The NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) is the largest event dedicated to the business aviation industry. It showcases the latest aircraft, technology, and products, and provides numerous opportunities for professional development, networking, and leadership training. The event aims to bring together aviation professionals to discuss trends, innovations, and future directions in the industry–making it a can’t miss opportunity!
About 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE)
2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) is scheduled to take place from October 20-22, 2026 in Las Vegas, NV. It is the premier event for the business aviation industry, featuring the latest aircraft, innovations for the flight deck, and insights from industry leaders on the future of aviation. The event includes a variety of professional development courses, leadership training, and networking opportunities tailored for aviation professionals.
NBAA-BACE Facts and Statistics:
- Date: October 20-22, 2026
- Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall
- City/State: Las Vegas, NV
- Estimated Number of Exhibitors: Approximately 800 (based on 2024 attendance)
- Sponsor: National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)
Who Attends NBAA-BACE?
Attendees of the NBAA-BACE include business aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers, and other aviation professionals. The demographic is diverse, featuring corporate executives, aviation department managers, pilots, and maintenance technicians. Attendees are interested in the latest advancements in aircraft technology, operational best practices, regulatory updates, and networking opportunities within the business aviation community. The event attracts a global audience of approximately 20,000 attendees, providing a platform for industry leaders to exchange knowledge and foster business relationships.
How to Exhibit at NBAA-BACE?
1. Application Process:
- Exhibit Application: Secure your space using the online application for indoor exhibits at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the aircraft display at Henderson Executive Airport.
- Early Application Benefits: Exhibitors who submit their application and payment by January 30, 2026 qualify for priority placement and early-payment discounts.
2. Exhibit Space Details:
- Floor Plan: Review the interactive exhibit floor plan for the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall, which is updated in real time as spaces are chosen.
- Exhibit Pricing: Premium indoor space is priced around $58.00/sqft (standard ~$43.35/sqft) at full rate. Early-payment discounts can reduce premium space to ~$57.00/sqft and standard to ~$40.00/sqft if paid by January 30, 2026.
- New Turnkey Options: For 2026, NBAA offers a $10,000 “SkyPod” turnkey exhibit (includes 100 sq ft booth and setup) and a $3,585 first-time exhibitor kiosk.
3. Placement and Management:
- Exhibit Placement: NBAA uses a priority-based live draw process. Exhibitors who submit application and payment by January 30, 2026 are grouped into priority categories and assigned appointment times. During these appointments, exhibitors join a live Google Meet with NBAA staff to review the online floor plan in real time and select their booth location.
- Manage Your Exhibit: After applying, plan your participation, order services for your booth, and utilize resources available through the NBAA Exhibitor Resource Center to ease planning.
4. Rules and Contacts:
- Exhibitor Rules: Review and adhere to all rules to ensure a successful event. All co-exhibiting companies must register and pay the co-exhibitor fee.
- Contacts: For indoor exhibits, contact the NBAA sales team including Sacha Carey (VP, Exhibits – 202-821-8814, [email protected]) or Stefanie Walter (Sr. Director, Exhibits – 202-203-0609, [email protected]). For aircraft displays, contact Joe Hart (Sr. Director, Aircraft Displays – 202-415-1219, [email protected]). General inquiries can be sent to [email protected].
Why Exhibit at NBAA-BACE?
- Showcase Innovations: Unveil cutting-edge aviation products and services to a targeted audience of industry professionals.
- Connect with Buyers: Meet and engage with qualified buyers who are actively seeking business aviation solutions.
- Strengthen Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with existing customers and industry peers.
- Seal Critical Deals: Take advantage of the event to finalize important business deals that will impact the year ahead.
- Industry Leadership: Cement your company’s status as a leader in the business aviation industry by participating in this high-profile event.
Featured Professional Development Opportunities
The 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) will offer Professional Development Program (PDP) courses designed to enhance leadership skills, build successful teams, and foster career growth in the business aviation industry. While the specific 2026 course lineup has not been announced yet, based on past years, expect courses focused on aviation leadership, team management, HR issues in flight departments, and organizational risk management.
Expected PDP Course Topics:
Based on previous years, the 2026 program is likely to include:
- Leadership for aviation professionals
- Aviation leadership and team building
- Management fundamentals for flight departments
- Organizational risk management
- HR and operational topics
Separate registration is required, which includes complimentary access to the NBAA-BACE exhibits and sessions at both the Las Vegas Convention Center and Henderson Executive Airport. Based on 2025 pricing, expect fees to range from $900 to $1,625 depending on membership status and course duration.
Target Audience:
- Industry leaders
- Certified Aviation Managers (CAMs)
- Young professionals (YoPros)
- Emerging leaders
- Business aviation professionals
Preparing to Exhibit at 2026 NBAA-BACE
Trade show exhibits are a big investment; here’s what you need to make your time successful:
We’ve created this comprehensive Trade Show Preparation Guide, which you can download for free, to help you prepare for the show.
Set Clear Goals for Your Trade Show Experience
Asking yourself the following questions can help with this task. Once you have the answers to these questions, you can develop a clear plan to reach your goals and measure your success.
- What do you hope to gain from 2026 NBAA-BACE?
- How many attendees do you want to draw in, and how many leads do you want to generate?
- What products do you want to showcase?
- Are you launching a product or promoting your business?
Do Your Research
Although you can’t attend everything, you can maximize your time by putting yourself in reach of your target audience at all times. Focus on the expos and educational events that are most likely to include your target customers so you can put all your attention on those most likely to buy.
Budget and Register for Your Space
When you register for 2026 NBAA-BACE, be sure to find out all you can about your space, such as its location on the floor, other exhibitors near you, the typical traffic in the area and what’s included in the space, such as lighting. Remember to factor in additional costs beyond your booth space, including drayage, services, and any upgrades to your event directory profile.
Plan Your Exhibit
The last thing you want is a cluttered booth. To plan your exhibit, decide on who you want to reach and what products, demonstrations and promotional materials are best suited to their needs. If you’re targeting multiple audiences, consider the best products to launch or showcase to reach a wide variety of attendees.
Compliance and Rules
Familiarize yourself with and adhere to all 2026 NBAA-BACE rules to ensure a successful event for all participants.
Advertise Well in Advance
Trade show promotion should start months in advance. Promote your attendance on social media, your website, in press releases and through email blasts to ensure that your customers have time to plan. Utilize information such as the attendee list to reach new customers before the show even starts.
Tips for Exhibiting at 2026 NBAA-BACE
Engage on Social Media
Use social media outlets to share your trade show exhibit information, drum up anticipation for your giveaways or product launches and share behind-the-scenes tidbits like your team packing for the event or show meetings. Be sure to use the show’s hashtags or other relevant tagging to get your posts into the online conversation.
Draw the Crowd
Use an interactive display, such as a game, contest or raffle to draw people’s interest to your booth. Giving away prizes through raffles or contests is a great way to collect information about visitors and encourage more traffic to your booth.
Bring Promotional Materials
Make sure you devote enough of your budget to an array of promotional materials. You should have order forms, business cards, price sheets, brochures, flyers and more that you can hand out to visitors to ensure you stay in their minds.
Keep Staff at Your Booth
At a show, you’ll want to attend networking events and educational seminars, so it’s important to make sure that your booth is never empty. When you’re preparing for the show, ensure you have enough team members attending the show to man the booth the entire time the show is open and greet visitors to engage them with your business.
Follow up With Attendees
Following up with your leads is almost as important as planning for the show itself. Take notes during the event to be sure you remember everyone in all the chaos, and take the time to note any opportunities for a smoother event experience in the future.
Planning on Exhibiting at 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE)?
With so many aviation professionals and vendors, there’s no better place to network in the aviation industry than at NBAA-BACE 2026. This event not only provides endless opportunities for networking and business relationships, but it also features some of the top educational sessions in the field.
If you’re planning to attend, be sure you make the most of your experience and investment with a stunning booth design that showcases your brand. At Xibit Solutions, we specialize in creating a professional booth experience from start to finish, including show displays and logistics, to ensure you make a lasting impression. No matter your budget or needs, we’ll help you make your mark on the NBAA-BACE 2026 with customized planning and designs.
Contact Xibit Solutions today to learn more about our trade show booth design services and see what we can do to make the NBAA-BACE 2026 a success.