12 Best Merchandising Trade Shows to Attend in 2026
The best merchandising trade shows are where buying decisions get made, trends surface early, and supplier relationships actually take root. Whether you're sourcing new product lines, scouting emerging brands, or benchmarking against competitors, the right event puts you in the room where it counts.
Here's a breakdown of the shows worth your budget and your time.
Best Merchandising Trade Shows in 2026 Shortlist
Here's a shortlist of the best merchandising trade shows I think are worth attending in 2026:
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- Cosmoprof North America - Multiple dates and locations
- NY NOW Summer Market - New York, NY (August 2–4, 2026)
- MAGIC - Multiple dates and locations
- ASD Market Week - Las Vegas, NV (August 25–27, 2026)
- Retail Asia Conference & Expo 2026 - Hongkong (September 1–3, 2026)
- Autumn Fair - Birmingham, UK (September 6-9, 2026)
- Coterie New York - New York, NY (September 9-11, 2026)
- Maison&Objet Paris - Paris, France (Multiple dates)
- Top Drawer A/W26 - London, UK (September 13-15, 2026)
- Kind + Jugend - Cologne, Germany (September 17–20, 2026)
- PRINTING United Expo - Las Vegas, NV (September 23–25, 2026)
- White Label World Expo - Multiple dates and locations
The 12 Best Merchandising Trade Shows of 2026
OK, now let's look at each of these stellar trade shows, with each event’s dates, location, pricing, and unique offerings.
1. Cosmoprof North America - Multiple dates and locations
- Dates: Multiple dates (see table below)
- Location: Multiple dates (see table below)
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
Cosmoprof North America: Locations & Dates
| Locations | Dates |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | July 13-15, 2026 |
| Miami, FL | January 26-28, 2027 |
Cosmoprof North America (CPNA) is the leading B2B beauty trade show in the Americas, now in its 23rd edition. Organized by BolognaFiere Group, it's built for beauty brands, buyers, and supply chain professionals across more than 100 countries.
Why attend? CPNA goes beyond product sourcing. CosmoTalks delivers trend-forward sessions mixing creativity and business strategy, while the Buyer Program sets up pre-arranged meetings between exhibitors and qualified buyers. With over 1,000 exhibitors and 26,000 attendees, it's one of the most concentrated beauty industry events in the western hemisphere.
2. NY NOW Summer Market - New York, NY (August 2–4, 2026)
- Dates: August 2–4, 2026
- Location: Javits Center
- Pricing: Free for qualified buyers
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
NY NOW is a 100+ year-old wholesale marketplace for gift, home, lifestyle, and jewelry brands. Now under new ownership by Rockview Management Group, it draws thousands of retail buyers from department stores to boutiques and ecommerce retailers.
Why attend? NY NOW is one of the few wholesale shows with a curated mix across gift, home, jewelry, and apparel all under one roof at the Javits Center. Programming includes trend panels, workshops, and live demos led by industry experts. The new ownership team is actively expanding the brand mix and elevating the on-site experience, making the 2026 edition a reset worth showing up for.
3. MAGIC - Multiple dates and locations
- Dates: Multiple dates (see table below)
- Location: Multiple locations (see table below)
- Pricing: Free (verified retailers)
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
MAGIC events: Locations & Dates
| Locations | Dates |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | August 10-12, 2026 |
| New York City, NY | September 9-11, 2026 |
| Nashville, TN | May 11-12, 2027 |
MAGIC is a long-running fashion trade show series organized by Informa Markets, bringing together brands, buyers, manufacturers, and industry professionals. The shows cover women’s and men’s apparel, footwear, accessories, sourcing, and retail trends across the global fashion market.
Why attend? MAGIC events often run alongside sister shows like PROJECT, SOURCING at MAGIC, and OFFPRICE, giving attendees access to fashion brands, supply chain resources, and wholesale opportunities in one place. It’s a valuable opportunity to discover trends, connect with buyers and suppliers, and explore multiple segments of the fashion industry during a single event experience.
4. ASD Market Week - Las Vegas, NV (August 25–27, 2026)
- Dates: August 25–27, 2026
- Location: Las Vegas Convention Center
- Pricing: Free (pre-registered buyers) - $55 (onsite registration)
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
ASD Market Week is the largest wholesale retail merchandise show in the U.S., connecting retailers and distributors with 1,800+ vendors across 19+ product categories. It's a core sourcing event for buyers of all sizes, from independent shops to large-scale distributors.
Why attend? ASD packs eight shows into one floor, covering everything from general merchandise to beauty, apparel, and gifts. The 2026 edition debuts a reimagined mid-week format across two connected halls at the Las Vegas Convention Center, making it faster to navigate and easier to source across categories in just three focused days.
5. Retail Asia Conference & Expo 2026 - Hongkong (September 1–3, 2026)
- Dates: September 1–3, 2026
- Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
- Pricing: Free (qualified trade visitors)
- Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook
Retail Asia Conference & Expo (RACE) is an Informa Markets event connecting Asia's retail industry around tech, design, and ecommerce innovation. Held annually in Hong Kong, it draws retailers, solution providers, and brands across the region.
Why attend? In 2026, RACE co-locates with Restaurant, Bar & Café Hong Kong at the HKCEC, blending retail and F&B under one roof. The conference covers AI, retail tech, in-store marketing, and internet retailing, with keynotes, roundtables, and the Asia Hospitality and Retail Design Awards on-site.
6. Autumn Fair - Birmingham, UK (September 6-9, 2026)
- Dates: September 6-9, 2026
- Location: NEC Birmingham
- Pricing: Free (for eligible and registered attendees)
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
The Autumn Fair is a leading wholesale trade show in the UK. It's designed for retailers seeking the latest in home, gift, and fashion products. The event features over 800+ exhibitors and coincides with the Glee event, enhancing its appeal to a broad audience.
"It's been such a lovely experience to see so many amazing brands come together and put on such a great show. We always do Autumn Fair every year and I love the opportunity it brings to meet and connect with great buyers and other exhibitors!"
– Jess England, Life Charms
Why attend? At the Autumn Fair, you can browse thousands of products across trend-led sectors, including giftware, home décor, and sustainable goods. It stands out for its focus on product discovery, with curated showcases and new brand launches. There’s also a packed schedule of retail insights, including workshops, buyer sessions, and live product demos.
7. Coterie New York - New York, NY (September 9-11, 2026)
- Dates: September 9–11, 2026
- Location: Javits Center
- Pricing: Free (verified retailers)
- Social Media: Instagram, LinkedIn
Coterie New York, organized by Informa, is a contemporary fashion trade show at NYC's Javits Center. It draws 6,600+ attendees and 725+ brands across apparel, accessories, footwear, and beauty from 50+ countries, with 78% buying power on the floor.
Why attend? Coterie's curated "Neighborhoods" model groups brands by identity and aesthetic, from Après Ski to Maison, making it easy to discover your next buy. It's built for retailers who want meaningful connections with top decision-makers, not just a walk-through of booths.
8. Maison&Objet Paris - Paris, France (Multiple dates)
- Dates:
- September 10-14, 2026
- January 14-18, 2027
- Location: Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre
- Pricing: €70
- Social Media: Facebook
Maison&Objet Paris, organized by SAFI, is a leading international trade fair for home decor, design, and lifestyle. Held twice yearly since 1994, it connects global retailers, interior designers, and architects with 3,000+ exhibitors.
Why attend? The September 2026 edition runs under the "Pulse in Motion" theme — developed with NellyRodi and led by Studio Masquespacio — across sectors like Cook & Share, Wellness & Beauty, and Gift & Play. Talks, masterclasses, and trend installations make it as much an education event as a sourcing one.
9. Top Drawer A/W26 - London, UK (September 13-15, 2026)
- Dates: September 13–15, 2026
- Location: Olympia
- Pricing: Free (pre-registered online) - £20 (onsite registration)
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
Top Drawer is a UK trade show organized by Clarion Events, running for 40+ years. It's a curated wholesale marketplace at Olympia London for design-led retailers, showcasing 550+ brands across fashion, gift, home, wellbeing, and stationery.
Why attend? Top Drawer's sector "neighborhoods" — from Fashion to Launchpad for emerging makers — let you move through a tightly edited floor of 550+ brands without the noise of a generic trade show. The Better Trends feature and live content make it as much a trendspotting trip as a sourcing one.
10. Kind + Jugend - Cologne, Germany (September 17–20, 2026)
- Dates: September 15–17, 2026
- Location: Koelnmesse
- Pricing: €32 - €54
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook
Kind + Jugend, organized by Koelnmesse, is the leading international trade fair for baby and toddler products. It's a trade-only event for retailers, wholesalers, and buyers, covering everything from prams to kids' fashion and toys.
Why attend? The 2026 key theme, "Growing with AI," puts this show ahead of the curve for product and retail innovation. The Innovation Award, Trend Space, and New Product Trail give buyers a curated view of what's next across 7 product worlds — all in one visit to Cologne.
11. PRINTING United Expo - Las Vegas, NV (September 23–25, 2026)
- Dates: September 23–25, 2026
- Location: Las Vegas Convention Center
- Pricing: Free (members) - $525 (non-members)
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
PRINTING United Expo is North America's premier printing industry event, bringing together commercial, apparel, wide-format, labels, packaging, and more. Organized by PRINTING United Alliance, the most comprehensive printing and graphic arts association in North America, it draws 800+ exhibitors to Las Vegas each year.
Why attend? The returning All-Stars program brings global industry ambassadors to the show floor, offering guided pathways across 70+ education sessions. The 2026 expo also features co-located meetings, global partnerships, and industry collaborations that go well beyond a typical trade floor experience.
12. White Label World Expo - Multiple dates and locations
- Dates: Multiple dates (see table below)
- Location: Multiple locations (see table below)
- Pricing: Free
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
White Label World Expo: Locations & Dates
| Location | Date |
|---|---|
| New York City, NY | September 30-October 1, 2026 |
| London, UK | November 11-12, 2026 |
White Label World Expo is a premier event for eCommerce professionals, focusing on private label and retail sourcing in both the USA and the UK. It's designed to connect sellers with suppliers and industry experts.
The expo features a range of speakers and exhibitors, offering insights into the latest trends and strategies. It attracts a global audience looking to expand their business ventures.
Why attend? Attend the White Label World Expo to explore new products and connect with suppliers. It provides valuable networking opportunities and educational sessions that can enhance your business strategies.
With a focus on innovation and growth, it's an ideal platform for discovering new opportunities in the eCommerce and retail sectors.
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
- General retail conferences to level up your IRL selling know-how
- For the food purveyors out there, there are food trade shows and grocery trade shows to give you some help
Get Your Merch Right
Merchandising trade shows aren’t just industry events—they’re where the best retailers get ahead.
The right show can help you find winning products, build supplier relationships, and stay on top of market trends before they hit the mainstream.
So, don’t sit this one out. Pick the shows that fit your business, make a plan, and get ready to turn connections into opportunities. See you out there.
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