LAS VEGAS — CONEXPO-CON/AGG and the International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE), produced by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), exceeded expected attendance numbers and smashed records for the size of the trade show for the construction industry. The show took place March 14-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Registered attendee numbers saw a 6% increase over 2020, with more than 139,000 construction and fluid power professionals from 133 countries descending on the LVCC for the five-day trade show, which included product launches, major announcements from companies, educational sessions and networking opportunities.
“The main tactic of CONEXPO-CON/AGG marketing, especially given its 3-year show cycle, is that our marketing never stops,” Dana Wuesthoff, Show Director, CONEXPO-CON/AGG, AEM, said. “Helping both exhibitors and attendees understand the central nature of CONEXPO-CON/AGG to the whole construction industry, both in North America and worldwide, means we never go silent. Our goal is to keep the engagement we have built with our community on all the time along with finding the right mix to continue growing our audience leading into every show.”
Featuring more than 2,400 exhibitors from 36 countries, and 603 new-to-the-show exhibitors, the 2023 edition of CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE spanned more than 3 million square feet and was the largest in its history. The trade show, which is held every three years, was 10.5% larger than the 2020 edition in net square feet of exhibits.
“CONEXPO-CON/AGG has increased its digital efforts with every show cycle. While we don’t discard past methods that have shown success, every cycle, we try something new. This year, we experimented with targeted Hulu advertisements, for one example,” Wuesthoff said.
Sustainability was a focus at this year’s trade show, with CONEXPO-CON/AGG partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant one tree for every registered attendee and educational sessions covering sustainable building practices. Through the partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, more than 139,000 trees will be planted in a forest of greatest need. Throughout the show floor, sustainable products, practices and technologies were showcased.
“Feedback on CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 has been overwhelmingly positive so far, both from exhibitors and attendees,” Wuesthoff said. “Some of the items we’re particularly proud of include the all-new Community Zone launched in the Festival Lot this year, and improvements to transportation around the show. Both of those ideas came out of needs identified during the 2020 trade show, and we’re already examining feedback, both formal and informal, for the 2026 show.
“AEM also has two other trade shows that cater to a similar audience in The Utility Expo and World of Asphalt. We incorporate what we learn from CONEXPO-CON/AGG to those two shows, as well as use those shows to test new ideas and learn new things for CONEXPO-CON/AGG.”
CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE will be held March 3–7, 2026, at the LVCC.
Reach Dana Wuesthoff at dwuesthoff@conexpoconagg.com
