Seattle offers a distinctive and attractive combination of business opportunities, natural beauty, and modern infrastructure that makes it a successful location for trade shows, conventions, and exhibitions.
In particular, the recently remodeled and expanded Seattle Convention Center includes 988,422 square feet of total space with 485,150 sq. feet in the exhibit hall, 123,761 sq. feet for meeting rooms, and 102,628 for ballrooms!
Other Seattle Area Convention Centers Include:
- Tacoma Convention Center
- Everett Events Center
- Bellevue Conference Center
- Kirkland Performance Center
Overall, Seattle’s natural beauty, diverse businesses, vibrant cultural scene, modern infrastructure, and high quality of life make it an ideal location for technology, medical, environmental, and educational events.
Seattle Trade Shows: Why the Emerald City is the Ideal Location
Thriving Business Environment:
- Booming Tech Hub: Seattle is home to a vibrant tech community, including companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing. This makes it an ideal location for trade shows related to technology, innovation, and digital solutions.
- Strong Investment Market: With a strong investment scene, Seattle attracts entrepreneurs and businesses from across the globe. This can benefit trade shows focused on attracting investors and showcasing cutting-edge products and services.
- Global Commercial Hub: Seattle is a major international port and gateway to Asia, offering access to a wide range of potential clients and partners. This makes it an ideal location for trade shows targeting international markets.
Attractive City and Location:
- Beautiful Scenery and Natural Surroundings: Seattle offers stunning views of the Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier. This natural beauty can be a major draw for attendees and create a memorable experience.
- Vibrant Cultural Scene: Seattle boasts a diverse and dynamic cultural scene, with a variety of museums, art galleries, music venues, and restaurants. This can offer attendees plenty of entertainment options outside the trade show floor.
- Easy Accessibility: Seattle is a major transportation hub, with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport offering direct flights to destinations around the world. Additionally, the city has a well-developed public transportation system, making it easy for attendees to get around.
Modern Infrastructure and Facilities:
- State-of-the-art Convention Center: Seattle Convention Center is a modern facility with over 2 million square feet of exhibit space, making it capable of hosting large-scale trade shows.
- Wide Range of Meeting and Event Spaces: Seattle offers a variety of hotels, conference centers, and other venues suitable for hosting different sizes and types of events.
- Experience in Hosting Trade Shows: Seattle has a long history of hosting successful trade shows and conventions, making it a familiar and comfortable environment for organizers and attendees.
Other Factors:
- High Quality of Life: Seattle is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States, with factors such as high job growth, excellent schools, and a strong sense of community. This can be advantageous for attracting and retaining talent involved in planning and executing the trade show.
- Sustainable City Initiatives: Seattle is a leader in sustainability and green initiatives. This can be appealing to organizations that are focused on environmental responsibility and green marketing.
Popular Seattle Convention Center Trade Shows by Month
2025 Joint Mathematics Meetings (January)
The Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM) is the world’s largest gathering of mathematics enthusiasts and professionals. The American Mathematical Society (AMS), in collaboration with 16 partner organizations, will host this exciting annual event in Seattle, WA. JMM 2025 offers an impressive lineup of 3,000+ presenters and organizers curating sessions, panels, workshops, courses, student activities, and invited addresses, plus 200+ exhibitors.
Seattle Wedding Show 2024 – February
For over 30 years, the Seattle Wedding Show has been helping couples plan their dream wedding. With its extensive experience in the wedding industry, the SWS has helped countless couples plan the perfect wedding, making sure that every detail is taken care of, from the venue and music to the flowers and cake.
NASP Annual Convention – February
The annual NASP convention of school psychologists represents qualified members of school teams that support students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. Connect with 5,000 peers and expand your expertise with 1,200+ educational sessions.
NCCE Conference – February
The Northwest Council for Computer Education is the largest EdTech event in the Northwest United States. Experience cutting-edge sessions on AI, VR, AR, and other emerging technologies that are transforming education. Network with peers, explore new strategies and discover solutions to enhance teaching and learning. Join us to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving educational landscape and drive impactful change in your community.
Emerald City Comic Con – March
A destination comic and pop culture show for the Pacific Northwest. Emerald City Comic Con delivers the best that the comics and pop culture industry has to offer while bringing super fans exactly what they crave: interaction with quality content and guests in an inclusive space to celebrate their fandoms. Emerald City Comic Con includes guests from across the pop culture spectrum, from your favorite anime voice actors to household names to the nostalgic characters of your youth.
SAP Concur – FUSION 2025 – March
Optimize your investment in SAP Concur and connect with solution experts. Access educational and training opportunities, engage with and expand your community, and get inspired to take the next step to influence organization change. Three jam-packed days filled with many opportunities to learn, network, and get personalized support.
Northwest Event Show – March
Dive into the heart of the event industry with the Northwest Event Show — where innovation meets collaboration. NWES 2024 is your gateway to elevating your event planning game, drawing together a dynamic community of professionals from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Join us in Seattle for an unparalleled gathering that promises to inspire, connect, and transform.
MRS 2025 Spring Meeting – April
The 2025 Materials Research Society (MRS) is the key forum to present research to an interdisciplinary and international audience. It provides a window on the future of materials science, and offers an opportunity for researchers—from students and postdoctoral fellows, to Nobel and Kavli Prize Laureates—to exchange technical information and network with colleagues.
AFP ICON 2025 – April
The world’s No. 1 fundraising conference brings together thousands of fundraising professionals from around the globe. Immerse yourself in cutting-edge strategies, inspiring keynotes, and unparalleled networking opportunities designed to elevate your mission and drive impact.
Sakura-Con 25 – April
Sakura-Con is an annual anime convention held in Seattle, Washington. It’s one of the largest and oldest anime conventions in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a great event for fans of anime, manga, and Japanese culture to meet other like-minded people, enjoy entertainment, and learn something new.
AATS 105th Annual Meeting 2025 – May
The 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery brings together surgeons to have discussions, ask hard questions, hear new perspectives, and build on each other’s work. Each year, attendees from around the world are focused on excellence, leadership, scholarship, and innovation with a commitment to action and long-term positive change.
INSAR 2025 Annual Meeting – May
The International Society for Autism Research is a global organization dedicated to advancing research and understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It brings together scientists, clinicians, and other professionals from around the world to share their latest findings, discuss emerging trends, and collaborate on future research directions.
SLEEP 2025 Annual Meeting – June
SLEEP 2025 is the 39th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC (APSS), a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Sleep Research Society (SRS). SLEEP 2025 is a valuable event for anyone interested in sleep research, sleep medicine, and improving sleep health. It provides a platform for the latest advancements in the field and fosters collaboration among experts.
AHIP 2025 – June
AHIP draws together industry experts, policymakers, academics, and thought leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities guiding greater health. These diverse and timely programs offer you an opportunity to connect with healthcare professionals from around the country to discuss strategies and initiatives focused on health policy, health insurance provider operations, and public programs.
NASSP and NAESP 2025 Joint Principals Conference – July
The UNITED Conference offers more than just a backdrop—it offers a stage for innovation and leadership in education. Just as music bridges gaps and tells stories, this gathering empowers school leaders to connect, share, and grow.
Seattle Worldcon 2025 – August
Seattle Worldcon is a convention celebrating science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. It’s a major event for fans, authors, artists, and professionals in the field. The name “Worldcon” comes from “World Convention.”
PAX West 2025 – August
PAX West is a celebration of gaming and gaming culture featuring thought-provoking panels, a massive expo hall filled with the best publishers and studios, new game demos, musical performances, tournaments, and a community experience unlike any other.
ASBMR 2025 Annual Meeting – September
The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) gathers thousands of the field’s academic and clinical leaders each year at its annual meeting to discuss the latest bone and mineral research.
2024 INFORMS Annual Meeting – October
With the beautiful Seattle skyline in the backdrop, the 2024 INFORMS Annual Meeting is a unique opportunity to connect and network with more than 6,000 members of the INFORMS community. From students, to prospective employers and employees, to academic and industry experts, the 2024 meeting will provide countless opportunities to learn, network, and grow your career.
2024 PRIM&R Annual Conference – November
PRIMR24 is designed to educate and connect all those involved in research and research oversight, and to support the field in thinking holistically about the research enterprise and achieving our shared goal of advancing ethical, responsible, and high-quality research. As research evolves and modernizes, we aim to do the same.
2024 ASHA Convention – December
The ASHA Convention is the premier annual professional development and networking event for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists.
Other Notable Trade Shows and Conventions in Seattle
Other major conventions scheduled in Seattle in 2025:
- Northwest Remodeling Expo (4000 attendees)
- Seattle Golf Show (5800 attendees)
- Northwest Flower and Garden Festival (60,000 attendees)
- Flock Fiber Festival (4000 attendees)
- Sakura-Con (30,000 attendees)
- WCA World Championship (5000 attendees)
- Tacoma Remodeling Expo
Conventions offer businesses the opportunity to connect with potential customers, build brand awareness, and stay ahead of the competition. While they require investment and planning, the potential benefits can significantly contribute to any business’s success.
In addition, trade shows are ideal for launching new products, learning about industry trends, gathering market research, generating media coverage, and boosting employee engagement.
Expanding Your Reach: Trade Shows in Washington State
Other significant trade show locations in Washington State:
Spokane Convention Center (Spokane): Located in Eastern Washington, the SCC boasts 300,000 sq. ft of space including a 120,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall. Located in DT Spokane, it is attached to two major hotels with close access to numerous restaurants and shopping opportunities.
Three Rivers Convention Center (Kennewick): Located in the Tri-Cities area, the TRCC has 75,000 sq. ft of conference space that can accommodate expos, conventions, board meetings, holiday parties, retirement celebrations, and weddings. It’s located near the Toyota Center and the Columbia Center Mall and within easy driving distance of over 200 wineries.
Yakima Valley SunDome (Yakima): The Yakima Valley SunDome is a 6,195-seat multi-purpose arena in Washington’s Inland Empire. Located on the Central Washington State Fairgrounds, it hosts sporting events, ice shows, horse shows, circuses, boxing, and concerts, as well as trade shows and conventions.
ShowPlex at the Washington State Fair Events Center (Puyallup): This state-of-the-art facility offers space for more than 400 booth spaces and seating for up to 3,400. Puyallup is located between Seattle and Tacoma.
Why Choose Exhibits NW as Your Seattle Trade Show Partner
For almost 30 years, Exhibits Northwest, your trusted Seattle trade show partner, has focused exclusively on businesses in the Pacific Northwest. At Exhibits Northwest, we specialize in crafting tailor-made, branded trade show exhibits that perfectly represent your brand and identity.
With over three decades of experience and a track record of thousands of successful custom projects, we know just how to make your custom trade show booth stand out from the crowd and attract attention. Our team of expert designers and fabricators will leverage the latest technology and materials to ensure every detail of your trade show display is on-brand, from the layout and foundation to the graphics and finishing touches.
Experience the Exhibits Northwest difference today!