Trade show directory: what it does and how to use it
For anyone choosing which trade shows to exhibit at or sell into, ConferenceDB's directory ranks 1,247 trade shows by the companies on their current exhibitor and sponsor lists. Filter by industry, place, date, size and price, sort by new or returning exhibitors, then open any show's full list. It is free, with no account.
Quick picks: what are you doing?
| Your job | Start here | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing which shows to exhibit at | The directory | Filter by your industry and region, then sort by most companies listed |
| Finding a show whose exhibitors come back | Sort by most companies returning | Shows where last year's exhibitors booked again come first |
| Staying under a budget | Package under $5k | Only shows whose cheapest published package fits |
| Seeing where a competitor exhibits | Competitor trade shows | Type your website; the directory does not search by company |
How to use the directory in five steps
- Open the directory. Go to trade shows. You are done when you see the count of shows and the list ranked by companies listed.
- Pick your industry or place. Click an industry, region, country or city in the left column. The count at the top drops to the shows that match.
- Narrow it. Add a size (200+ companies), a time (next 90 days) or a price band (package under $10k). Each choice adds to the page address.
- Sort for your question. Most companies returning puts loyal exhibitor bases first; cheapest package puts the lowest published entry price first. You are done when the top rows are shows you would consider.
- Open a show. Click its name for the dates, the full exhibitor list, new and returning companies and every package it publishes.
A worked example
An HVAC equipment maker wants one big show for the year. In the directory it picks Construction and sorts by companies listed. AHR Expo is near the top: Jan 25–27, 2027 in Chicago, 1,774 exhibitors, 78% of last edition's companies back, packages from $1,100. The exhibitor list shows which competitors already have a booth.
The filters
| Filter | What it does |
|---|---|
| Industry | One of the industries in the left column, such as Manufacturing or Healthcare; each has its own page, for example /construction-trade-shows |
| Where | A region, country or city, for example /trade-shows-in-germany |
| When | Upcoming, the next 90 days, or one year |
| Size | 50+, 200+ or 1,000+ companies on the current list |
| Prices | Shows that publish prices, or whose cheapest package is under $5k, $10k or $25k |
| Sort | Most companies listed, soonest first, most new companies, most companies returning, cheapest package, biggest top package |
What each column means
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Companies | Sponsors and exhibitors on the show's current list, as the show published it |
| New | Companies that were not on the previous edition's list |
| Returning | The share of the previous edition's companies on this list; shown when the earlier list is complete enough to compare |
| Packages from | The cheapest sponsorship package or booth the show publishes, in the show's own currency |
The limits
- It covers shows with a public list or published prices, not every trade show in the world.
- Companies only. There are no contact names, emails or phone numbers.
- No search by company: to see where one company exhibits, use its company page or the competitor tool.
- No file export. Lists past 300 names ask for an email to open the rest, still free.
- Prices are shown in the currency the show publishes.
How this was counted
A trade show counts when it has 100 or more exhibitors, or an expo floor in the organizer's own description, and when it has a public sponsor or exhibitor list or published prices. Company counts are per show, so a company at ten shows counts ten times. Prices are the ones the show publishes; ConferenceDB does not estimate any.
ConferenceDB, live as of 7 November 2026.
Questions
What counts as a trade show here?
An event with 100 or more exhibitors, or one whose organizer describes an expo floor. Every event, trade show or not, is in the conference directory. All conferences
Can I combine filters?
Yes. Pick an industry or place first, then add size, timing, price and a sort; each choice is in the page address, so you can bookmark or share the filtered list.
Can I download the directory?
No. There is no file export. Each show's page links its full exhibitor list, and an AI assistant can query the same data through the free MCP server at conferencedatabase.com/api/mcp.
Why is a show I know missing?
A show appears once it has a public sponsor or exhibitor list or published prices. Some publish late or not at all, and the pipeline adds new editions daily.
Find the companies behind these numbers
Free, no account. Companies only, never named people.
Pick an industry and a place, or type your conference, and see the companies that sponsor or exhibit at the most conferences like it.
Find sponsors for my conference
More: The trade show directory · Every exhibitor list · What a booth costs · Competitor trade shows · How to read a list · Best websites to find conferences, compared
Sources
- Exhibitor listsevery show with a free exhibitor list, updated 7 November 2026
- Free sponsor and exhibitor listswhich page answers which question, updated 7 November 2026
- ConferenceDB company factshow lists and prices are collected, updated 7 October 2026