auto show, powersports, RV and marine · Tampa
IBEX 2027Tampa exhibitor guide: booth costs, dates and deadlines
Where boats get built: IBEX 2027 booths in Tampa, now in December
- Event dates
- December 7–9, 2027
- Exhibit hall
- Not confirmed yet
- Venue
- Tampa Convention Center, Tampa
4.9 star rating from clients3,000+ exhibitorsIn business since 201510,000+ booths built
Quick answers
IBEX 2027 in 30 seconds
IBEX is where the recreational boatbuilding supply chain meets each year in the United States, a technical show owned and produced by NMMA and RAI Amsterdam. IBEX 2027 runs December 7 to 9, 2027 at the Tampa Convention Center, moved from October to avoid hurricane season, per IBEX. The 2026 show drew 7,700+ professionals from 55+ countries and 701 exhibitors. Exhibitors sell engines, systems, composites, hardware and electronics to boatbuilders, yards and repair shops. Booth space costs $37 per square foot for NMMA members in 2027, with 41 dock slips for in-water displays. Purple builds engineer-focused booths for it.
- When is IBEX 2027?
- December 7–9, 2027, at Tampa Convention Center, Tampa.
- When does the IBEX exhibit hall open?
- Not confirmed yet for 2027. IBEX 2026 ran October 6–8 at the Tampa Convention Center, with move-in October 4–5 and all booths set by 8 p.m. on October 5.
- How big is IBEX?
- 7,700+ attendees, 701 exhibitors (2026 edition).
- What does booth space cost at IBEX?
- $37 per sq ft NMMA members, $42 non-members, per IBEX, paid to the organizer.
- What does a 10×20 IBEX booth cost all-in?
- $7,500 – $15,000 for a Purple rental, including design, graphics, lighting, install and dismantle. Space and show services are billed by IBEX.
Official IBEX 2027 links: IBEX 2027 hotelsIBEX 2027 booth space
The lookTampa · December 2027
Hulls on the stands. Specs on the table.
IBEX 2027 moves to December 7–9 at the Tampa Convention Center; 7,700+ boatbuilding professionals and 701 exhibitors came in 2026, per IBEX.
Everything about IBEX 2027 in one place
IBEX 2027 fact sheet
| Official name | IBEX 2027 |
|---|---|
| Event dates | December 7–9, 2027 |
| Exhibit hall dates | Not confirmed yet IBEX 2026 ran October 6–8 at the Tampa Convention Center, with move-in October 4–5 and all booths set by 8 p.m. on October 5 |
| Venue | Tampa Convention Center 333 S Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Organizer | NMMA and RAI Amsterdam |
| Size (2026) | 7,700+ attendees · 701 exhibitors source |
| Who attends | Boatbuilders 23%, product manufacturers 22%, boatyard, marina and repair 12%, per IBEX |
| Nearest airport | Tampa International Airport (TPA) About 15 minutes from the convention center, per Purple's Tampa guide |
| Hotels | IBEX 2027 hotel block open through the official housing provider Official hotel page → |
| Official website | ibexshow.com |
Official IBEX resources
01 Purple at IBEX 2027
Where boats get built: IBEX 2027 booths in Tampa, now in December
IBEX is the boatbuilding industry's technical trade show, where builders, yards and engineers source engines, systems, composites and hardware. We build booths that open the product up for engineers, with a working demo and a table for spec conversations.
- Dec 7–9, 2027 · Tampa
- 7,700+ pros in 2026
- 701 exhibitors in 2026
What makes IBEX different, and how we build for it
IBEX is owned and produced by NMMA and RAI Amsterdam, with METSTRADE as strategic partner, and it is where recreational boatbuilders find the parts their boats are made of.In 2026 it drew 7,700-plus professionals from 55-plus countries and 701 exhibitors. For 2027 it moves from October to December 7 to 9 to avoid hurricane season, and Tampa's cooler, drier weather lets IBEX expand its dockside demonstrations. Pavilions group composites, electronics, next-gen power, AI and robotics, sustainability and marina and yard suppliers; Innovation Way shows the Innovation Award winners, and the Technical Seminar Conference is produced with Professional BoatBuilder.
Specs, drawings and samples for engines, systems and materials, plus an engineer who can answer installation questions.
Tools, coatings and parts that cut yard time; IBEX expands its programming for them in 2027.
30% of visitors are owners, presidents or CEOs, per IBEX, looking for new suppliers and partners.
Your team in Tampa
How Purple runs IBEX 2027
For Tampa, Purple fabricates in Fishkill, NY and ships to the advance warehouse in the 2027 IBEX kit, with any hull section or heavy cutaway booked through the marshaling yard. Your Purple project manager directs the build with the labor the show requires and the venue's rigging provider, then crates the booth for Miami in February.
New at IBEX 2027
- December dates
IBEX moves from October to December 7–9, 2027 to lower hurricane-season risk; move-in and freight plans shift with it. source
- Bigger IBEX Docks
An expanded dockside experience for test-driving technology and seeing systems run on the water. source
- More yard programming
Expanded technical programming for marina, boatyard, refit and repair professionals. source
Inside IBEX 2027
Rules that shape your IBEX booth
Standard booths may use 8 feet of fixtures plus 2 feet for back-wall identification signs, 10 feet in all, per the 2026 planning guide; other booth types follow the display rules. We draw inlines to that line.
In 2026 Encore was the exclusive overhead rigging provider and Shepard did not hang signs, only assembled them. We order rigging from the named provider with the design.
All 2026 trucks checked in at a marshaling yard at the Florida State Fairgrounds, two hours before their target time, and freight could not be shipped to the yard address. We book carriers to the 2027 targets.
IBEX required a certificate of insurance before move-in from both exhibitors and exhibitor-appointed contractors in 2026. Purple files its own and checks yours.
Programs worth planning for
Awards for new marine products from exhibitors; 12 winners and three honorable mentions from 100 entries in 2026, shown on Innovation Way. 2027 deadline not confirmed yet.
A pavilion for new companies entering the marine market.
Produced with Professional BoatBuilder: boatbuilding, design, systems, repair, AI, automation and 3D printing; the call for 2027 proposals is open.
A session connecting exhibitors with marine media, standing room only in 2026, per IBEX.
IBEX is the U.S. technical trade show for boatbuilding suppliers; choose it over MRAA Dealer Week when your customer builds or repairs boats rather than sells them, and over Miami when you sell to the trade. Every automotive and transportation show we build for, side by side →
02 Booths & pricing for IBEX 2027
How much is a booth at IBEX 2027 in Tampa?
IBEX sells booth space at $37 per square foot for NMMA members and $42 for non-members in 2027, with outdoor and dock space quoted separately. Standard booths carry an 8-foot fixture limit plus 2 feet for back-wall signs. Purple builds from 10×20 up, with cutaways, sample walls and engineer tables.
A sample wall of materials or hardware under the 10-foot limit, one cutaway on a plinth and a counter for engineers to trade specs.
Shown: dmi digital illustrate inc., a Purple inline booth
See 10×20 rental booths →
A working system demo, for example a control panel or pump running on a bench, with a sample wall and a two-seat table for drawings.
Shown: ANAJ Czech, a.s., a Purple inline booth
See 10×30 rental booths →
An island with an engine or propulsion package, a meeting room for OEM programs and a hanging sign rigged by the venue's exclusive provider.
Above: Pixee, a Purple island exhibit
See 20×20 rental booths →
An island with a hull section showing your system installed, a theater corner for Tech Talk follow-ups and two meeting rooms.
Pictured: Nature's Touch, a Purple island exhibit
See 20×30 rental booths →In Purple's IBEX price
- Design and a 3D rendering, revised until it is right
- The structure, printed graphics, counters and storage your IBEX plan specifies
- Lighting and power distribution inside the booth
- Installation and dismantle in Tampa, run by our project manager on the floor
- Show-service orders and deadlines for IBEX, tracked on your behalf
Billed by the show and its contractor
- Booth space (paid to the organizer)
- Material handling at the Tampa Convention Center, when the space rate does not include it
- Electrical service, internet and rigging at the Tampa Convention Center
- Booth cleaning and whatever union labor the IBEX venue requires
Rates to plan with for IBEX:
- Space (2027) $37 per sq ft NMMA members, $42 non-members, per IBEX source
- Dock space (2027) Overall length × beam × $18, 250 sq ft minimum, per IBEX source
- Drayage, Tampa About $155 per hundredweight, Purple's planning figure source
- Booth build 10×20 rental $7,500–$15,000; custom 20×20 $50,000–$120,000, Purple's 2026 planning range source
We estimate each of these on your IBEX proposal, so the total is on paper before you sign.
Each price is an all-in 2026 rental range for design, structure, graphics, installation and dismantle; we quote custom builds project by project. Want an exact number for Tampa? Use the booth cost calculator or the 2026 booth cost guide.
Send your IBEX booth size and what the space needs to do for your team. Expect a reply within one business day and, usually within a week, a rendering and a fixed proposal for IBEX. No charge.
The booth we would build for IBEX 2027
The cutaway bench for boatbuilding engineers
IBEX visitors build and repair boats, and two-thirds make or recommend purchases, per IBEX. They want to see how a part installs. So the booth is a bench with the product opened up, a hull section showing it fitted, and a table for drawings.
Cutaway bench
A waist-high bench with the component sectioned or running, lit so engineers can see inside.
Hull section
A short section of hull or deck with your system installed, showing fasteners, wiring or laminate as a builder would see it.
Sample wall
Materials, finishes or hardware within the 10-foot standard booth limit, each labeled with spec and part number.
Drawing table
A table with a large screen for CAD files and installation drawings, where your engineer and the builder's engineer can work.
The demo
Install it live: fit the part into the hull section, run the system on the bench, or lay up a laminate sample, and show the labor minutes saved per boat.
The meetings
There is no matchmaking app; the Industry Breakfast, Innovation Way and Tech Talks gather builders. Book OEM program meetings ahead and hold them at the drawing table during seminar hours.
Fewer hours on the line. More boats out the door.
At IBEX, your team walks into a lit, stocked booth. You just show up.
03 Built by Purple
IBEX booths that boatbuilders can take apart
Case study · KLEEMANN
KLEEMANN at an industrial technology exhibition
KLEEMANN's exhibit paired real product showcases with digital simulations for an engineering audience; IBEX booths speak to boatbuilders the same way, with the component on a stand and the installation shown on screen.
Read the KLEEMANN case study All case studies →“They handle everything end to end so clients can really just show up and not worry about anything. Doesn’t get any better than that.”
Tess Bockes, Exit King Realty · more reviews from Purple clients
Trusted by exhibitors including
04 Designing for engine, systems, materials, hardware and electronics suppliers to boatbuilders at IBEX
Designing an IBEX booth for engineers and yards
1Show the inside
IBEX visitors are engineers and builders who want to see how a part installs. A sectioned hull with your system in place, a cutaway pump or a laminate sample stack tells them more than any brochure; we build the stands and lighting for it.
2Respect the 10-foot line
Standard IBEX booths are limited to 8 feet of fixtures plus 2 feet for back-wall identification signs, 10 feet in all; endcaps, peninsulas and islands follow other rules. We design inlines to that line and check island heights against the display rules.
3Use the docks
IBEX expands its dockside experience for 2027 so visitors can test technology on the water. If you take dock space, we tie the slip and the hall booth together with matching graphics and a QR code to book a demo ride.
Engineers need a table
Two-thirds of IBEX visitors make or recommend purchases, per IBEX, and those conversations end with drawings. A table with a large screen and room for spec sheets is worth more than another product display.
Concept rendering
Your IBEX proposal comes with a rendering like this
Layout, graphics, lighting and product positions are all in the 3D view, revised until right, before a single panel is cut for IBEX. This one is a Purple concept for Netronix.
Start my IBEX conceptFloor at a glance
Where you could be at IBEX 2027
IBEX 2027 returns to the Tampa Convention Center. These are the parts of the venue and show that shape a booth, from IBEX and Purple's Tampa guide.
Exhibit halls
Three halls and 150,000 square feet of exhibit space for IBEX, per IBEX, on one level with concrete floors and east-side docks off Channelside Drive.
Our advice Islands and hanging signs are routine here; Encore rigged overhead in 2026.
IBEX Docks
41 dock slips, expanding in 2027 for test drives and systems running on the water.
Our advice Pair a slip with a hall booth and point visitors from one to the other.
Pavilions and Innovation Way
Composites, Electronics (sponsored by NMEA), Next-Gen Power, AI & Robotics, Sustainability, Marina & Yard and International pavilions, plus the Innovation Way showcase.
Our advice Your pavilion sets your neighbors; design the aisle face for that crowd.
05 Tampa Convention Center · Tampa
IBEX 2027 move-in, marshaling yard and Tampa Convention Center rules
Tampa's convention center belongs to the city and runs without union jurisdictions, so an exhibitor's own employees can assemble with hand tools, per Purple's Tampa guide. In 2026 IBEX named Shepard for the exhibitor kit, furniture and sign assembly, Edlen for electric and Encore as exclusive overhead rigger, sent trucks through a marshaling yard at the Florida State Fairgrounds and asked exhibitors and EACs for insurance through ExhibitorInsurance.com. The 2027 kit is not out yet. Purple ships from Fishkill, NY to the advance warehouse, files the EAC forms and checks the December move-in against Tampa street closures.
This building's hall rules, drayage estimates and freight deadlines for IBEX exhibitors are in our Tampa Convention Center exhibitor guide.
What Purple handles
- Cutaways, hull sections and sample walls for engineers
- Inlines designed to IBEX's 10-foot standard booth limit
- Matching graphics for IBEX Docks slips
- EAC forms, insurance and marshaling-yard check-in
- Freight from Fishkill to the Tampa advance warehouse
- Storage and reuse for Dealer Week and Miami
Your IBEX timeline, from move-in back
For IBEX, we need design sign-off by About 10 weeks before move-in.
- Spring 2027Booth space booked with IBEX at the 2027 per-square-foot rate; dock or outdoor space quoted separately.
- About 10 weeks before move-inDesign sign-off: cutaways, sample walls, meeting room and island heights checked against the display rules.
- 8 to 4 weeks before move-inProduction in Fishkill, NY within 30 to 45 days; hull sections and cutaways built and tested.
- About 3 weeks before move-inFreight to the advance warehouse named in the 2027 kit; electrical and rigging ordered.
- Days before December 7, 2027Move-in led by your Purple project manager with the labor the venue requires; 2027 move-in days not confirmed yet.
- December 7–9, 2027Show days; after close we crate the booth for storage or the Miami boat show in February.
Purple planning timeline. Official move-in, freight target and order deadlines for IBEX come from your exhibitor kit and assigned schedule; we confirm them against your booth when you book.
Printable IBEX budget & deadline sheetBefore you book IBEX 2027
IBEX 2027 details from the new December dates to the docks
IBEX's 2027 dates are December 7–9; some pages and the site footer still show October 7–9, 2027, so confirm the December dates with your team and freight carrier. source
NMMA membership lowers space from $42 to $37 per square foot in 2027, a $1,000 saving on a 10×20 before any other discount. source
Dock slips are priced at overall length times beam times $18 with a 250-square-foot minimum, and there are only 41, so ask for one when you book the booth. source
In 2026 every truck had to check in at the marshaling yard two hours before its target time, and freight could not be addressed to the yard; carriers need that in writing. source
Main Stage Tech Talks are free with an exhibit hall badge, and IBEX's call for 2027 speakers is open, a direct way to reach builders beyond the booth. source
Who you meet on the floor
23% of IBEX visitors, per IBEX's 2026 facts, sourcing engines, systems, materials and hardware for production.
22% of visitors are manufacturers buying components and finding partners for their own products.
12% of visitors; IBEX expands programming for refit and repair professionals in 2027.
10% of visitors come from abroad, led by Canada, Brazil, the U.K. and Japan, and IBEX runs an International Pavilion with METSTRADE.
Side by side
IBEX vs RVDA Convention/Expo vs New York International Auto Show: 2027 at a glance
| IBEX | RVDA Convention/Expo | New York International Auto Show | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | December 7–9, 2027 | November 8–12, 2027 | March 26 – April 4, 2027 |
| Where | Tampa, FL · Tampa Convention Center | Las Vegas, NV · Caesars Forum | New York, NY · Javits Center |
| Size | 7,700+ professionals at IBEX 2026 | 1,715 attendees at RVDA's 2025 convention | 700+ vehicles across 1.0 million sq ft of the Javits |
| Main buyers | Boatbuilders | RV dealer principals | Potential car buyers from the New York area |
| Booth space | Space (2027): $37 per sq ft NMMA members, $42 non-members, per IBEX | Space, 10×20 inline (2026): $7,300 associate member, $7,900 non-member, per RVDA | Price not published |
Figures carry the year and source shown on each show's own page.
Travel to IBEX 2027
Getting to IBEX 2027: airport and hotels
Fly in
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
About 15 minutes from the convention center, per Purple's Tampa guide
Travel facts from ibexshow.com.
IBEX by the numbers
IBEX year by year
How IBEX 2027 compares with other automotive and transportation shows
The automotive and transportation shows closest to IBEX on the calendar, with the latest size each organizer has published. Each show name opens our automotive and transportation exhibitor guide for that show.
| Show | Dates | City | Latest published size |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEMA ShowSpecialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) | November 2–5, 2027 | Las Vegas, NV | 2,300 exhibiting brands (2025) |
| RVDA Convention/ExpoRV Dealers Association (RVDA) | November 8–12, 2027 | Las Vegas, NV | 1,715 attendees (2025) |
| IBEXNMMA and RAI Amsterdam | December 7–9, 2027 | Tampa, FL | 7,700+ attendees · 701 exhibitors (2026) |
| PRI ShowPerformance Racing Industry (PRI) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Indianapolis, IN | – |
| LA Auto ShowLA Auto Show | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Los Angeles, CA | – |
| CoMotion LACoMotion | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Los Angeles, CA | 1,200+ attendees (2026) |
| American Towman ExpositionAmerican Towman Media (A.T. Expo Corp.) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Baltimore, MD | 260+ exhibitors (2026) |
| Pacific Marine ExpoDiversified Communications (presented by National Fisherman) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Seattle, WA | – |
| International WorkBoat ShowDiversified Communications | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | New Orleans, LA | – |
| MRAA Dealer WeekMarine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Tampa, FL | 1,400+ industry participants, 600+ dealer participants · 180 exhibitors (2025) |
IBEX exhibitor questions
IBEX 2027 exhibitor questions answered
When is IBEX 2027?
December 7 to 9, 2027, per IBEX's announcement. IBEX moved from October to December starting in 2027 to cut hurricane-season risk; some site pages still show the old October 7–9 dates.
Where is IBEX 2027?
At the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, with in-water displays at the IBEX Docks. IBEX returns there on December 5–7, 2028 and December 4–6, 2029.
How much does a booth at IBEX cost?
IBEX charges $37 per square foot for NMMA members and $42 for non-members in 2027, so a 10×20 is $7,400 or $8,400 for space. Purple's rented 10×20 with your graphics adds $7,500 to $15,000, with labor and freight separate.
How many people attend IBEX?
More than 7,700 industry professionals from over 55 countries came to IBEX 2026, with 701 exhibitors including 103 first-time exhibitors, per IBEX.
Who attends IBEX?
Boatbuilders (23%), product manufacturers (22%), boatyard, marina and repair firms (12%), industry services (11%), dealers (9%) and rep groups (7%), per IBEX's visitor facts.
Can we show a boat in the water at IBEX?
IBEX lists 41 dock slips, priced at overall length times beam times $18 with a 250-square-foot minimum, and expands its dockside experience for 2027.
What is the booth height limit at IBEX?
Standard booths are limited to 8 feet of fixtures plus 2 feet for back-wall identification signs, 10 feet in all, per IBEX's 2026 planning guide. Endcaps, peninsulas and islands follow the display rules.
What are the IBEX Innovation Awards?
Awards for new marine products from IBEX exhibitors; in 2026 there were 12 winners and three honorable mentions from 100 entries, shown on Innovation Way and announced at the Industry Breakfast.
Why did IBEX move to December?
To answer industry feedback and lower hurricane-season risk, per IBEX. December in Tampa is cooler and drier, which helps outdoor and dockside demonstrations.
Is IBEX worth it for a first-time exhibitor?
It can be: 103 of IBEX 2026's 701 exhibitors were first-timers, and IBEX runs a Start-Up Pavilion and Pitch the Press, which connects exhibitors with marine media.
What is the difference between IBEX and the Miami Boat Show?
IBEX is a trade show where builders and yards source components; the Miami International Boat Show sells boats and gear to the public. NMMA is involved in both.
Who handles freight and rigging at IBEX?
In 2026 Shepard ran the exhibitor kit and advance warehouse, Edlen supplied electric and Encore was the exclusive overhead rigger. 2027 contractors are not confirmed yet.
Before you sign for IBEX
Five things to ask every builder quoting IBEX:
- Can you build a hull section or cutaway from our CAD files for the IBEX floor?
- How will you keep our inline inside IBEX's 8-foot fixture and 10-foot sign limit?
- Will you order rigging from IBEX's exclusive overhead rigger and power from the named electrical provider?
- Will your carrier check in at the marshaling yard two hours before our target time?
- Can the booth go on to the Miami Boat Show in February with new graphics?
What IBEX exhibitors ask us
IBEX moved to December. Does that clash with our other shows? It sits right after MRAA's Dealer Week season and about two months before Miami. One booth can serve all three with graphics changes, and the December date takes IBEX out of hurricane season.
Our product is a small part. Does it need a custom booth? Not always. A 10×20 with a sample wall, a cutaway bench and a table is enough to reach builders, and it stays inside the 10-foot standard limit.
Is a dock slip worth it? If your product works on the water, yes: IBEX is expanding the docks for 2027 so buyers can test technology there. Pair it with a hall booth so builders find both.
Get a proposal
Tell us about your IBEX booth
What happens next
- We reply within one business day with questions about your products, goals and footprint.
- Usually within a week, you receive a concept rendering and a fixed IBEX proposal. Every fee on paper upfront, in full, for your IBEX booth.
- We build in 30 to 45 days, ship to the advance warehouse and have the booth installed before IBEX opens.