When people think of Las Vegas, they think the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip. From high-end restaurants to state of the art nightclubs and, of course, the gambling. But the convention business the city brings in that really makes the city sing. And Las Vegas hosts some of the biggest in the world.
Tuesday, CES (formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show) gets underway at and around the Las Vegas Convention Center, and with it comes over 100,000 attendees. If you’ve ever driven around the Convention Center, you know how packed it becomes. Companies from all over the world descend upon the desert to show off their latest and greatest in technology. Some of the products will never see the light of day, while others will be available for purchase this week.
Las Vegas conventions have been a draw for decades
Since 1959, the Las Vegas Convention Center has been welcoming people from throughout the world. But initially it was more of a venue than a place to do business.
The Beatles performed there in 1964. Several boxing matches took place there, including some high profile names like Muhammed Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson.
The property has since underwent several reinventions including the most recent expansion in 2021. Now the rest of the convention center is getting re-done to match the grandeur and style of the newest West Hall.
Las Vegas’ biggest conventions aren’t what you might think
Obviously CES gets a lot of press coverage. But it is not alone when it comes to bringing a slew of people to the valley, spending money at the tables – both restaurant and casino – and having a grand old time. When it comes to the list of the biggest and most visited conventions, there’ll be some names you recognize, and others you may never have thought of.
Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show - 160,000 Attendees
Get your motor running at SEMA Show
When SEMA comes to town, they take the whole thing over. From the Convention Center to the Strip to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the SEMA Show brings motorheads from around America and the world to the valley. Last year the event brought in around 160,000 attendees. Not too shabby and as of last year, officially the biggest convention of the year in Las Vegas.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG & International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE) - 139,000 Attendees
When the cranes are up, CONEXPO is probably in town.
You know when you see all the cranes around the convention center? Chances are that’s for the CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE. In 2023, the event brought a slew of construction and “fluid power” professionals to the valley. The event is a behemoth… but sadly it isn’t a yearly occurrence. The next one isn’t until 2026.
CES (Consumer Electronics Show) - 115,000 Attendees
Before your big screen TV was in your home, it was a big dream at CES.
Obviously, CES takes the cake. But not by much. The event, which began in Las Vegas in the 1970s, brings people from far and wide. Some of the technology shown is fanciful and unpractical. Some of it is forward thinking and around the corner. Others are ready for the market today. In 2023, the event brought in over 115,000 attendees. This pales in comparison to the 171,000 that the 2020 edition of the event brought in. But the show has been steadily growing yearly since COVID took us to the cleaners.
International Builders' Show (IBS) and Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) - 110,000 Attendees
One of the only places people do their business among, not on, toilets.
While these are technically two different conventions, they are strategically scheduled simultaneously and even sell access to the convention together. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show (IBS) has been linked with the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) for a decade. The two events obviously have something in common, and so it goes without saying they made a smart move linking the two. In 2023, the event brought in nearly 110,000 attendees. This year, the event will take place February 27-29.
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show - 65,000 Attendees
If it has to do with media and content, it’s at NAB.
While the event used to garner far more visitors pre-COVID, the AV-nerd’s dream has been staging a comeback! Everything for the television, radio and streaming industry under one roof. A good portion of the visitors come from international destinations as well… hopefully with deep pockets.
