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 NBAA-BACE 2026
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 2026 Facts and Statistics
- Show floor dates: October 20-22, 2026
- Full event window: October 18-24, 2026, including conferences and workshops held in conjunction with the show
- Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall
- City/State: Las Vegas, NV
- Aircraft display: NBAA Aircraft Connection, Henderson Executive Airport, October 20-21, 2026
- 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 2026
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.
- Where the 2026 process stands now: The January 30, 2026 priority placement deadline has passed. NBAA still accepts applications, and space is assigned in the order applications and payments are received, after the exhibitors who qualified for priority placement have made their selections.
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: Standard indoor space is sold in 100 square foot (10’x10′) increments at the regular rate of $43.35 per square foot. The discounted standard rate of $40.00 per square foot and premium placement at $58.00 per square foot were available only through the January 30, 2026 deadline.
- Turnkey options: NBAA’s SkyPod turnkey exhibit, first-time exhibitor kiosk, and SkyLounge cabana meeting space are all sold out for 2026. Turnkey meeting rooms on the show floor are still available, as is co-exhibitor registration at $800 per company.
3. Placement and Management
- Exhibit Placement: NBAA uses a priority-based live draw process. Exhibitors who submitted an application and payment by January 30, 2026 were grouped into priority categories and assigned appointment times, joining a live video call with NBAA staff to review the online floor plan and select their booth location. Applications received after that date are placed in the order they arrive.
- Manage Your Exhibit: After applying, plan your participation, order services for your booth, and utilize resources available through NBAA 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 $800 co-exhibitor fee.
- Contacts: For indoor exhibits, contact the NBAA sales team including Sacha Carey (VP, Exhibits, 202-821-8814, scarey@nbaa.org) or Stefanie Walter (Sr. Director, Exhibits, 202-203-0609, swalter@nbaa.org). For aircraft displays, contact Joe Hart (Sr. Director, Aircraft Displays, 202-415-1219, jhart@nbaa.org). General inquiries can be sent to exhibits@nbaa.org.
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.
PDP Courses at NBAA-BACE 2026
The 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) offers Professional Development Program (PDP) courses designed to enhance leadership skills, build successful teams, and foster career growth in the business aviation industry. Courses run before and after the show floor opens, and each one carries credit toward the Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) credential.
2026 PDP Course Lineup
| Course | Dates | Format |
| Elevating Your Leadership, Versatility and Influence | Oct. 18-19 | Two days |
| Management Fundamentals for Flight Departments Workshop | Oct. 18-19 | Two days |
| Aviation Security and Awareness Training | Oct. 19 | One day |
| Human Factors in Business Aviation | Oct. 19 | One day |
| Maintaining In-House Flight Department Excellence and Control | Oct. 23-24 | Two days, invitation only, flight department personnel |
Separate registration is required, and it includes complimentary registration for NBAA-BACE itself. Fees vary by course and NBAA membership status. The one-day Human Factors course is $925 for members and $1,075 for non-members. The two-day Management Fundamentals workshop is $1,350 for members and $1,700 for non-members.
Target Audience
- Industry leaders
- Certified Aviation Managers (CAMs)
- Young professionals (YoPros)
- Emerging leaders
- Business aviation professionals
Preparing to Exhibit at NBAA-BACE 2026
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.
NBAA publishes estimated costs for several of the show services exhibitors order most often:
| Item | 2026 NBAA-BACE estimate |
| Carpet (100 square feet) | $232.75 |
| Carpet padding (100 square feet) | $117.40 |
| Electricity (5 amp) | $149.65 |
| 6-foot x 30-inch draped table | $193.00 |
| Side chair | $84.90 |
| Labor, setup or dismantle, straight time, 1 hour | $113.80 |
| Comprehensive general liability insurance policy | $109.00 |
These line items add up quickly across a full booth. For a fuller picture of where trade show budgets tend to break, see our guide to the hidden costs of trade show exhibiting.
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. If you’re still working out the layout, our trade show booth ideas page has examples across booth sizes and configurations.
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 NBAA-BACE 2026
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 NBAA-BACE 2026?
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 booth rentals for Las Vegas conventions, show displays, and installation and dismantling, 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.
