NAB Show is heading back to Las Vegas this April with one of its most ambitious lineups in years. Running April 18-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the 2026 edition is stacked with expanded programming, freshly renovated facilities and several brand-new show floor destinations. So, those working in broadcast and sports production, or are content creators, there’s something for you at NAB 2026.
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect at this year’s show.
The big picture
For more than a century, NAB Show has served as the broadcasting industry’s flagship gathering. The 2026 event isn’t breaking from that tradition. It’s building on it. Conferences kick off on Saturday, April 18. The show floor opens the following day. Exhibits run through Wednesday, April 22.
Last year’s show pulled in 54,000 registered attendees from 152 countries. More than half of them were first-timers. Over 1,050 global exhibitors filled the floor, with 125 companies making their NAB debut. Those numbers set a high bar. The 2026 show is making moves to clear it.
This year’s headline themes include artificial intelligence, cloud-based workflows, the creator economy, sports media innovation, streaming and media asset protection. The show is also leaning heavily into hands-on education, networking tools and immersive floor experiences.
A renovated Convention Center
The Las Vegas Convention Center has completed a major renovation ahead of this year’s show. Upgrades span the entire campus. Attendees, according to NAB, should experience improved lighting and clearer sightlines. This means the environment should be brighter throughout the facility.
Beyond aesthetics, the renovations tackle practical concerns. Wider concourses should reduce congestion at bottlenecks between halls. Enhanced wayfinding signage makes it easier to locate specific exhibitors without having to pull up a floor map every five minutes. Expanded seating areas give attendees more room to rest between sessions.
Infrastructure improvements go deeper than what you can see, too. High-speed connectivity upgrades support the bandwidth demands of live demos. Advanced audiovisual capabilities make the theaters more capable. Refreshed lounges, new dining options and dedicated networking spaces round out the improvements.
Sports Summit goes for four days
One of the biggest programming changes for 2026 is the expansion of the Sports Summit. Previously a smaller component of the show, it’s now a full four-day program titled “The Future of Sports Rights and Fan Engagement.” It’s housed in the Sports Theater in West Hall.
Here’s the other big change: the Sports Summit is now open to all attendees for the first time. In previous years, access was more restricted. That barrier is gone.
Programming covers a wide range of topics. Sessions will explore how teams, leagues and broadcasters are reshaping fan engagement through new technology. Discussions around sports rights, athlete-owned media companies and the business models transforming live sports production are all on the agenda. There’s also a brand-new Sports Business Hub on the show floor. It’s designed to connect broadcasters, networks, teams and leagues with sports media technology providers.
Creator Lab gets a major expansion
Technology for creators and traditional media continues to converge. Creators are pushing for higher production quality. Broadcasters are trying to reach younger audiences on digital platforms. Both sides increasingly rely on the same tools. So, the Creator Lab returns for its third year with a dramatically expanded footprint. It’s moved into the newly completed Central Hall, giving it far more room than previous years. The space now includes a larger theater and a new Networking Lounge built specifically for one-on-one meetings between creators and brands.
Sessions within the Creator Lab will focus on AI tools, creator techniques, business strategy and audience development. Four full days of hands-on learning, presentations and activations are planned. NAB is also offering free Show Floor passes to creators who register with code MP09.
A Creator Lab Community Mixer is scheduled for Monday, April 20, from 5 to 6 p.m.
AI takes center stage (twice)
AI is woven into nearly every corner of the 2026 show. But it also has its own dedicated real estate. NAB Show now features two AI Innovation Pavilions on the floor, up from one in previous years. These pavilions highlight artificial intelligence solutions specifically built for media, broadcasting and content production.
Beyond the pavilions, AI is a major thread running through the conference programming. The Broadcast Engineering and IT Conference, running April 18-21, features sessions on AI for automated quality control, language services and accessibility workflows. Post|Production World includes dedicated AI Training Workshops focused on practical, ethical techniques that streamline production workflows. The Creator Lab also puts AI front and center, with sessions exploring how creators can use it to speed up their process without sacrificing quality.
New theaters on the show floor
Several new theater spaces debut this year, all included with a Show Floor pass.
The Media and Entertainment Theater is produced in partnership with The Ankler. It brings together top creative leaders for discussions about how content is financed, produced and distributed across platforms. This program was previously more exclusive. For 2026, it’s open to all attendees on the exhibit floor in West Hall.
The VideoNext Theater features experts sharing tips to help attendees elevate their storytelling. The Tech Chat Theater offers focused 20-minute discussions where exhibitors present specific product applications
The Main Stage, AWS Theater and Startup Theater all return as well. The Main Stage will continue to feature headline sessions from industry leaders and cultural figures.
There’s also a new Enterprise Video Strategies track on the floor. It explores how large organizations are adopting media and entertainment technologies to power internal storytelling, corporate communications and employee engagement. For anyone working in corporate video production, this track fills a gap in the NAB lineup.
TV and Radio HQ gets reimagined
The TV and Radio HQ has been fully reimagined for 2026. It’s been relocated to the heart of the show floor. The space now includes a new HQ Theater built to serve as a high-energy gathering point for the broadcast community.
The move reflects NAB’s effort to keep traditional broadcasting front and center as the show expands into new territory such as streaming and the creator economy.
Broadcast engineering deep dives
The BEIT Conference remains one of the most technically rigorous programs at the show. The 2026 edition features 52 peer-reviewed technical papers alongside 18 expert panels, keynote sessions and partner presentations.
Cloud-native architectures, IP-based media transport using SMPTE ST 2110 standards, precision timing systems and cybersecurity for broadcast operations will all be discussed. Sessions also cover advanced HDR imaging workflows, next-generation camera systems and large-scale live production engineering. Neuroscientist Poppy Crum delivers the opening keynote, exploring how AI is reshaping audience interactions with broadcast and digital media.
A new SMPTE Roadshow: ST 2110 Bootcamp also debuts at the 2026 show. It’s a traveling educational initiative that provides hands-on training for professionals deploying IP-based media systems. For engineers looking to get their hands dirty with next-gen infrastructure, this is a must-attend.
Other education offerings include the Post|Production World Conference, which provides expert-led training on editing workflows and innovations in film technology. The Cinematographer Workshop features acclaimed DP Roberto Schaefer as he explores the evolution of his craft. CineCentral Workshops give attendees the chance to learn directly from notable filmmakers while building hands-on skills with cinematic gear.
The Broadcast Management and Monetization Conference brings together radio, podcasting and digital media professionals for sessions on revenue growth and operational strategy. Programming Everywhere, presented in partnership with TVNewsCheck, dives into program development and revenue strategies for the television landscape.
Streaming Summit keeps growing
The Streaming Summit returns as a two-day program on April 20-21 in West Hall. It features five tracks with approximately 85 speakers covering the latest business and technology challenges in video monetization.
Topics include cord-cutting, the emergence of new streaming TV bundles, plus best practices for optimizing video workflows without blowing up your budget. Attendees will hear from major OTT platforms and sports leagues as they discuss FAST, SVOD, and AVOD strategies. Broadcasters will be well represented, too. Previous Streaming Summit speakers have included executives from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney, Paramount+, Roku, the NFL and the NBA.
The streaming landscape has shifted dramatically over the past year. Ad-supported tiers are becoming the norm rather than the exception. Bundling strategies are reshaping how consumers discover content. The Streaming Summit is built to address those shifts head-on, with sessions designed for both business strategists and technical teams.
Futures Park and Startup Pavilion
For attendees looking to see what’s coming next, Futures Park showcases breakthrough projects that aren’t yet commercially available. It’s one of the best spots on the floor for discovering early-stage technology that could reshape workflows in the years ahead.
The Startup Pavilion serves a similar function but focuses on early-stage companies. Entrepreneurs can connect with investors and industry leaders. The adjacent Startup Theater gives these companies a platform to pitch their ideas directly to the NAB audience.
A new mobile app
NAB launched a new mobile app in March to help attendees plan ahead. The app lets users build personalized schedules, bookmark exhibitors and receive tailored recommendations for sessions based on their interests. It also includes networking tools that let attendees exchange contact information via QR code while on-site.
Given the scale of the show, a solid planning tool is essential. The app aims to reduce the time spent wandering between halls while helping attendees connect with the right people before they even arrive in Las Vegas.
Who’s exhibiting
The exhibitor list reads like a who’s-who of media technology. AWS, Blackmagic, Google, Microsoft and Sony are all confirmed. They join a deep roster of global brands showcasing solutions across content production, distribution and monetization.
Premiere Park, a dedicated section for first-time exhibitors, returns to the spotlight, showcasing new products and technologies from companies making their NAB debut.
Awards and recognition
NAB Show’s Product of the Year program features 16 categories plus one Best Overall Top Award. The Project of the Year Awards recognize excellence in execution across four categories. Both programs celebrate the innovations debuting at the 2026 show. Nominations closed April 1.
These awards have become a reliable way to identify the most impactful new products at the show. For attendees short on time, the winners list doubles as a curated guide to what’s worth seeing on the floor.
It’s showtime
NAB 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most feature-rich editions in recent memory. The expanded Sports Summit, beefed-up Creator Lab, dual AI pavilions and a renovated convention center all point to a show that’s adapting to where the industry is heading. For videographers, it’s four days you probably don’t want to miss.
The show has always been about what’s next. This year, it feels like the organizers are applying that philosophy to the event itself. New theaters, reimagined spaces and broader access to premium programming all suggest a show that’s trying to meet its audience where they are. The inclusion of free passes for creators is just one example of how NAB is widening its tent.
NAB Show 2026 takes place April 18-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
