Sweets and Snacks Expo 2026 runs May 19 to 21 in Las Vegas, with the Supplier Showcase on May 18 and May 19. This guide breaks down the schedule, what to plan before you arrive, and how to run demos, staffing, lead capture, and reporting so the show turns into real sales.
Quick answer: The 2026 Sweets and Snacks Expo is scheduled for May 19 to 21, 2026, with the Supplier Showcase on May 18 and May 19, and official events at the Las Vegas Convention Center. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} If you want the show to produce real leads and real sales, plan your booth like a retail program, not like a brand wallpaper.
Sweets and Snacks Expo is one of the key U.S. trade shows for confectionery and snack brands, plus suppliers that support the category. If you sell snacks, candy, better for you treats, functional candy, or beverage adjacencies that live in the same buyer world, it is a show worth planning for.
The schedule page confirms the main show dates and the supplier showcase timing, which matters for how you plan staffing and meetings.
A trade show week has two jobs. First, you need the right people to stop at your booth. Second, you need a system that turns those conversations into next steps.
The show schedule is not just a calendar. It is your staffing plan and meeting plan. For example, the schedule lists registration blocks and show floor exhibit hours across the week. You want your strongest team on the floor when traffic is strongest, and you want meeting blocks set so you do not drain your booth at peak times.
In this category, the biggest mistake is treating the booth like a display instead of a buying moment.
Here is a simple structure that works well for CPG and beverage brands at a show like Sweets and Snacks Expo.
Pick one primary action. Examples:
If your team has five different goals, your booth will feel unfocused.
Buyers are moving fast. Your opener should be tight.
Snacks win with taste and texture. Your sampling has to be fast, clean, and consistent.
Do not make every person do every job. Assign roles:
Trade show leads fail when they are not tagged, not scored, and not followed up with a clear next step.
Use three simple tiers:
Most scan apps store a name and email. That is not enough. Add one short note field that your team must fill out:
If you do this, follow up becomes simple and personal, not generic.
If leadership asks “was it worth it,” you need more than impressions. You need a clear story.
This is the reporting style CMOs respond to, because it connects activity to business outcomes.
If you are exhibiting in May, start early. Here is a simple countdown plan.
If you want your trade show presence to feel like a complete program, Makai can support staffing, brand ambassador teams, logistics coordination, and clean reporting so your team can focus on the buyer conversations that matter.
If you are going to Sweets and Snacks Expo 2026, use the schedule as your operating plan, not just a reference page. The dates and venue are locked, so your advantage comes from execution: a clear booth story, smooth sampling, tight staffing roles, and lead capture that your sales team can act on the next day.
Since 1995, Makai has been connecting brands with people through live experiences, retail programs, and national activations.
