The Austin Convention Center (ACCC) is the main conference and exhibition center in Central Texas, situated right in the downtown area of Austin, on 4th Street, neighboring Rainey Street, the 6th Street Entertainment District, and the Texas State Capitol. The main purpose of this location is that it serves as the location for the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive, Music, and Film Conference and Festival, which is considered to be the most prestigious event in technology and innovation; however, it is used for numerous other conferences and exhibitions all year round.
This Austin Convention Center exhibitor guide starts with the most important 2026 fact: the Austin Convention Center closed in April 2025 for a full rebuild and isn’t expected to reopen until spring 2029. In the meantime, Austin TX trade show exhibitor activity has shifted primarily to the Palmer Events Center, the ACC’s sister facility, which offers 70,000 square feet of exhibit space across two halls. Anyone planning Austin convention center booth rental for a near-term show should confirm the actual venue first; it’s very likely Palmer Events Center, not the ACC itself.
With explosive growth within the last decade, owing to the relocation of many tech firms such as Tesla, Apple, Oracle, Google, and Amazon, as well as startups, the university culture, and other business advantages, Austin has become one of the most dynamic business centers in the US. The Austin conventions’ audience is much younger, innovative, and more interested in the latest technological developments than in most convention cities in the country. Our 10×10 trade show exhibit rentals scale from compact inline spaces to full islands for Austin shows.
This Austin Convention Center exhibitor guide covers everything trade show exhibitors need to know about the Austin Convention Center: the venue layout, hall specifications, Austin logistics, exhibit design strategy, hotel options, and how to create an exhibit that connects with Austin’s unique energy and audience.
Where Austin Trade Shows Are Happening Now
For any Austin trade show booth planned in the near term, the practical answer is the Palmer Events Center, located at 900 Barton Springs Road along Lady Bird Lake. Key facts:
-
70,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space, divisible into two halls for flexible layouts.
-
131,000 total square feet including meeting rooms and pre-function space.
-
Continues to host a steady calendar of consumer and trade events throughout 2026, alongside other downtown Austin partner venues.
Even major recurring Austin events have had to adapt. SXSW itself restructured its 2026 footprint specifically because of the ACC closure, shifting activities across other downtown venues. If you’re being asked to plan an Austin TX trade show exhibitor presence this year, Palmer Events Center (or another partner venue named by your show organizer) is very likely where you’ll actually be building your booth.
Any Austin Convention Center exhibitor guide written for a 2029+ show should treat this as a genuinely new facility, significantly larger and technically different from the pre-2025 ACC most exhibitors would remember.
Austin Convention Center Exhibit Rental: Nationwide Booth Design Specialists at purexhibits.com
Venue Overview: Austin Convention Center
| Venue Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Austin Convention Center (ACCC) |
| Address | 500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701 |
| Total Event Space | Approx. 880,500 sq ft |
| Exhibition Hall Space | 247,052 sq ft: 6 contiguous halls |
| Meeting Rooms | 54 meeting rooms |
| Ballroom | 40,000 sq ft ballroom |
| Nearest Airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS): 7 miles east |
| Note | Expansion project in progress: confirm space capacity with ACCC for 2026 dates |
Austin Convention Center Exhibition Hall Layout
The Austin Convention Center’s exhibition space is organized across six contiguous halls that can be used individually for smaller events or combined for large-scale trade shows. The halls are located on the main floor level with direct access from multiple building entrances. Many exhibitors choose our 20×20 island booths for a professional footprint without the cost of buying.
-
Exhibition Halls 1-6: Six adjoining exhibition halls covering a total area of 247,052 square feet of floor space. All halls can be used separately or in any combination for events according to requirement.
-
Ceiling heights: Main exhibition halls come with ceiling heights of 28-36 feet, sufficient for erecting tall exhibit displays as well as hanging signage with suitable rigging.
-
Floor access: Multiple entry points to the floor of the exhibition halls. Access from the loading dock on the 4th Street side of the building.
-
Expansion: The City of Austin has been working towards expansion plans of the ACCC, which can provide substantial additional capacity. Check with ACCC for current available space and construction impacts according to your specific 2026 show dates.
-
SXSW: Be sure to check March availability for the ACCC since March is normally reserved for SXSW Interactive/Music.
Exhibit Design Strategy for Austin Trade Shows
Austin’s unique position as a technology, music, and startup capital allows exhibitors to connect with an audience that values authenticity, innovation, and experience over conventional corporate polish.
Design for Austin’s Innovation Culture
Austin crowds, especially attendees at tech and creative events, react positively to exhibit experiences that are cutting-edge, avant-garde, and experiential, rather than corporate. This does not entail disregarding professional excellence but rather involves a combination of professional excellence and creativity to show alignment with the entrepreneurial culture in Austin. Interactive components, innovative booth designs, and experiential considerations fit perfectly well with the city of Austin. For a fully branded build, our Custom Trade Show Booth Rentals deliver a custom look tailored to your brand.
Lean Into Austin’s Lifestyle Identity
Austin’s ‘Keep Austin Weird’ ethos and strong outdoor, music, food, and wellness culture allow exhibitors to connect beyond professional messaging. Beer and drinks served in your booth (as per the regulations at the convention) are especially well-received by the Austin convention crowd. An interactive experience is what works better than a passive environment.
Brand Authenticity Over Perfection
Austin’s audience is attuned to the difference between authentic brand expression and performative marketing. Exhibits that lead with genuine product value, real customer stories, and honest product demonstrations outperform over-designed, logo-heavy booths where the product substance is thin. In Austin, confidence in your actual product is the most powerful design principle. You can see comparable projects in our trade show booth case studies from past builds.
Explore the trade show display rental guide for exhibit configurations that balance professional execution with the flexibility to create interactive, experience-forward booth environments suited to Austin’s event culture.
Design Your Austin Convention Center Exhibit: Nationwide Exhibit Rental at purexhibits.com
Planning Ahead: ACCC Exhibit Rental for a Future Show
If you’re locking in a show for 2029 or later at the rebuilt Austin Convention Center, thinking through your ACCC exhibit rental strategy now is reasonable, even years out:
-
A modular, reusable exhibit system designed for standard convention-center specs will transfer cleanly to the new, larger ACC once it opens.
-
If your current show has moved to Palmer Events Center in the interim, the same exhibit can typically work at both venues with minor reconfiguration, since both follow similar booth-size and utility standards.
-
Confirm official general contractor details as they’re announced for the new facility; this typically isn’t finalized until closer to a venue’s reopening.
Austin Convention Center Logistics
Austin’s downtown location creates specific logistics considerations for trade show exhibitors.
-
Official contractor: Events at the ACCC use various GSCs. Freeman is common for major events. Check your specific event’s exhibitor manual for the official contractor and all deadline dates.
-
Advance warehouse: Use the advance warehouse for all exhibit freight to reduce drayage costs and pre-confirm delivery.
-
Electrical: Order through the official contractor’s portal. Budget $250–$1,500 depending on booth size and power requirements.
-
Drayage: Austin drayage rates are moderate. Budget 25–40% of exhibit cost for drayage at standard trade show events.
-
Parking: Downtown Austin parking is limited and expensive during major events. Plan for rideshare as the primary daily transit option for your team.
-
Traffic: Austin’s traffic is notoriously heavy during SXSW and other major events. Build significant time buffers into logistics schedules during peak convention periods.
-
Weather: Austin’s convention season (September through May) offers warm and generally pleasant weather. March SXSW season can see unpredictable temperatures. Austin summers (June–August) are extreme (95–105°F) with high humidity.
Hotels Near Austin Convention Center
| Hotel | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| JW Marriott Austin | 0.1 miles | Large convention hotel adjacent to ACCC |
| Hilton Austin | Connected via skywalk | Attached to ACCC: most convenient |
| Marriott Downtown Austin | 0.2 miles | Popular convention property, frequent block hotel |
| Hyatt Place Austin Downtown | 0.3 miles | Mid-price, walking distance to ACCC |
| The Driskill | 0.4 miles | Iconic Austin hotel, historic landmark |
Use the trade show budget planning guide to budget for Austin shows accurately. Hotel rates during SXSW and other major Austin events can be 2–4× normal rates. Book hotel blocks as soon as they open for March events.
For companies that have limited financial resources, the comprehensive how-to exhibition at a trade show plan will allow the Austin exhibitors to prepare properly from start to finish, leaving no stone unturned for an Austin debut exhibit.
Get a Free Austin Convention Center Exhibit Design Consultation at purexhibits.com
Common Mistakes Exhibitors Are Making Right Now
-
Assuming the Austin Convention Center is open. This is the single most consequential mistake possible right now. Confirm your actual venue before ordering any exhibit rental Austin, TX.
-
Reusing old ACC-specific service documents for a show that’s actually being held at Palmer Events Center or another partner venue, where utility and labor rules may differ.
-
Skipping venue confirmation with the show organizer, especially for shows that have historically been held at the ACC in past years.
-
Not planning exhibit design flexibility for exhibitors committed to Austin shows through the 2029 transition, since booth specs may shift once the new facility opens.
Conclusion
The most useful thing any Austin Convention Center exhibitor guide can do right now is tell you the truth: the original facility is closed until 2029, and Austin’s trade show activity has shifted to Palmer Events Center and other partner venues in the meantime. Confirm your actual venue before ordering a single utility hookup or booth service, and you’ll avoid the single biggest planning mistake exhibitors are making in Austin this year.
Whatever the venue, Palmer Events Center today or the new Austin Convention Center in 2029, Pure Exhibits builds booths designed to work across standard convention-center specs, so your exhibit transfers cleanly as Austin’s show scene shifts back downtown. Talk to Pure Exhibits about planning your next Austin exhibit, wherever it ends up.
Let’s Build Something Extraordinary
Share your event details and we’ll craft a custom booth solution designed to captivate your audience and maximize your ROI.
Austin Convention Center Exhibitor Guide: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Austin Convention Center?
The Austin Convention Center is located at 500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701, in downtown Austin. It is adjacent to the Rainey Street entertainment district to the east and the 6th Street entertainment district to the north. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is approximately 7 miles east, typically 15–25 minutes by rideshare.
What events are held at the Austin Convention Center?
The Austin Convention Center is best known as the host venue for South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive, Music, and Film, held annually in March. Year-round, the ACCC hosts technology conferences, healthcare conventions, energy industry events, education conferences, startup and entrepreneurship events, government and policy conferences, and regional trade shows across multiple industries. Our 10×20 booth rentals cover every footprint from inline to island.
How large is the Austin Convention Center exhibition space?
The Austin Convention Center has 247,052 square feet of combined exhibition hall space across six contiguous halls. Combined with meeting rooms and the ballroom, the total venue offers approximately 880,500 square feet of event space. The venue has an ongoing expansion discussion. Confirm current capacity with ACCC management for your specific 2026 event dates.
When does SXSW use the Austin Convention Center?
SXSW Interactive, Music, and Film uses the Austin Convention Center and surrounding venues for approximately 10 days in early-to-mid March each year. March dates at the ACCC are typically fully booked for SXSW. If your event targets the SXSW period or an adjacent week, confirm ACCC availability well in advance; 12–18 months for March dates is not unusual.
Who handles drayage at the Austin Convention Center?
Drayage at ACCC events depends on the official GSC for each event. Freeman and others manage events at the Austin Convention Center. All material handling within the exhibition halls goes through the official GSC. Texas is a right-to-work state, providing somewhat more labor flexibility than union-heavy markets like Chicago or San Francisco.
What the hotel situation near the Austin Convention Center?
The Hilton Austin is directly connected to the ACCC via a skybridge, the most convenient option for exhibitors. The JW Marriott Austin and Marriott Downtown Austin are immediately adjacent and are the primary convention block hotels for major ACCC events. During SXSW and other high-demand periods, downtown Austin hotels sell out months in advance at premium rates. Book inside convention hotel blocks immediately when they open.
What are the ceiling heights at the Austin Convention Center exhibition halls?
The Austin Convention Center exhibition halls have ceiling heights ranging from 28–36 feet. This clearance is suitable for overhead hanging signs (with proper rigging coordination), tall exhibit structures, and most standard trade show exhibit configurations. For very large hanging sign structures, confirm specific clearance at your planned booth location with the official GSC and venue management.
How far is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport from the ACCC?
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is approximately 7 miles east of the Austin Convention Center, typically 15–25 minutes by rideshare in normal traffic conditions. During SXSW and major events, Austin’s downtown traffic can extend rideshare times significantly. The Capitol Metro Airport Flyer bus service provides regular transit between AUS and downtown Austin’s Republic Square Park (0.5 miles from ACCC) for approximately $5.
Are there union labor requirements at the Austin Convention Center?
Texas is a right-to-work state, and Austin’s labor environment is generally less restrictive than union-heavy markets. Exhibitor employees can typically perform basic setup tasks (assembling portable displays, setting up tables, arranging products) without contractor requirements. Electrical work, overhead rigging, and large structural installations require qualified contractors in most cases. Review the specific labor rules for your event in the exhibitor manual.
What restaurants and entertainment are near the Austin Convention Center?
The Austin Convention Center’s location is exceptional for dining and entertainment. Rainey Street (0.3 miles east) has become Austin’s most vibrant bar and restaurant district. The 6th Street entertainment district (0.3 miles north) offers live music venues, bars, and restaurants. Red River Cultural District (0.5 miles northeast) is Austin’s premier live music area. Sixth Street’s restaurants range from casual Tex-Mex to James Beard Award-level dining within easy walking distance.
What makes Austin different as a trade show city?
Austin’s ‘Silicon Hills’ technology identity, world-famous live music culture, SXSW heritage, and rapid business growth create a convention city with energy unlike any other US market. Attendees who come to Austin for conventions are enthusiastic about being there. Austin’s social scene means after-hours networking has higher engagement than in most cities. The city’s creative culture rewards exhibitors who bring energy and personality to their exhibit design.
What is the best time of year to exhibit at the Austin Convention Center?
The best seasons for Austin exhibiting are fall (September–November) and spring (March–May, SXSW aside). October through November offers perfect Austin weather (70–80°F, low humidity, sunny) and a full convention calendar without SXSW competition. April and May are also popular for convention attendance. Avoid June through August (extreme heat) and SXSW dates in March unless your event is specifically tied to the SXSW ecosystem.
Can I ship my exhibit directly to the Austin Convention Center?
Most ACCC events use an advance warehouse system for exhibitor freight. Confirm the advance warehouse address, receiving dates, and freight label requirements in your event’s exhibitor services manual. Ship to the advance warehouse (2–3 weeks before setup) to ensure delivery before your move-in window and to receive preferential drayage rates.
What parking is available near the Austin Convention Center?
Downtown Austin parking during major conventions is limited and expensive ($25–$45/day). The ACCC has a parking garage, and there are multiple parking garages within 2 blocks, but all fill quickly during major events. The most reliable option for exhibitors is using rideshare (Uber/Lyft) for daily transit from hotels. The Metro Rapid bus service and Capital Metro bus network provide additional public transit options.
Who can help me rent a trade show exhibit for the Austin Convention Center?
Pure Exhibits provides nationwide exhibit rental and custom booth design for events at the Austin Convention Center and other Texas venues. We design and deliver complete exhibit packages with full logistics coordination. Contact us 8–12 weeks before your Austin event for a design consultation and a custom rental quote. On a tight timeline, our last-minute trade show booth rentals can turn a booth around fast.
