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The International Surface Event (TISE) is one of the most important weeks of the year for flooring, tile and stone brands in North America. In 2027 it returns to Las Vegas in early February, and for many exhibitors it’s the first big show of the year. That means booth decisions are being made right now.
This guide covers the key dates, who walks the floor, what kind of booth works at TISE, and the practical details that catch first-time exhibitors off guard.
TISE 2027 at a glance
| Show | The International Surface Event (TISE) |
|---|---|
| Expo hall dates | February 2–4, 2027 |
| Expo hall hours | Tue & Wed 9am–5pm, Thu 9am–3pm (per organizer FAQ) |
| Education | Begins one day earlier (Feb 1) — confirm on the official schedule |
| Venue | Mandalay Bay Convention Center, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV |
| Industries | Flooring, tile, stone, surfaces, installation tools and products |
| Official site | intlsurfaceevent.com |
| Same week in Vegas | KBIS and the NAHB International Builders’ Show (Design & Construction Week), Feb 2–4, 2027 at the Las Vegas Convention Center |
Dates and hours are from the organizer at the time of writing. Always check the official exhibitor manual for move-in and move-out times.
Who attends TISE
TISE pulls a wide mix of buyers from across the surfaces industry:
- Flooring retailers and dealers looking for new lines for the year
- Distributors comparing suppliers and programs
- Architects and interior designers specifying materials for upcoming projects
- Fabricators and installers looking at tools, stone and installation systems
- Builders and contractors, many of whom are also in town for KBIS and IBS
That mix matters for your booth. A retailer wants to see the full collection and talk about margins and programs. A designer wants to touch the product and see it in a real setting. An installer wants a demo. A good TISE booth gives each of them a place to go.
Booth ideas that work at TISE
1. Make your product the booth
At most shows, the floor is just carpet. At TISE, the floor can be your best display. Installing your own tile, LVP or stone as the booth floor lets visitors walk on it, see it at full scale and judge real performance.
A few things to plan for:
- A raised or built-up floor may be needed so the installed product sits level with the aisle carpet and cables can run underneath.
- Installed tile is heavy and slow to set up. Plan for the extra setup time and labor in your schedule and budget.
- Mix large-format pieces on the floor with wall displays so visitors can see the same product two ways.
Read more: Trade Show Booth Flooring Options
2. Build "room scenes," not just sample walls
Designers and retailers buy more easily when they can picture the product in a space. Instead of rows of sample boards, consider small vignettes: a bathroom wall, a kitchen backsplash, a commercial lobby corner. Two or three vignettes in a 20×20 tell a stronger story than 40 boards on a wall.
3. Use big graphics to show the product at scale
A full-height backlit fabric (SEG) wall printed with a high-resolution photo of your product installed in a real home or project lets visitors see scale and pattern from across the aisle. Pair it with the physical product up close.
Read more: SEG Fabric vs. Other Trade Show Graphics
4. Separate browsing from selling
TISE is a buying show. Retailers and distributors want to sit down and talk programs. Even in a 10×20, set aside a small meeting space (a counter with stools, or a semi-private corner) so serious conversations don’t happen in the middle of the aisle.
5. Plan a demo spot
If you sell installation products, tools, adhesives or underlayment, a short live demo draws a crowd at TISE. Give it a clear spot with good sightlines from the aisle.
Practical tips from the show floor
Heavy samples cost real money to move. Material handling (drayage, the fee for moving your freight from the loading dock to your booth) is usually charged by weight. Tile, stone and slabs are heavy. Ship only what you need, consolidate shipments, and compare advance-warehouse vs. direct-to-show rates in the exhibitor manual.
Book early. February shows have a short runway after the holidays. Design, graphic printing and production take time, especially if you want installed flooring or custom vignettes. Purple Exhibits recommends starting 8–10 weeks before the show for a rental, and earlier for a custom build: production takes 30–45 days from design approval, and final graphics are due about 4 weeks before move-in. For TISE, that means locking the design by mid-December.
Read the exhibitor manual closely. Las Vegas venues have specific rules about labor, rigging, electrical and what exhibitors can set up themselves. The rules decide your budget, so check them early. Our Mandalay Bay Convention Center exhibitor guide covers the halls, freight and labor rules in detail.
Hotels fill up. With TISE, KBIS and IBS overlapping, Las Vegas is very busy that week. Book rooms for your booth staff as early as possible.
Think about the whole week. Many of your buyers will also visit KBIS and IBS. Plan meetings, and consider whether one booth design can be reused at more than one show to get more value from it.
Frequently asked questions
When is TISE 2027?
The expo hall runs February 2–4, 2027, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Education sessions start a day earlier.
Is TISE the same as Surfaces?
TISE is the umbrella event. Surfaces, the flooring part of the show, is part of it, along with the stone and tile sections.
What booth size is best for TISE?
It depends on how much product you need to show. A 10×20 works for a focused collection with one vignette. A 20×20 island gives you room for an installed floor, two or three room scenes and a meeting area. Purple Exhibits designs and builds inline, peninsula and island booths from 10×10 to 40×40.
Can I use my own tile or flooring as the booth floor?
Yes, and it’s one of the most effective ways to show your product. Plan for a raised floor, extra setup time and the weight of the materials.
How early should I start planning my TISE booth?
For a February show, start design in the fall. Custom elements, installed flooring and printed graphics all need lead time.
Is TISE the same week as KBIS?
Yes. In 2027, KBIS and the NAHB International Builders’ Show also run February 2–4 in Las Vegas, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Plan your TISE 2027 booth with Purple Exhibits
Purple Exhibits designs and builds booths for tile, stone and flooring brands, from 3D design and printed graphics to booth flooring, shipping and setup. Send us your booth size and goals and we’ll send you a 3D design proposal.
Request a TISE 2027 booth quote
Last updated . Show dates and venue rules come from official sources. Always confirm in your exhibitor manual.
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