City guides
Business events in New York 2026–27: the Javits Center calendar and what to attend
New York's 2026–27 trade shows and conferences by month and sector, what passes cost, who can attend, and how to reach the Javits Center.
By the atndr teamPublished 6 min read
The short answer
New York's biggest business events are trade shows and conferences at the Javits Center on Manhattan's West Side. NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show (10–12 January) is the largest, followed by Toy Fair (20–23 February), New York Build (2–3 March), INTERPHEX (13–15 April) and the Summer Fancy Food Show (25–27 July). The season runs October to July. Many trade-only shows are free for qualified buyers, while conferences such as The AI Summit sell delegate passes costing thousands of dollars.
Key takeaways
- Nearly every large business event in New York is held at the Javits Center, 429 Eleventh Avenue, one block from the 34 St–Hudson Yards station on the 7 train.
- January to April is the busiest stretch: NRF's Big Show, NY NOW, Toy Fair, Legalweek, New York Build, Be+Well and INTERPHEX all fall in it.
- Many wholesale shows (Toy Fair, NY NOW, Summer Fancy Food) are trade only: buyers must prove their business role when they register.
- Conference passes vary widely: NRF's All-Access pass started at $1,100 for retail members, The AI Summit's delegate pass at $2,099 early bird, while ISC East's exhibit hall pass was $100.
- The Greater New York Dental Meeting (27 November–1 December 2026) charges no pre-registration fee, an exception among large US congresses.
On this page
When is the business event season in New York?
New York's trade event calendar runs from October to July, with the heaviest months between January and April. August, September and the end of December are quiet at the Javits Center for trade events.
The year opens with retail: NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show fills the Javits Center in the second week of January. Wholesale buying markets follow in late January and February, then professional and industry conferences in March and April. Summer belongs to the Summer Fancy Food Show and the hotel investment forum in June.
| Month | Notable events on atndr | Sectors |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | CREtech New York, Greenbuild | Real estate, sustainable building |
| November 2026 | ISC East, IAB State Privacy Law Summit, Greater New York Dental Meeting | Security, advertising law, dentistry |
| December 2026 | The AI Summit New York | Artificial intelligence |
| January 2027 | NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show, NY NOW Winter Market | Retail, gift and home |
| February 2027 | Toy Fair New York | Toys and licensing |
| March 2027 | Legalweek, New York Build, Be+Well, Digital Asset Summit | Legal tech, construction, beauty, digital assets |
| April 2027 | INTERPHEX | Pharma manufacturing |
| May 2027 | MD&M East | Medical device and advanced manufacturing |
| June 2027 | NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum | Hotel investment |
| July 2027 | Summer Fancy Food Show | Specialty food |
The live list is on New York's events page.
Which New York business events are worth attending?
The flagships are national meetings for their industries, and each draws buyers and speakers from across the US and abroad. Choose by sector.
Retail, consumer goods and food
NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show runs 10–12 January 2027. The National Retail Federation says it brings more than 41,000 retail professionals to the Javits Center each year, with keynotes, an AI Stage and a large technology expo. NY NOW Winter Market (31 January–2 February) is the gift, home and lifestyle wholesale market, co-located with the Greeting Card Association's NOTED. Toy Fair New York (20–23 February), run by The Toy Association, is the toy industry's trade-only show for North America. The Summer Fancy Food Show (25–27 July) is the Specialty Food Association's flagship; its 2026 edition had 2,500+ exhibiting companies from 57 countries, according to the association.
Technology, finance and law
The AI Summit New York (9–10 December 2026) focuses on how large companies put AI into production. Legalweek (1–3 March 2027) is ALM's legal technology conference, moving to Javits North. Digital Asset Summit NYC (30 March–1 April) is Blockworks' institutional conference on crypto and tokenised finance. ISC East (3–5 November 2026) covers physical and cyber security.
Health, pharma and manufacturing
The Greater New York Dental Meeting (27 November–1 December 2026) is one of the largest dental congresses in the US, with a three-day exhibition from 29 November. INTERPHEX (13–15 April 2027) is the pharma and biotech manufacturing show, and MD&M East (19–20 May) groups six manufacturing expos, from medtech to packaging and plastics.
Real estate, construction and hospitality
New York Build (2–3 March 2027) is the Tri-State construction and design expo with a free conference; its organiser cites 40,000+ attendees. CREtech New York and Greenbuild both open on 20 October 2026. The NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum (6–8 June 2027, New York Marriott Marquis) is where hotel owners, brands and lenders meet; Be+Well (7–9 March) serves beauty, spa and wellness professionals.
What does it cost to attend, and who can get in?
Prices depend on the format. Trade shows built around buying are often free or cheap for qualified buyers; conferences built around speakers charge delegate fees.
| Event | Cheapest listed option | Main paid pass | Who may attend |
|---|---|---|---|
| NRF 2027 | Retail Expo Pass free until 30 December 2026, then $100 | All-Access from $1,100 (retail members, early rate) to $3,800 (non-retail non-members) | Retailers, solution providers, press |
| The AI Summit New York | Start-up & Investor Delegate from $799 | Delegate $2,099 early bird, $2,899 standard | Enterprise AI and data teams |
| ISC East | Exhibit Hall Only $100 | SIA Education@ISC passes from $170 | Security professionals |
| Greater New York Dental Meeting | No pre-registration fee | — | Dentists and dental teams |
| Summer Fancy Food Show | Trade registration | — | Specialty food trade only |
Prices are the organisers' published rates for the editions listed and change by deadline; each atndr listing shows the current tiers. Trade-only shows check credentials: NY NOW asks buyers to upload proof of their business, Toy Fair qualifies every attendee on their primary role, and the Summer Fancy Food Show is closed to the public.
Where are business events held in New York?
The Javits Center hosts almost all large trade shows and conferences; a few smaller conferences use hotels and event spaces in Midtown and Chelsea.
| Venue | Area | Typical events |
|---|---|---|
| Javits Center | Hudson Yards / Midtown West, 429 Eleventh Avenue | NRF, Toy Fair, New York Build, INTERPHEX, Summer Fancy Food |
| New York Marriott Marquis | Times Square | NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum |
| Jay Conference Chelsea | Chelsea | Smaller one-day summits such as the IAB State Privacy Law Summit |
The Javits Center spans five city blocks, from West 34th Street to 39th Street, according to New York City Tourism + Conventions. Some 2027 events, such as Legalweek and the Digital Asset Summit, are held in Javits North, the newer northern end, so check which part of the building your show uses.
How do you get to the Javits Center and plan the trip?
Take the subway: the 7 train's 34 St–Hudson Yards station is one block from the Javits Center.
- Subway: the 7 train to 34 St–Hudson Yards. The A, C and E lines and commuter rail stop at 34 St–Penn Station, a walk away to the east.
- Bus: the M34-SBS runs along 34th Street to the Javits Center; avoid the M34A-SBS, which turns off at Eighth Avenue.
- Hotels: Midtown West, Hudson Yards, Chelsea and Times Square are within walking distance or a short subway ride. Book early for the large January and March shows.
- Visas: visitors from outside the US need a visa or ESTA authorisation depending on nationality; check the US State Department's rules before booking.
To get the most from a show, register before the online deadline (badge prices rise and some free passes end), use the show app to book meetings in advance, and plan by hall: Javits is long, and walking from one end to the other takes time.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the biggest business event in New York?
- NRF: Retail's Big Show, held each January at the Javits Center, is the largest; the National Retail Federation says it brings more than 41,000 retail professionals. The 2027 edition runs 10–12 January.
- Which subway goes to the Javits Center?
- The 7 train, to 34 St–Hudson Yards, which is one block from the building. The M34-SBS bus along 34th Street also stops there.
- Can the public attend trade shows at the Javits Center?
- Not always. Toy Fair, NY NOW and the Summer Fancy Food Show are trade only and check business credentials. Conferences such as NRF or The AI Summit are open to anyone who buys a pass.
- Is the Greater New York Dental Meeting free?
- It charges no pre-registration fee, so attending the meeting and exhibition is free if you register in advance.
- When are the busiest weeks for business events in New York?
- Mid-January (NRF week) and March, when Legalweek, New York Build, Be+Well and the Digital Asset Summit fall within a month of each other. Book hotels early for those weeks.
Sources
Written and fact-checked by the atndr team. Dates, venues and organizers are checked against each event’s official website; the figures in “At a glance” come live from the atndr calendar. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
