If you are searching for the Las Vegas pizza expo 2026, the first thing to know is that it has already happened. The show ran March 24 to 26, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and the next edition is set for April 13 to 15, 2027. This guide recaps what took place at the 2026 show, flags where published numbers disagree, and lays out what exhibitors and attendees should plan for next year. It is written for operators, suppliers, and marketers who need accurate facts about the International Pizza Expo in one place.
Quick answer: The Las Vegas Pizza Expo 2026 ran March 24 to 26, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with more than 10,000 industry professionals and more than 500 exhibitors reported by the organizer. The 2027 edition of Pizza Expo Las Vegas takes place April 13 to 15, 2027, with education sessions running April 11 to 15. The show is business-to-business and closed to the public.
What is the Pizza Expo?
The International Pizza Expo is a combination of an exhibition of ingredients, ovens, equipment, and technology together with competitions and educational programs that take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Those attending are pizza restaurateurs, operators, and buyers.
Las Vegas Pizza Expo 2026 at a Glance
2026 Edition Details
| Details | 2026 Edition |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 24 to 26, 2026 |
| Venue | Las Vegas Convention Center |
| Presented By | Pizza Today, produced by Emerald |
| Audience | Pizzeria owners, managers, buyers, distributors, food brokers |
| Reported Scale | 10,000+ attendees, 500+ exhibitors |
| Education | 13 workshops, 12 live demonstrations, 40 seminars, 2 keynotes |
| Competitions | International Pizza Challenge, World Pizza Games, Daiya Dairy-Free Competition |
Those education and scale figures come from the organizer’s pre-show announcement, so treat them as planned programming and reported scale rather than audited post-show totals.
Who Attends
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Independent pizzeria owners and operators
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Multi-unit and chain buyers
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Foodservice distributors
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Equipment and ingredient buyers
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Industry press and competitors
20×20 exhibit rentals give room for a sampling station and equipment display.
What Happened at the 2026 International Pizza Expo
The International Pizza Expo blends education with competition, and the 2026 edition added several new elements. The organizer announced that the show would take place in a significantly larger space than in prior years.
Three additions drew attention. First, the Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale was held in the United States for the first time in its 16-year history, with 34 finalists from 18 countries competing on March 26. Second, SIGEP USA, organized by the Italian Exhibition Group, made its first appearance, focusing on Italian artisanal food and foodservice. Third, a new Pizza Today Village debuted on the floor, and the Beer & Bull networking event was revamped.
As far as the competitive aspect is concerned, over 700 competitors attended the pre-competition briefing of the International Pizza Challenge that was reportedly a record-breaking event. Mirko D’Agata was declared the Pizza Maker of the Year. In the World Pizza Games, Francis Tolu emerged victorious in the Acrobatic Dough Masters category with 415.4 points, beating his opponent by half a point, and Casey Cole became the Acrobatic Dough Tossing Masters.
Keynote speakers were Michelin Star chef Wylie Dufresne, owner of Stretch Pizza in New York, and Hengam and Matthew Stanfield, who developed their San Antonio business into seven outlets. Returning keynote speakers included Tony Gemignani, Mike Bausch, and David Scott Peters, along with 17 other new speakers.
See our Las Vegas Convention Center booth rental guide for venue logistics.
Why the Published Numbers for This Pizza Industry Trade Show Disagree
If you compare sources on this pizza industry trade show, you will find numbers that do not line up. One listing cites 1,100 booths and about 500 exhibitors. An international pavilion page cites 350 exhibitors and 9,000 visitors with no year attached. The organizer’s announcement says more than 10,000 attendees and more than 500 exhibitors.
Some of these include the fact that some data relates to various years. Others take into account the number of exhibiting companies as opposed to the number of booths, where a company may have more than one booth. Others are just inflated marketing statistics. The best way to make sure your budgeting or pitching goes smoothly is to stick to the organizer’s figures, which should be marked as such.
Visit our International Pizza Expo booth rental page for 2027 booth options and show-specific timelines.
Pizza Expo Las Vegas 2027: Dates, Hours and Rules
Pizza Expo Las Vegas 2027 Schedule
| Day | Show Floor Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, April 11 | None | Education begins; exhibitor move-in 1:00 to 8:00 PM |
| Monday, April 12 | None | Education, exhibitor move-in 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday, April 13 | 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM | Show floor opens |
| Wednesday, April 14 | 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM | Full show day |
| Thursday, April 15 | 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM | Move-out begins 2:00 to 10:00 PM |
A few rules matter for planning. The show is open to owners, managers, buyers, and decision-makers from pizzerias and Italian restaurants, plus food brokers and distributors. Anyone under 16 is not permitted on the exhibit floor, and strollers are not allowed. Photography and video are restricted on the floor and in conference rooms. Exhibitors get floor access at 7:00 AM on show days, and full-time company staff may set up booths but cannot operate heavy machinery or lift equipment.
Who Exhibits and Who Attends at Pizza Expo Las Vegas
The attendee base is operators: independent pizzeria owners, multi-unit and franchise managers, and Italian restaurant decision-makers who come to compare suppliers and pick up ideas. Distributors and food brokers attend to find new lines.
Exhibitors cover the full supply chain: flour and ingredients, cheese and toppings, ovens and kitchen equipment, point-of-sale and delivery technology, packaging, and marketing services. That mix explains why this pizza industry trade show rewards booths that let buyers taste, see, and touch a product rather than read a banner.
Pizza Expo booths need sampling and equipment display, and as a team, our Las Vegas booth rentals handle that locally.
Booth Planning for a Demo-Driven Pizza Industry Trade Show
Exhibiting at the International Pizza Expo is different from a typical software or services show, because many exhibitors cook, sample, or demonstrate equipment live. That changes the planning checklist in several ways.
Utilities come first
Ovens, mixers, and prep stations need electrical capacity, and some demonstrations need water and drainage. These services are ordered through the venue and billed separately from your booth, so reserve them early to avoid higher on-site rates.
Sampling needs workflow
A booth built around giving out slices needs prep space, storage, a trash plan, and a layout that keeps lines from blocking the aisle. Walk through a full demo hour on paper before you finalize the design.
Freight and labor rules apply
Convention center rules on drayage, rigging, and union labor shape how a booth is installed, and heavy equipment needs a scheduled dock time. Read the exhibitor service manual before design work is locked.
Lead time is real
Custom booths need design, approval, fabrication, and shipping, and most advance-order discounts expire weeks before the show. Starting five to six months ahead is a sensible default for an April show.
Deciding Whether to Exhibit at the Next Las Vegas Pizza Expo
Before booking space, test the decision against three questions. Does your product sell to independent and multi-unit operators, who make up most of the audience? Can you give attendees something to taste or try, since demo-led booths tend to hold attention on this floor? And do you have a follow-up plan, such as samples, quotes, or distributor introductions, ready to run within a week of the show?
If the answer to those is yes, the Las Vegas show is the largest single gathering of the audience you want. If not, a smaller regional event, such as Pizza Expo Columbus, may deliver a more focused crowd at a lower cost.
If your calendar also includes the Las Vegas show in March, our Bar & Restaurant Expo booth rentals page covers that event.
How to Exhibit at the Pizza Expo
The booths at Pizza Expo thrive on food tasting and live demonstrations using the ovens, ingredients, and technology. Plan for power, water, and health regulations, and have staff on hand for a constant flow of operators.
Winning at the Pizza Expo
Sample products, demo equipment, capture leads, and follow up fast. As a Vegas team, our Custom Exhibit Rentals handles the local logistics.
| Pizza Expo Element | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Sampling | Operators taste products |
| Equipment demos | Show ovens and tech working |
| Compliance | Power, water, health rules |
| Enough staff | Serve steady traffic |
Exhibiting at the Pizza Expo 2026? Get a Custom Booth Quote Only at purexhibits.com
Final Thoughts on Las Vegas Pizza Expo 2026
At its core, Las Vegas Pizza Expo 2026 is about turning a high-stakes, deadline-driven event into a controlled, repeatable process. The companies that do this well are not the ones with the biggest budgets; they are the ones who plan early, communicate clearly, and lean on people who have done it many times before.
It helps to focus on the things that actually move results: International Pizza Expo, Pizza Expo Las Vegas, and the Pizza Industry Trade Show. These are where exhibitors win or lose, so give them the attention they deserve rather than spreading effort thin across everything at once.
Remember that this compounds. Each show teaches you something, and exhibitors who debrief and refine after every event steadily lower their costs and raise their returns, turning Las Vegas Pizza Expo 2026 from a worry into a genuine advantage.
In closing, do not forget why you are there. Las Vegas Pizza Expo 2026 is a tool to help you accomplish something bigger: actual conversations with actual customers. Test everything you do against this simple criterion, and you will always be making the right decisions.
The exhibitors who succeed at Las Vegas Pizza Expo 2026 all have one thing in common. They begin early and obsess about the little things. It is this kind of attention to detail that turns a difficult, costly trade show into an easy, lucrative one.
In short, Las Vegas Pizza Expo 2026 rewards clarity and good partners. Keep your goal in focus, invest in the parts that actually drive results, and let an experienced team carry the logistics, and the whole experience becomes far more productive.
Final note: consistency builds on itself. Each time you run Las Vegas Pizza Expo 2026 just a bit better than the last one – clearer messaging, more efficient buildup, quicker follow-through – the effects compound and soon you’ve got an established process that quietly beats your competition because they just wing it.
What to Look for in an Exhibit Partner
This has a lot to do with whom you work with. A good exhibitor will do more than just design the booth; they’ll identify potential difficulties, ensure that your project stays on time, and actually take responsibility from the concept through completion of your event. When selecting an exhibitor, don’t judge them solely by their lowest bid.
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In-house design, fabrication, and graphics rather than outsourced handoffs
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A portfolio of builds similar to your size and industry
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Experience at your target venues and their specific rules
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Itemized, transparent pricing with no vague lump sums
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Rental and custom options, recommended honestly for your program
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One accountable point of contact from concept through teardown
See food and equipment booths in our exhibit case studies.
How Pure Exhibits Can Help
Pure Exhibits is a Las Vegas-based, full-service exhibit house that designs, builds, and manages trade show exhibits for companies across the country. From first concept and 3D design through fabrication, graphics, logistics, installation, and storage, one accountable team handles the details so you can focus on your goals for the show.
Whether you need a compact rental or a large custom island, the aim is the same: a booth that performs, a process that is genuinely easy to work with, and pricing you can actually understand. Our Las Vegas base gives exhibitors a real logistics advantage at the country’s busiest convention city, while our nationwide service means we can support your program at shows in any market.
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Full-service design, build, and graphics under one roof
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Rental and custom options to fit any budget and show
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Logistics, drayage coordination, and professional installation
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A single point of contact from concept through teardown
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Storage, maintenance, and refurbishment handled between shows
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Nationwide service with a Las Vegas home-market advantage
For related reading, explore our largest convention centers guide and our article on trade show lights and supplies in Charlotte.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Las Vegas Pizza Expo?
The International Pizza Expo, the largest pizza-industry trade show, is held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
When is Pizza Expo 2026?
It is typically held in spring; confirm the exact 2026 dates on the official site.
Who attends the Pizza Expo?
Pizzeria owners, operators, chain buyers, distributors, and equipment and ingredient buyers.
How do I exhibit at the Pizza Expo?
Design a booth with sampling, live equipment demos, compliance planning, and enough staff.
How much does a Pizza Expo booth cost?
A 10×10 presence typically runs 28,000 all-in; equipment-heavy booths cost more.
What booth size works?
Inline 10×10 or 10×20 for focused programs, and islands for sampling and equipment.
Can I sample food at the Pizza Expo?
Yes, with power, water, and health compliance coordinated with the show. Last-minute exhibit rentals handle food and equipment display for the Pizza Expo.
Where is the Pizza Expo held?
At the Las Vegas Convention Center, giving local booth partners a logistics advantage.
Do I need a local Vegas partner?
A local partner reduces freight and provides on-site installation and support.
How far ahead should I book?
8–12 weeks for standard programs, more for prime floor space.
Can I demo equipment?
Yes, live oven and equipment demos are central to the Pizza Expo.
How do I capture leads?
Use digital lead capture with qualifying questions and follow up promptly.
Is the Pizza Expo good for new products?
Yes, it is ideal for launching ingredients, equipment, and technology to operators. 10×20 trade show booth rentals suit first-time Pizza Expo exhibitors.
How many staff do I need?
Enough to sample, demo, and serve steady operator traffic.
Who can build my Pizza Expo booth?
Pure Exhibits builds food and equipment booths in Las Vegas with sampling stations.
