KBIS 2027 First-Timer’s Guide: Plan Your First Show
First KBIS? The essentials: February 2–4, 2027 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, show floor open 9 AM–5 PM Tuesday through Thursday, 600+ exhibiting brands, and one badge that also admits you to IBS. Register when it opens (typically early September) and plan your route before you fly.
Before you go
- Register early — registration typically opens early September (2026 registration opened Sept 2, 2025), and NKBA members register free during September.
- Book a monorail-line hotel the same week — see the hotels & travel guide.
- Shortlist 20–30 exhibitors from the official directory and request meetings in advance.
- Set one concrete goal — new suppliers, a pricing benchmark, a marketing plan — so the floor doesn’t set your agenda for you.
On the floor
- Arrive before 9 AM — badge lines are shortest early, and the floor runs 9–5 sharp.
- Walk by hall and aisle, not by impulse; cover your shortlist first, then explore.
- Capture every contact digitally — photos of booths and badges beat a pocket of cards.
- Budget time for IBS — your badge covers both floors.
- Comfortable shoes. Not optional.
After the show
The show pays off in the two weeks after it. Follow up with every contact within days, not weeks — that applies to attendees chasing suppliers just as much as exhibitors chasing leads. Organize notes while they’re fresh, and turn what you saw into content and showroom conversations at home. If you run a cabinet or kitchen & bath business, that’s exactly the system we build — see turning KBIS into booked appointments.
Key takeaways
- KBIS 2027: Feb 2–4, Las Vegas Convention Center, floor open 9–5.
- Register early (~September); NKBA members register free that month.
- Shortlist exhibitors and book meetings before you fly.
- The show pays off in the follow-up — act within days of getting home.
Frequently asked questions
The show runs three days (Tue–Thu, 9 AM–5 PM). First-timers who also want to see the IBS floor should plan on all three; a tightly shortlisted KBIS-only visit can fit in two.
Most attendees wear business casual — and comfortable shoes. You will walk a lot: 600+ brands across a convention-center floor, plus IBS next door.
KBIS is a trade show for industry professionals. Registration requirements are published on kbis.com — check there if you’re unsure whether you qualify.
When registration opens — typically early September. Early registration has typically cost less than on-site, and NKBA members register free during September.
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