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
Grocery Innovations Canada (GIC) is an annual grocery trade show put on by the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG). It's tailored to grocery retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers across independent and large-format grocery stores.
The event draws executives and buyers from across the country and includes an exhibitor floor, pitch competitions, and professional development sessions. With sponsors like Campbell's, Old Dutch, McCain, and more, it's a must attend event for Canadians in the industry and those from abroad.
Why attend? At GIC, you'll explore new product zones and attend seminars on regulatory shifts and digital commerce. The event also offers a variety of networking opportunities that connect you with local retailers and national chains.
Other Retail Conferences & Events
Depending on your retail niche, you might be looking for events that cater more specifically to your selling strategy. Here are some additional recommendations I've compiled.
- Retail management conferences with broad coverage of retail industry topics
- A curated list of the best food trade shows
- Retail merchandising conferences for learning new promotion, display, and discount strategies
Bag It Up and Cash Out
The grocery game moves fast, and if you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind.
Hitting the right grocery trade shows isn’t just about shaking hands and snagging samples—it’s about staying ahead of trends, making smarter business moves, and finding the next big thing before your competitors do.
So, pick a few from this list, book your tickets, and get ready to level up your grocery business. Just don’t forget to wear comfy shoes—you’ll thank me later.
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