building materials · Louisville
METALCON 2027Louisville exhibitor guide: booth costs, dates and deadlines
Seams, screws and steel up close: METALCON 2027 booths in Louisville
- Event dates
- October 26–28, 2027
- Exhibit hall
- October 26–28, 2027 (Tue and Wed 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thu 9 a.m.–1 p.m.)
- Venue
- Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville
4.9 client ratingSince 201510,000+ booths built3,000+ exhibitors
Quick answers
METALCON 2027 in 30 seconds
The short version for METALCON exhibitors. Sources for each METALCON figure are further down the page.
- When is METALCON 2027?
- October 26–28, 2027, at Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville.
- When is the METALCON exhibit hall open?
- October 26–28, 2027, Tue and Wed 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thu 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
- How big is METALCON?
- 259 companies (2026 edition).
- What does METALCON booth space cost?
- $46.50 regular / $41.50 MCA member, 100–499 sq ft; $42.25 / $37.35 at 1,000+ sq ft (2027 rates), paid to the organizer.
- What is the all-in cost of a 10×20 booth at METALCON?
- $7,500 – $15,000 for a Purple rental at METALCON with design, graphics, lighting, install and dismantle. Space and show services are billed separately by METALCON.
Official METALCON 2027 links: METALCON 2027 floor planMETALCON 2027 exhibitor listMETALCON 2027 hotelsMETALCON 2027 scheduleMETALCON 2027 booth space
Everything about METALCON 2027 in one place
METALCON 2027 fact sheet
| Official name | METALCON 2027, the international metal construction show |
|---|---|
| Event dates | October 26–28, 2027 |
| Exhibit hall dates | October 26–28, 2027 (Tue and Wed 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thu 9 a.m.–1 p.m.) source |
| Venue | Kentucky International Convention Center 221 S. 4th Street, Louisville, KY 40202 |
| Organizer | PSMJ Resources, Inc., with the Metal Construction Association |
| Size (2026) | 259 companies source |
| Who attends | Metal construction contractors and installers, architects, specifiers and engineers, fabricators, manufacturers, owners and developers; no one under 18 on the expo floor |
| Booth space | $46.50 regular / $41.50 MCA member, 100–499 sq ft; $42.25 / $37.35 at 1,000+ sq ft (2027 rates) source |
| Nearest airport | Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) About 15 minutes from downtown, per Purple's KICC venue guide |
| Hotels | MCI, METALCON's only official hotel partner; the 2027 block opens in 2027 Official hotel page → |
| Official website | metalcon.com |
Official METALCON resources
METALCON 2027 calendar
METALCON 2027 show dates
METALCON 2027 show days, each with a link to the page that states it.
01 Purple at METALCON 2027
Seams, screws and steel up close: METALCON 2027 booths in Louisville
We build METALCON booths where a contractor can run a hand along a standing seam, check a fastener and watch a panel come off the roll former. At the Kentucky International Convention Center, Kentucky's right-to-work rules let your own staff help assemble.
- Oct 26–28 · Louisville KICC
- 275+ exhibitors due, 2027
- Corners +$300 (2027)
What makes METALCON different, and how we build for it
METALCON is the one annual show built only around metal in design and construction, run by PSMJ Resources with the Metal Construction Association since 1991.The floor mixes panel and coil makers with roll-forming machinery, fasteners and tools, and the teaching happens right there: the METALCON Training Zone works on painted steel, aluminum, zinc and copper mock-ups in English and Spanish, the MCA and Metal Roofing Alliance run Metal Mastery Clinics, and architects collect AIA credit in the Design District. Exhibitors can nominate one product for the Top Product Awards, decided by attendee vote. After Orlando in 2026, the show moves to Louisville for 2027.
Installers come to compare panel profiles, clips, sealants and trims they will actually put on a roof, so they want full-size samples, seam details and a rep who can talk install time and warranty.
Design District attendees earn AIA Learning Units on the same trip, then walk the floor for finishes, color charts, fire and wind ratings and details they can drop into a specification.
Shops that roll-form their own panel or build steel structures shop for machinery, coil, coatings and software, and judge a machine by watching it run and asking about throughput and changeover.
Your team in Louisville
From our two shops to the METALCON floor
We build in our own production shop in Fishkill, NY, and our Las Vegas hub, ship to the Kentucky International Convention Center, and install with our own project manager on the floor and vetted local labor. Every METALCON build runs a predictable 30 to 45 days and gets a pre-show QA, with secure storage after.
At METALCON, your team walks into a booth that is lit and stocked. You just show up.
New at METALCON 2027
- Kentucky International Convention Center, late October
METALCON 2027 runs October 26 to 28 at the Kentucky International Convention Center, 221 S. 4th Street in downtown Louisville, almost three weeks later in the month than the October 7 to 9 show in Orlando in 2026. Roll formers and coil lines ship to a new building, so rigging and floor-load questions go to the Louisville venue early. source
Inside METALCON 2027
Rules that shape your METALCON booth
METALCON permits no one under 18 in the expo hall or at METALCON events. We keep demos, giveaways and staffing plans adult-only, and list every booth worker's badge category early so nobody is turned away at the door.
METALCON's 2027 booth-sales page adds $300 for every corner on top of the square-foot rate. When you pay for a corner or island, we open those sides with low panel samples and keep the back wall for full-height product.
The 2027 rates carry a Metal Construction Association member discount in every size band, about $5 under the regular rate. We price your proposal at the rate you qualify for and note the saving if you join before signing.
MCI is METALCON's only official hotel partner, and the organizer warns that room offers from other sources have been reported as scams. We book crew rooms only through the MCI block once it opens in 2027.
Programs worth planning for
Hands-on installation training on painted steel, aluminum, zinc and copper mock-ups, taught in English and Spanish; in 2026 it was sponsored by Sherwin-Williams | MetalVue and led by Sheridan Metal Resources.
Clinics presented by the Metal Construction Association and Metal Roofing Alliance on standing seam panels, metal shingles and retrofit systems, a draw for the installers who then walk the floor.
Each exhibitor may nominate one recently introduced product in one of 15 categories; attendees vote online and in the app, and nominees get booth recognition. The 2025 deadline was August 8; 2027 dates are not confirmed yet.
Education for architects, specifiers, designers and engineers, who can earn up to a year's worth of AIA Learning Units, including HSW credits, and visit a dedicated package of sessions.
METALCON is the only national show devoted to metal in construction; pick it ahead of the International Roofing Expo if your buyers install metal roofs, wall panels or steel framing rather than every roofing type. Compare every building materials show we build for →
Who exhibits at METALCON 2027
Companies on the METALCON 2027 exhibitor list. See the full list
- ATAS International, Inc.
- AZZ Precoat Metals
- Sherwin-Williams
- United States Steel
- Steel Dynamics
- McElroy Metal, Inc.
- Englert, Inc.
- S-5!
- New Tech Machinery
- Bradbury Group, The
- Red Bud Industries
- TRUMPF Inc.
- Roper Whitney - Tennsmith
- The Malco Group
- Atlas Bolt & Screw
- ST Fastening Systems
- Sno-Gem, inc.
- FRAMECAD
- Metal Construction Association - MCA
- Trimble Inc.
building materials at METALCON
The industry behind METALCON, in pictures
02 Booths & pricing for METALCON 2027
Popular booth sizes at METALCON
METALCON sells space in square-foot bands from 100 sq ft up, with lower 2027 rates above 500 and 1,000 sq ft and a $300 fee per corner. Panel and coating brands often take inline runs with sample walls; machinery and building-system exhibitors take islands. We recommend a 10×20 or larger so a full-height panel mock-up fits.
A sample wall of standing seam, exposed-fastener and wall panel profiles at full height, a color chip rail and a counter where a contractor can open a takeoff on the tablet.
Shown: Marling Leek, a Purple inline booth
See 10×20 rental booths →
Room for a roof mock-up on one end with clips, underlayment and snow guards exposed, panels in the middle and a quiet table for distributor pricing talks.
Shown: Meghna Colour Chem, a Purple inline booth
See 10×30 rental booths →
An island for a portable roll former or seamer running on a reinforced platform, with panel racks on two sides and space for a crowd to stand and watch the run.
Shown: a Purple island exhibit for Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry
See 20×20 rental booths →
A framing or building-system brand's island: a steel frame bay or wall section built in the booth, a demo zone and a meeting area for builders and dealers.
Shown: Timberline, a Purple island exhibit
See 20×30 rental booths →In Purple's METALCON price
- A 3D rendering of your METALCON booth, revised until you approve it
- Structure, graphics printed for METALCON, counters and storage as specified
- Lighting plus power distribution within the booth at METALCON
- Our project manager on the floor for installation and dismantle
- We track each show-service order and deadline for you
What METALCON and its contractor bill
- Exhibit space (paid to PSMJ Resources)
- Material handling (drayage) at the Kentucky International Convention Center, where the space rate does not include it
- Electrical, internet and rigging orders for METALCON
- Booth cleaning, and union labor where the Kentucky International Convention Center requires it
Rates to plan with for METALCON:
- Booth space $46.50 regular / $41.50 MCA member, 100–499 sq ft; $42.25 / $37.35 at 1,000+ sq ft (2027 rates) source
- Corner fee $300 per corner, 2027 source
- Drayage About $130 per cwt, 200 lb minimum (Purple's KICC planning figure, 2026–2027)
We estimate each of these on your METALCON proposal, so the total is on paper before you sign.
The prices above are all-in 2026 rental ranges covering design, structure, graphics, installation and dismantle; custom builds for METALCON are quoted per project. For an exact METALCON figure, try the booth cost calculator; the 2026 booth cost guide has the ranges.
Send us your booth size for METALCON and what the space needs to do. A reply within one business day, then a METALCON rendering and fixed proposal, usually within a week. No charge.
In Louisville, your team walks into a booth that is already lit and stocked. You just show up.
03 Built by Purple
Booths to look at before you plan METALCON
Case study · KLEEMANN
KLEEMANN at an industrial technology exhibition
Digital simulations, real product showcases and a floor plan that guided visitors from first step to last, in an interactive booth for a global elevator manufacturer.
KLEEMANN needed real product and working simulations to explain heavy engineered systems; METALCON exhibitors face the same job with panels, frames and roll formers.
Read the KLEEMANN case study All case studies →“If you’re looking for a trade show booth expert who shows up and gets the job done right, Purple Exhibits is the real deal.”
Magdalena Kulisz, Service Manager, Miss Immigrant USA · client reviews
Trusted by exhibitors including
04 Designing for metal roofing, wall panel, framing, coil coating, roll-forming and fastener brands at METALCON
Four things we get right for METALCON exhibitors
1Let the panel be the wall
METALCON buyers want to see how a seam locks and how a trim folds, not a photo of it. We build back walls from real roof and wall panels on a steel frame, lit from above at a raking angle so the ribs, striations and finishes read from the aisle.
2Plan demos around the 9 a.m. keynotes
Keynotes fill 9 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and the floor opens at 10, while Thursday's floor closes at 1 p.m. We schedule roll-former runs and seaming demos for the first hour after doors open and the early afternoon, when the aisles are fullest.
3Talk to the Training Zone crowd
The METALCON Training Zone teaches installers on painted steel, aluminum, zinc and copper mock-ups in English and Spanish. Many of those crews walk the floor next, so we print key specs and install steps in both languages on the counter graphics.
4Show your Top Product nominee
All Top Product Award nominees get booth recognition on the show floor, and attendees vote electronically. We give the nominated product its own lit plinth near the aisle with the category name and a QR code to the voting page, so voters find it fast.
Concept rendering
Your METALCON proposal comes with a rendering like this
You see your METALCON booth in 3D before we cut a single panel: layout, graphics, lighting and product positions, revised until it is right. This one is a Purple concept for Fabuwood.
Start my METALCON conceptFloor at a glance
Where you could be at METALCON 2027
METALCON's 2027 floor plan is posted on Map Your Show; these are the spaces of the Kentucky International Convention Center as rebuilt in 2018, not a claim about where each area sits.
Class A exhibit hall
200,125 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space, up from 146,000 before the two-year rebuild of the west end, per Purple's KICC venue guide.
Our advice One contiguous floor means machinery and panel racks can roll in on pallets; we still confirm the dock route and floor load for heavy roll formers.
Ballroom and meeting rooms
A 40,000 sq ft column-free ballroom and 52 meeting rooms from the 2018 renovation, used for general sessions and breakouts.
Our advice Keynotes pull the crowd off the floor at 9 a.m.; booths near the hall entrance catch them first when doors open at 10.
05 Kentucky International Convention Center · Louisville
Logistics for METALCON 2027, handled
METALCON 2027 fills the Kentucky International Convention Center at 221 S. 4th Street, rebuilt in 2018 with 200,125 square feet of contiguous Class A exhibit space. Kentucky has been right-to-work since January 2017, and the KICC lets registered exhibitors set up and tear down their own booths under its safety policies, subject to the show's own contractor terms. Freight handling is still billed per hundredweight; Purple's planning figure for KICC is about $130 per cwt with a 200-pound minimum. We ship panels and machinery crated to the advance warehouse, file the service orders and send our project manager to run the build with vetted local labor.
For hall rules, drayage estimates and freight deadlines in this building, see our Kentucky International Convention Center exhibitor guide.
What Purple handles
- Real panel walls on steel frames, lit to show seams and finishes
- Reinforced platforms and power for roll formers and seamers
- Bilingual English and Spanish counter graphics
- A spotlight plinth for your Top Product Award nominee
- Freight, service orders and KICC labor planning
- Storage and reuse for IBS, IRE and regional roofing shows
METALCON timeline, counted back from move-in
For METALCON, we need design sign-off by mid-August 2027.
- Now to early 2027Reserve space through METALCON's 2027 booth-sales page; returning exhibitors use the emailed booking code, new exhibitors apply online.
- Early 2027The 2027 Exhibitor Opportunity Guide is published; we plan sponsorships, the Top Product nomination and demo times with you.
- Mid-August 2027Design sign-off, about 10 weeks before move-in: panel samples, machine footprints, power and graphics approved.
- Late August to late September 2027Production in Fishkill, NY over 30 to 45 days, with panel walls and machine platforms built and test-fitted.
- Early October 2027Crates and machinery ship to the advance warehouse; service orders and labor filed from the exhibitor kit.
- October 26–28, 2027Show floor open; our project manager runs install before opening and dismantle after the 1 p.m. close on Thursday.
Purple's planning timeline for METALCON. Official move-in, freight target and order deadlines for METALCON come from your exhibitor kit and assigned schedule; we confirm them against your booth when you book.
Print the METALCON budget & deadline sheetTravel to METALCON 2027
Getting to METALCON 2027: airport and hotels
Fly in
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
About 15 minutes from downtown, per Purple's KICC venue guide
Stay
MCI, METALCON's only official hotel partner; the 2027 block opens in 2027
Find the venue
Kentucky International Convention Center
221 S. 4th Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Travel facts from metalcon.com.
METALCON by the numbers
METALCON year by year
How METALCON 2027 compares with other building materials shows
The building materials shows closest to METALCON on the calendar, with the latest size each organizer has published. Each name other than METALCON opens our exhibitor guide for that show.
| Show | Dates | City | Latest published size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunbelt Builders ShowTexas Association of Builders (TAB) | August 30–September 2, 2027 | Houston, TX | 200+ exhibitors (2026) |
| ASLA + IFLA World ConferenceAmerican Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) | September 21–24, 2027 | Chicago, IL | 6,300+ attendees · 340 exhibitors (2026) |
| IFMA World WorkplaceInternational Facility Management Association (IFMA) | October 13–15, 2027 | Kansas City, MO | 350+ exhibitors (2025) |
| GreenbuildInforma Connect | October 19–22, 2027 | Chicago, IL | 250+ exhibitors (2026) |
| GlassBuild AmericaNational Glass Association (NGA) | October 26–28, 2027 | Orlando, FL | Nearly 9,200 registrants attendees · 535 exhibitors (2026) |
| METALCONPSMJ Resources | October 26–28, 2027 | Louisville, KY | 259 companies (2026) |
| EDspacesEDmarket (Education Market Association) | October 27–29, 2027 | New Orleans, LA | – |
| SURFEXStone Equipment & Supply Association (SESA) | November 3–5, 2027 | Indianapolis, IN | 100+ listed exhibitors (2027) |
| HCD Conference + ExpoEmerald (Emerald X | November 7–10, 2027 | Savannah, GA | 250+ exhibitors (2026) |
| STAFDA Annual Convention & Trade ShowSpecialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) | November 14–16, 2027 | Orlando, FL | – |
METALCON exhibitor questions
Questions exhibitors ask us before METALCON
When is METALCON 2027?
METALCON 2027 runs Tuesday, October 26 to Thursday, October 28, 2027. Doors open at 10 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and close at 5 p.m.; Thursday runs 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Keynotes start at 9 a.m. on the first two mornings, before the floor opens.
Where is METALCON 2027 held?
At the Kentucky International Convention Center, 221 S. 4th Street in downtown Louisville. The 2026 show was at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando and 2025 was in Las Vegas, so 2027 is a move to a central, drive-in market for Midwest and Southern contractors.
How much does a booth at METALCON 2027 cost?
METALCON's 2027 booth-sales page prices space in bands: $46.50 regular and $41.50 for MCA members from 100 to 499 sq ft, falling to $42.25 and $37.35 at 1,000 sq ft and up, plus $300 per corner. Our 10×20 rental adds $7,500 to $15,000; a running machine and panel walls move the build cost most.
How many people attend METALCON?
METALCON draws 4,500+ professionals, per the organizer, and it expects 275+ exhibitors in Louisville in 2027. The 2026 Orlando show listed 259 exhibiting companies across 670 booths in its press kit, and METALCON says 58% of attendees buy or plan to buy within 12 months.
Who organizes METALCON?
METALCON is produced by PSMJ Resources, Inc., with the Metal Construction Association, a group of manufacturers and suppliers, as sponsor. It has run every year since 1991, and ten Legacy companies, including ATAS International, Englert, McElroy Metal and PPG, have exhibited at every edition.
Can we run a roll former or seamer in our METALCON booth?
METALCON describes itself as the place to demo, showcase and sell metal products, and roll-forming machinery is part of the floor. Running-equipment rules sit in the exhibitor kit, which is not confirmed yet for 2027; we design the platform, guarding, power and noise plan to it as soon as it is released.
Can we set up our own booth at the Kentucky International Convention Center?
Kentucky became a right-to-work state in January 2017, and the KICC allows registered exhibitors to set up and tear down their own booths within its safety policies. The show contractor can add terms in the exhibitor manual. We send a project manager and vetted local labor so your team only has to unpack product.
What does drayage cost at METALCON?
The 2027 material handling tariff is not confirmed yet. Purple plans KICC handling near $130 per hundredweight, minimum 200 pounds. Panels and machines are heavy, so we combine crates into a single shipment to pay one minimum and put the estimate on your proposal.
What are the METALCON Top Product Awards?
The Top Product Awards are an exhibitor-only award where each company nominates one metal product introduced in the past couple of years, in categories such as roofs, walls, structures, coatings and rollforming equipment. Attendees vote online and in the show app, and every nominee gets booth recognition; 2027 entry dates are not confirmed yet.
Who can attend METALCON?
METALCON is a trade event for contractors and installers, architects and specifiers, emerging professionals, owners and developers, fabricators and manufacturers. Full-time students attend free with a .edu address, and no one under 18 is permitted in the expo hall or at METALCON events, so family badges are out.
Where should our team stay for METALCON 2027?
MCI is METALCON's only official hotel partner, and the 2027 room block opens in 2027. The organizer warns that discounted room offers from other sources have been reported as scams. Purple's venue notes put the Galt House, Louisville's largest hotel, a short walk from the KICC.
When should we decide on a METALCON 2027 booth?
Book space now if you want a corner or an island near the education areas; METALCON sells 2027 space today and returning exhibitors already have booking codes. Custom builds need your approval of the design by mid-August 2027, roughly ten weeks ahead of move-in.
Is METALCON worth exhibiting at?
METALCON is worth it for anyone selling into metal roofing, wall panels or steel framing, because it is the only national show devoted to that buyer. The organizer reports that 77% of exhibitors see positive ROI, and the Training Zone, clinics and Design District keep installers and specifiers on site for three days.
Can we reuse a METALCON booth at other shows?
A panel wall and demo platform built for Louisville travels well to the International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas, IBS and the regional roofing expos. We store the kit between shows, swap the graphics for each audience and refit it to the next floor plan.
Before you sign for METALCON
Five things to ask every builder quoting METALCON:
- Is every fee on the proposal, including what the METALCON show contractor bills?
- Who actually builds it for METALCON: your shop or a subcontractor?
- Who from your team is on the METALCON floor for install and dismantle?
- What exactly is in the rental, and what does METALCON bill?
- Where is the booth stored after the show, and at what cost?
Common situations
Already own a booth? Your existing booth gets refreshed graphics and repairs, then we ship it to Louisville, install it and store it between shows. You keep the structure you paid for and bring it to METALCON.
Exhibiting from outside the US? We are your team on the ground at the Kentucky International Convention Center: freight to the advance warehouse, show-service orders, installation and storage, with one project manager on your emails in your time zone.
Short on time? A rental with your graphics can be ready for METALCON in two to three weeks. On the first call, we tell you what is realistic for METALCON.
Get a proposal
Tell us about your METALCON booth
What happens next
- Within one business day we write back to ask about your products, your goals for METALCON and your footprint.
- Your METALCON concept rendering and fixed proposal usually arrive within a week. Every fee on paper upfront, in full, for your METALCON booth.
- We build in 30–45 days, ship to the METALCON advance warehouse and install before the hall opens.