Raleigh Trade Show Calendar 2026–2027
Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center & NC State Fairgrounds Technology Rental Guide

One of the largest agricultural trade shows in the eastern United States, held annually at the NC State Fairgrounds since 1978. Farmers, agricultural equipment manufacturers, crop technology providers, and rural services companies gather for three days of exhibits, educational seminars, the FFA Tractor Driving Competition, and the Coon Mule Jump. 200+ exhibitors covering tractors, combines, irrigation, crop protection, precision agriculture technology, financial services, and seed companies. Technology demand: exhibitor demo laptops, lead capture iPads, product label printers for sample identification, and commercial monitors for equipment demonstration videos.

The International Window Coverings Expo is the window treatments and interior design industry's premier North American trade event. Fabric, hardware, and motorisation manufacturers exhibit the latest in roller shades, shutters, blinds, drapery, and smart home window automation. Educational programming includes WCAA certification courses. Technology demand: exhibitor demo laptops for motorisation programming, touch screen kiosks for smart shade configurator demos, commercial monitors for fabric and finish display walls, and badge registration systems.

Animazement is one of the Southeast's premier annual anime conventions, held at the Raleigh Convention Center since 1998. Celebrity voice actors, cosplay contests, music performances, anime screenings, artist alley, and a dealer hall. Animazement has a distinct commitment to the creative community. Technology demand: registration badge printers, exhibitor interactive kiosks, LED poster booth accents, and commercial monitors for vendor product display walls.

GalaxyCon Raleigh is the largest multi-genre pop culture convention in North Carolina and one of the largest on the US East Coast. Four days at the Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center featuring celebrity guests from film, TV, anime, and gaming; artist alley; exhibitor hall; tabletop gaming in the Sheraton; video gaming in the Marriott; cosplay contests; wrestling; music; and panels. GalaxyCon and its sister event Animate! Raleigh are contracted at the Raleigh Convention Center through 2031. Technology demand: registration badge printers, exhibitor interactive kiosks, gaming laptops for gaming competition stations, TV rentals for hospitality and gaming suites, LED poster booth accents, and large-format commercial monitors for celebrity panel Q&A backdrops.

The largest open source and technology conference on the US East Coast, now in its 14th year. All Things Open 2026 features a new format: Day 1 (Oct 19) offers full-day AI workshops (AI for DevSecOps, AI Agents & Vibe Coding, AI Agents & Model Context Protocol), extended deep-dive sessions, and community-led co-located events. Day 2 (Oct 20) is the traditional ATO conference day with 150+ sessions across 20 tracks. Co-located activities run October 18. 45,000+ have registered since 2013. Located in Raleigh's Research Triangle Park, the worldwide headquarters of Red Hat, SAS, Pendo, and hundreds of open source technology companies. Technology demand: exhibitor demo MacBook Pro M4 and HP Z640 for AI demos, Chromebook fleets for workshop attendees, interactive open source software kiosks, LED video wall booth backdrops, and hybrid streaming AV for global open source community.

GalaxyCon's dedicated anime convention at the Raleigh Convention Center — contracted through 2031. Anime voice actor celebrities, cosplay wrestling, costume contests, panels, tabletop gaming, video gaming, vendors, and artist alley. 2026 edition ran March 13–15 after being postponed from January due to the December 2025 convention centre roof fire; the venue has since been repaired. The 2027 edition returns to the January schedule. Technology demand mirrors GalaxyCon: registration iPads, badge printers, exhibitor kiosks, LED poster booth accents.

The 2027 Southern Farm Show returns to the NC State Fairgrounds for its 60th annual edition. The same comprehensive exhibit coverage of tractors, combines, irrigation, precision agriculture technology, crop protection, seed companies, and rural financial services. Technology demand: exhibitor demo laptops and tablets, iPad lead capture, label printers for product identification, and commercial monitors for farm equipment demonstration videos.

GalaxyCon Raleigh returns for its 2027 edition at the Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center (Raleigh Convention Center), contracted through 2031. Four days of celebrities, artist alley, exhibitor hall, gaming, cosplay, wrestling, and panels. Technology demand mirrors 2026 — registration badge printers, exhibitor kiosks, gaming laptops, TV rentals for hospitality suites, LED poster booth accents.