The Northwest Event Show returns this April with a refreshed format, new faces, and a clear focus: Connection.

For returning attendees, one of the most noticeable changes will be who’s in the room. “Almost 58% of our vendors are new,” says Stuart Butler, president of the Northwest Event Show and Butler Events. “I think that’s probably the biggest thing, is they’ll see a lot of new faces.”

“As the show continues to grow, we’re getting a lot of new people,” he says, noting that the shift reflects broader changes across the events industry.

The structure of the show has also evolved. This year shifts from a two-day trade show to a single, concentrated day on the show floor — while expanding the overall experience into a multi-day arc.

Monday, April 27, 2026
That experience begins with a pre-event dinner Monday evening with Culinary Connections, a planner-only gathering that Butler says quickly became a highlight last year.

“They got to be exclusively with other planners, and they just had an absolute blast,” he says.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Tuesday is dedicated entirely to education — another major shift. “Last year we had education [...] at the same time as the trade show,” Butler says. “Now we’ve separated them. So education is all day long, and we have some really great speakers.”

The change allows attendees to fully engage in each part of the experience, rather than splitting time between sessions and the show floor.

From 4-8 p.m. that evening, attendees head to the waterfront for the return of Sunset on the Salish Sea — an activation Butler describes as a chance to “showcase the front steps of Seattle” that’s available for all ticket holders.

“If you haven’t been to the waterfront, it is a game changer for our city.”

Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Wednesday brings the main event: a full-day trade show, now designed to bring everyone together. The day wraps with a new addition for 2026 — the NWES Pinnacle Awards, an evening reception celebrating industry excellence.

“We’re trying new things [...] we’re trying to figure out how to take this show and flex the Pacific Northwest,” Butler says.

Thursday, April 30, 2026
Multiple off-site experiences are available; choose the one that fits you.

Underlying all of it is a broader intention. “What we’re trying to do is scale human connection,” he says. “This is the anti-AI, when we bring people together. Opportunities, ideas ... come from the human connection.”

And this year’s Northwest Event Show is designed to make that time together count.

The Northwest Event Show runs April 28-30, 2026, at the Seattle Convention Center. Tickets are on sale now, with multiple options that allow attendees to join for one day or enjoy the full show, whether their focus is education, the trade show, or off-site experiences.