LAS VEGAS — On Sept. 23-25, 2026, PRINTING United Expo brought together 27,000 registered attendees from 100 countries and more than 850 exhibitors across approximately one million square feet at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
According to Joshua Carruth, Executive Vice President, Expositions at PRINTING United Alliance, the equipment displayed at the show was an especially tangible measure of growth: Exhibitors brought 4.9 million pounds of equipment and technology, which is more than 500,000 pounds above last year’s event.
“What drove the momentum was the breadth of the opportunity in one place,” Carruth said. “Attendees could see equipment running, compare solutions across print markets, meet the people behind the technology and explore adjacent areas for growth. Exhibitors responded with major demonstrations and hundreds of product introductions. The show has become a place where industry convergence is something you can see and act on.”
Promoting Discovery
In 2026, PRINTING United Alliance designed more of the show around purposeful discovery and connection.
Carruth shared that the challenge with an event spanning so many market segments is helping every attendee make the most of a very large show, because a commercial printer, apparel decorator, installer, student and promotional products professional may all come looking for something different.
“We addressed that through focused destinations, guided tours, targeted education and programming built around specific business and career interests,” Carruth said. “We also listened closely to exhibitors and attendees as we planned the experience. That work is ongoing: Every Expo shows us where people want deeper engagement and where we can make it easier to turn a discovery into a useful next step.”
The show’s new Spill the Ink District facilitated candid peer conversations through the Print Mastermind x Spill the Ink roundtables, podcasting opportunities, a Spill the Ink District stage for shorter panels and presentations, and dedicated lounges for Students and Expo All-Stars.
The show’s All-Stars are a group of recognized leaders and influencers from across the printing and graphic communications industry who serve as Expo ambassadors. To learn more about them, click here.
PRINTING United Expo also introduced a ASI Show Pavilion, which was designed specifically for the promotional products industry.
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Embracing AI
The PRINTING AI Pavilion had a much larger presence in 2026, and bigger ambitions.
“The 2025 debut showed that printers wanted AI education right on the show floor, so in 2026 we built something closer to a working lab,” Amy Servi-Bonner, Vice President, PRINTING AI, explained. “The 40-by-60 space was anchored by a full mainstage theater with sponsor pods around the edges and The Loop (a nod to ‘human in the loop’) gave attendees a hands-on counter where the conversations could continue after a session concluded.”
The pavilion programmed the three days of the Expo as an arc, showing what AI is costing businesses right now, the benefits of investment and the price of inaction.
“Print service providers were not there for slogans; they wanted specifics,” Servi-Bonner said. “And that was the point of it all: help print and packaging companies see where AI creates measurable value, how to get their people and data ready, and how to handle governance and security as they scale.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
The show expanded its Student Day, registering 174 students and educators. For the first time, as a dedicated part of the experience, it offered opportunities to learn about internships and career paths.
“The industry needs more opportunities for young people to see what a career in print actually looks like,” Christine Cacheula, Vice President, Membership Operations at PRINTING United Alliance, said. “In partnership with The Foundation for Graphic Communication Education, we expanded Student Day to create more personal contact between students and the people and companies shaping the industry … For students, the benefit was firsthand exposure to technology, creativity and potential employers. For exhibitors, it was a chance to meet emerging talent and take an active role in developing the future workforce.”
Staying Ahead
More than two-thirds of 2027 exhibit space was reserved by the close of this year’s event.
“We see that as a vote of confidence from exhibitors who value being where the industry comes together and where they can put their technology in front of an engaged, cross-market audience,” Carruth said.
His advice to organizers who want to get ahead early? Earn the next commitment by delivering value throughout the current event.
“Listen to exhibitors, understand the customers they need to reach and build experiences that give attendees a reason to engage,” Carruth said. “Just as important, keep those relationships active between shows. The Expo is a centerpiece of our work, but the Alliance’s education, research, media and industry programs keep us connected to the community year-round.”
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