Las Vegas is preparing for a landmark year in its evolution as the world’s premier meetings and events destination, with 2026 widely expected to be a record-breaking year for conventions, trade shows and group travel. At the centre of this momentum is the completion of a US$600 million renovation and expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), a transformative infrastructure investment that industry leaders believe will unlock a new era of growth for the city’s tourism economy.
Slated for completion later this year, the final phase of the LVCC redevelopment is already reshaping how global event organisers, exhibitors and delegates view Las Vegas—not just as a place to meet, but as a destination designed for scale, efficiency and experience.
A Strategic Investment with Long-Term Vision
The US$600 million Phase 3 expansion of the LVCC represents one of the most consequential tourism infrastructure projects in the city’s recent history. The expansion is emerging as a key catalyst behind strong forward-looking indicators for group sales in 2026.
In a recent industry outlook, the project is a strategically timed investment that aligns with rising confidence among casino and resort operators. Much like Terminal 3 did for air travel, the expanded convention centre is expected to elevate Las Vegas’s capacity to attract large-scale international conventions, reinforcing the city’s position as a global business hub while enhancing the overall visitor experience.
Confidence from the City’s Tourism Leadership
Optimism around 2026 is shared by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), which oversees destination marketing and convention sales for the city. Steve Hill, President and CEO of LVCVA, has said that visitation trends over the next 15 months look “exceptionally strong,” reinforcing expectations of a banner year ahead.
With the final phase of the LVCC expansion nearing completion, the city is already preparing for a surge in convention activity. Major shows are booking larger footprints, event calendars are filling earlier than usual, and demand for midweek hotel inventory—long the backbone of Las Vegas tourism—is strengthening.
The result is a tourism ecosystem poised for uplift: higher hotel occupancy, increased visitor spending, and stronger demand across dining, transportation, retail and entertainment.
Strengthening Las Vegas’s Global Competitive Edge
In an increasingly competitive global meetings landscape, infrastructure matters. Destinations around the world are racing to modernise venues, improve delegate flow and integrate technology. Las Vegas’s response has been decisive.
The upgraded LVCC—now among the largest convention facilities in the United States by exhibit space—offers brighter, more open halls, improved logistics and the ability to host multiple citywide events simultaneously. This scale, combined with Las Vegas’s unmatched inventory of hotel rooms, entertainment and dining, continues to differentiate the destination for planners of complex, high-attendance events.
Importantly, the expansion reinforces the critical role of business tourism in Las Vegas’s visitor economy. Conventions and trade shows not only draw international delegates but also deliver consistent midweek demand, stabilising revenues and supporting tens of thousands of jobs across hospitality and services.
Ripple Effects Across the Local Economy
The impact of convention growth extends far beyond the exhibition floor. Increased demand for event space translates directly into higher hotel occupancy rates, greater restaurant traffic, expanded transportation usage and increased retail spend.
For local businesses—from independent suppliers and event production firms to restaurants and attractions—the convention boom represents sustained economic opportunity. As Las Vegas attracts more global delegates, spending on lodging, dining, entertainment and experiences delivers long-term benefits to the wider community.
Learning from the Past, Building for the Future
The parallels with the US$2.4 billion Terminal 3 project, completed in 2012, are instructive. That expansion enabled Las Vegas to welcome more international travellers, directly supporting hotel growth and tourism revenues. The LVCC expansion is expected to deliver a similarly transformative effect—this time by positioning the city to capture an even greater share of the global meetings and exhibitions market.
By increasing capacity, modernising facilities and enhancing the delegate experience, Las Vegas is future-proofing its tourism infrastructure for the next decade and beyond.
A Packed and Powerful 2026 Calendar
Momentum is further reinforced by a robust 2026 convention calendar, featuring some of the world’s most influential trade shows and industry gatherings:
- CES 2026 (January 6–9) – The world’s leading technology show, expected to draw around 140,000 attendees across multiple venues
- World of Concrete (January 20–22) – A flagship event for the construction and masonry industries
- SHOT Show (January 20–23) – Serving the shooting, hunting and outdoor sectors
- CONEXPO-CON/AGG (March 3–7) – North America’s largest construction trade show, held every three years
- NAB Show (April 19–22) – A global gathering for media, broadcasting and entertainment professionals
- Ai4 2026 (August 4–6) – The largest AI conference in the U.S., projected to host 12,000 attendees
- Global Gaming Expo (G2E) (September 28–October 1) – The premier event for the global gaming industry
- Automotive Aftermarket Week (SEMA/AAPEX) (November 3–6) – Las Vegas’s largest annual show by attendance, spanning multiple venues citywide
This breadth—spanning technology, construction, media, gaming, automotive and artificial intelligence—underscores the diversity and resilience of Las Vegas’s convention economy.
What 2026 Means for Travel and Tourism
For travellers, planners and industry professionals alike, the convention surge offers a compelling narrative: Las Vegas is a city where business and leisure intersect seamlessly. Delegates can move from keynote sessions to world-class dining, headline entertainment and curated experiences within minutes—an advantage few global destinations can match.
As the newly expanded Las Vegas Convention Center prepares to welcome the world, the city is not merely anticipating a strong year—it is shaping the next chapter of its tourism story. In 2026, Las Vegas is set to once again demonstrate that conventions are more than gatherings; they are powerful engines of commerce, culture and connection.
