pharma and biotech · San Antonio
NCPA Annual Convention 2027Exhibitor guide: booth costs, dates and deadlines in San Antonio
NCPA 2027 in San Antonio: booths pharmacy owners buy from on the spot
- Event dates
- September 25–28, 2027
- Exhibit hall
- Not confirmed yet
- Venue
- San Antonio, TXVenue not confirmed yet
4.9 star rating from clients10,000+ booths built3,000+ exhibitors servedSince 2015
Quick answers
NCPA Annual Convention 2027 in 30 seconds
The short version for NCPA Annual Convention exhibitors. Each NCPA Annual Convention figure is sourced further down the page.
- When is NCPA Annual Convention 2027?
- September 25–28, 2027, at San Antonio, TX (venue not confirmed yet).
- When is the hall open at NCPA Annual Convention?
- Not confirmed yet for 2027. In 2026 the Expo Hall opened Sunday, October 4, noon to 4:30 p.m. and Monday, October 5, 9 a.m. to noon, in Halls D and E of the Kansas City Convention Center.
- What does booth space cost at NCPA Annual Convention?
- $4,700 per 10×10; $9,400 per 10×20, 2026 rate, paid to the organizer.
- What is the all-in cost of a 10×20 booth at NCPA Annual Convention?
- $7,500 – $15,000 for a Purple rental in San Antonio: design, graphics, lighting, install and dismantle. NCPA Annual Convention bills space and show services separately.
- At NCPA Annual Convention, what is the next exhibitor deadline?
- Virtual Residency and Fellowship Showcase, 7 to 9 p.m. ET: October 29, 2026.
Official NCPA Annual Convention 2027 links: NCPA Annual Convention 2027 floor planNCPA Annual Convention 2027 scheduleNCPA Annual Convention 2027 booth space
Everything about NCPA Annual Convention 2027 in one place
NCPA Annual Convention 2027 fact sheet
| Official name | NCPA 2027 Annual Convention of the National Community Pharmacists Association |
|---|---|
| Event dates | September 25–28, 2027 |
| Exhibit hall dates | Not confirmed yet In 2026 the Expo Hall opened Sunday, October 4, noon to 4:30 p.m. and Monday, October 5, 9 a.m. to noon, in Halls D and E of the Kansas City Convention Center |
| Venue | San Antonio, TX |
| Organizer | National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) |
| Who attends | Independent community pharmacy owners and managers, staff pharmacists, technicians, students and state association executives |
| Booth space | $4,700 per 10×10; $9,400 per 10×20, 2026 rate source |
| Next deadline | Virtual Residency and Fellowship Showcase, 7 to 9 p.m. ET: October 29, 2026 source |
| Nearest airport | San Antonio International Airport (SAT) |
| Hotels | Spargo ran NCPA's 2026 registration and housing portal; 2027 hotels and housing provider not confirmed yet |
| Official website | ncpa.org |
Official NCPA Annual Convention resources
NCPA Annual Convention 2027 calendar
NCPA Annual Convention 2027 dates and deadlines
These are the dates the organizer has published for NCPA Annual Convention, listed in order and linked to the pages that state them. The next one is highlighted.
- Virtual Residency and Fellowship Showcase, 7 to 9 p.m. ETResidency and fellowship programs source
- NCPA 2027 Annual Convention opens in San AntonioAttendees and exhibitors source
- NCPA 2027 Annual Convention closesAttendees and exhibitors source
- NCPA 2028 Annual Convention opens in Louisville, Kentucky (through September 19)Attendees and exhibitors source
01 Purple at NCPA Annual Convention 2027
NCPA 2027 in San Antonio: booths pharmacy owners buy from on the spot
We build NCPA booths around the owner who walks up with a margin problem and wants the fix demonstrated at your counter, in an Expo Hall that opened for only seven and a half hours in 2026. We ship to San Antonio on the general contractor's kit and finish setup before NCPA's opening-morning cutoff.
- Sept 25–28 · San Antonio
- 18,900+ pharmacies, NCPA
- Owners buy on the floor
What makes NCPA Annual Convention different, and how we build for it
NCPA's Annual Convention is the one meeting the owners of America's independent pharmacies run for themselves, and its prospectus pitches the Expo Hall to the "Main Street decision-makers" who own those stores.NCPA, founded in 1898, says it represents the owners of more than 18,900 pharmacies, and its prospectus calls them buyers who decide on the spot. The floor mixes wholesalers such as Cardinal Health, McKesson and Cencora with RedSail Technologies, PCCA and small front-store brands. In 2026 NCPA added How-To Booths, peer experts stationed across the floor answering one topic each, from DSCSA compliance to filing a MAC appeal, and the NCPA Innovation Center ran its Poster Symposium in the Exhibit Hall.
A return on investment they can judge in five minutes: what the system, service or product line adds to margin or saves in hours, a reference from a pharmacy their size, and a contract they can sign before the Expo Hall closes.
A hands-on look at the workflow tool, counting device, compounding supply or clinical service they will actually run, and a rep who knows how it fits a busy dispensing counter with three people on shift.
A clear picture of the company and its role in independent pharmacy, a reason to remember the brand when they open or buy a store, and a contact for partnerships with state associations.
Your team in San Antonio
Two shops, one project manager, every hall
Your NCPA Annual Convention booth is built in our own production shop in Fishkill, NY, or at our Las Vegas hub, shipped to San Antonio and installed by vetted local labor with our own project manager on the floor. A predictable 30–45-day turnaround, secure storage and a pre-show QA before NCPA Annual Convention.
Your staff walks onto the NCPA Annual Convention floor and the booth is already lit and stocked. You just show up.
Inside NCPA Annual Convention 2027
Rules that shape your booth
NCPA's 2026 rules set back walls at 8 feet with side rails near 33 inches; the back half of a sidewall may rise to the back wall, the front half must be at least 50 percent open. We draw side panels to that split.
In 2026 every booth had to be fully operational by 11 a.m. on the first Expo day; after that NCPA's contractor forced booths up and billed the exhibitor, and nothing could be packed before the official close. We finish install the day before.
NCPA's 2026 contract prohibits subletting or sharing any part of a booth with another business, including affiliates, subsidiaries or parents, without NCPA's written consent. We design one brand story per booth, or file the consent request for co-branded space.
NCPA's 2026 rules bar receptions, focus groups or sponsored symposia during convention programming, need written approval for every exhibitor activity, and set a July 1 deadline for meeting-space requests. We keep demos and conversations inside the booth.
Under NCPA's 2026 rules, sound and video must stay at conversational level, glaring lights can be restricted, and any surface visible from a neighbor must be finished without logos. We aim speakers inward and wrap exposed backs in plain fabric.
Programs worth planning for
Introduced in 2026 as "The Doctor Is In": peer experts at stations across the exhibit floor answer one practical topic each, such as complying with DSCSA, med sync or filing a MAC appeal.
Run by the NCPA Innovation Center in the Convention Exhibit Hall, open to pharmacists and pharmacy students with no registration fee beyond the convention badge. Dates for 2027 entries are not confirmed yet.
Community pharmacy residency and fellowship programs recruit students in the Exhibit Hall at no fee, provided their staff register for the convention; a virtual edition runs October 29, 2026.
The NCPA Annual Convention is independent pharmacy owners' own association meeting; choose it over McKesson ideaShare when you sell to owners across every wholesaler rather than only to pharmacies inside McKesson's Health Mart network. Line up NCPA Annual Convention against every pharma and biotech show we build for →
pharma and biotech at NCPA Annual Convention
The industry behind NCPA Annual Convention, in pictures
02 Booths & pricing for NCPA Annual Convention 2027
Popular booth sizes at NCPA Annual Convention
NCPA sold 10-foot-deep inline booths in 10-foot widths and islands from 20×20 to 20×40 in 2026, with Corporate Members placed first. Software, wholesale and services companies anchor islands; most suppliers run inline. We recommend a 10×20 for a single demo and a 20×20 when a wholesaler wants seated meetings.
One pharmacy management system on two screens, a counter for an owner and a technician side by side, and a lockable cabinet under the 8-foot back wall for samples and spare devices.
Shown: a Purple inline booth for Optinova
See 10×20 rental booths →
A dispensing workflow told left to right: intake and adjudication on one screen, an automation unit in the middle bay, and a standing table at the end for owners comparing contract terms.
See 10×30 rental booths →
An island priced by NCPA with its premium included, room for a counting or packaging machine on a plinth, two demo stations and a closed meeting nook for the owner-and-partner contract talk.
Shown: Pixee, a Purple island exhibit
See 20×20 rental booths →
A wholesaler or buying group floor: a reception desk, four seated tables for scheduled owner meetings, a front-store merchandising wall and a small presentation area for How-To style talks.
Above: Olon / Infa Group, a Purple large-format exhibit
See 20×30 rental booths →In Purple's NCPA Annual Convention price
- Design and a 3D rendering for NCPA Annual Convention, revised until it is right
- Structure, graphics printed for NCPA Annual Convention, counters and storage as specified
- Lighting and power distribution inside your NCPA Annual Convention booth
- Setup and teardown, with our project manager on the NCPA Annual Convention floor
- Show-service orders and deadlines for NCPA Annual Convention, tracked on your behalf
Billed by NCPA Annual Convention and its contractor
- Exhibit space (paid to National Community Pharmacists Association)
- Material handling / drayage, where the space rate does not include it
- Electrical service, internet and rigging at San Antonio
- Booth cleaning, and union labor where San Antonio requires it
Rates to plan with for NCPA Annual Convention:
- Booth space, Corporate Member $4,700 per 10×10; $9,400 per 10×20, 2026 rate source
- Booth space, non-member $6,500 per 10×10; $13,000 per 10×20, 2026 rate source
- Islands 20×20 from $19,200 (member) to $26,400, premium included, 2026 rate source
- Extra booth staff $495 per added registration, 2026 rate source
We estimate each of these on your NCPA Annual Convention 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. The booth cost calculator gives an exact number for your NCPA Annual Convention booth; the 2026 booth cost guide has the 2026 ranges.
Send your NCPA Annual Convention booth size and what the space needs to do for your team. A reply within one business day, then a NCPA Annual Convention rendering and fixed proposal, usually within a week. No charge.
Your team walks into a lit, stocked NCPA Annual Convention booth. You just show up.
03 Built by Purple
More booths we designed, built and installed
Case study · SpecialtyRx
SpecialtyRx at a healthcare trade show
Built for visibility across the whole floor: a custom island with elevated circular branding and LED tiles that stayed busy from open to close.
SpecialtyRx needed a pharmacy services booth that stayed busy all day; at NCPA, where the Expo Hall ran under eight hours in 2026, that same pull matters even more.
Read the SpecialtyRx case study All case studies →“We were very happy with the experience and with the support provided throughout the project. The booth looked great, the coordination process was smooth, and everything was handled professionally, which made the event much easier for our team.”
Miriam Valdes, Communications Manager, INdermal · read more client reviews
Trusted by exhibitors including
04 Designing for wholesalers, pharmacy software, automation, compounding and front-store suppliers to independent pharmacies at NCPA Annual Convention
Four things we get right for NCPA Annual Convention exhibitors
1Seven and a half selling hours
In 2026 NCPA opened the Expo Hall Sunday noon to 4:30 p.m. and Monday 9 a.m. to noon, with lunch and breakfast served on the floor. With so few hours, every square foot should sell: we put the demo at the aisle edge, a badge scanner at the counter and storage out of sight.
2Half-open sidewalls by rule
NCPA's 2026 rules keep back walls at 8 feet and require the front half of any inline sidewall to be at least 50 percent open, so neighbors stay visible. We taper your side panels into open frames or low shelving and finish every surface a neighbor can see, as the rules also require.
3Show the counting tray, not a slide
Owners at NCPA run their own dispensing counters, so a pharmacy system sells best when a technician can try it. We build a working counter mock-up with the scanner, label printer and counting tray at standard height, and power for automation units that ship in their own crates.
4Make room near a How-To Booth
NCPA's 2026 How-To Booths drew owners to topics such as DSCSA compliance, med sync and Medicare Part B billing. If your company sells into one of those topics, we design a clear sightline and a counter that picks up owners walking away from those conversations with a question still open.
Concept rendering
Your NCPA Annual Convention proposal comes with a rendering like this
See the NCPA Annual Convention booth in 3D first: layout, graphics, lighting and where products sit, revised until it is right and before any panel is cut. Pictured: a Purple concept for Olon.
Start my NCPA Annual Convention concept05 San Antonio, TX
Logistics for NCPA Annual Convention 2027, handled
NCPA names its general service contractor in the exhibitor kit, which in 2026 was Levy Exposition Services, emailed at least 60 days before the show so exhibitors could order at discount rates; we place those orders for you the day it lands. NCPA's 2026 move-in ran three days and closed at 11 a.m. on opening day, after which the contractor forced unfinished booths up at the exhibitor's expense, so we schedule our install to finish the day before. Dismantling waits for the official close. Once NCPA names the San Antonio building, we send crates to that contractor's warehouse, and our project manager leads the San Antonio build alongside vetted local labor.
What Purple handles
- Booth design to NCPA's 8-foot back wall and half-open sidewall rules
- General contractor orders placed on the discount deadline
- Freight to the advance warehouse and booth set before opening-morning cutoff
- Working pharmacy counter mock-ups with power for demo equipment
- Our project manager on the San Antonio floor from first crate to last
- Storage and refresh between NCPA and your next pharmacy show
NCPA Annual Convention timeline, counted back from move-in
We need your NCPA Annual Convention design signed off by mid-July 2027.
- Late 2026 to spring 2027Booth application to NCPA with full payment; booth numbers are assigned after payment, and we send a footprint plan with your location choices.
- Mid-July 2027Design sign-off, graphics and product list locked; sidewall openness and 8-foot back wall checked against NCPA's rules.
- Late July to August 2027Production in Fishkill, NY over 30 to 45 days; counters, demo stations and lighting built and tested.
- About 60 days before the showGeneral contractor kit arrives; we order electrical, carpet, internet and material handling at the discount rate.
- About 3 weeks before move-inCrates ship to the contractor's advance warehouse in San Antonio, labelled with your booth number.
- September 25–28, 2027NCPA 2027 Annual Convention; Expo Hall days not confirmed yet. We dismantle after the official close and ship to storage or your next show.
Purple's planning timeline for NCPA Annual Convention. The official NCPA Annual Convention move-in, freight target and order dates come from your exhibitor kit and assigned schedule; when you book, we confirm them against your booth.
Print the NCPA Annual Convention budget & deadline sheetTravel to NCPA Annual Convention 2027
Getting to NCPA Annual Convention 2027: airport and hotels
Fly in
San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
Stay
Spargo ran NCPA's 2026 registration and housing portal; 2027 hotels and housing provider not confirmed yet
Travel facts from ncpa.org.
NCPA Annual Convention by the numbers
NCPA Annual Convention year by year
How NCPA Annual Convention 2027 compares with other pharma and biotech shows
The pharma and biotech shows closest to NCPA Annual Convention on the calendar, with the latest size each organizer has published. Each show name opens our pharma and biotech exhibitor guide for that show.
| Show | Dates | City | Latest published size |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS FallAmerican Chemical Society (ACS) | August 22–26, 2027 | San Diego, CA | 182 listed exhibitors (2026) |
| RAPS ConvergenceRegulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) | September 19–21, 2027 | Minneapolis, MN | 1,500+ global delegates attendees (2025) |
| BioProcess InternationalInforma Connect Life Sciences | September 20–23, 2027 | Boston, MA | 3,000+ attendees · 250+ exhibitors (2026) |
| NCPA Annual ConventionNational Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) | September 25–28, 2027 | San Antonio, TX | 3,000+ attendees projected by NCPA for 2026 |
| ISPE Annual Meeting & ExpoInternational Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) | October 10–13, 2027 | Chula Vista, CA | 300+ exhibitors (2026) |
| AMCP NexusAcademy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) | October 18–21, 2027 | Orlando, FL | 2,647 attendees · 48 exhibitors (2025) |
| SfN NeuroscienceSociety for Neuroscience (SfN) | October 23–27, 2027 | Chicago, IL | 21,093 attendees · 435 exhibitors (2025) |
| ASHG Annual MeetingAmerican Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) | October 26–30, 2027 | Nashville, TN | 7,554 attendees (2025) |
| SITC Annual MeetingSociety for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) | November 3–7, 2027 | National Harbor, MD | 45% of SITC 2025 attendees |
| AAPS PharmSci 360American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) | November 14–17, 2027 | Anaheim, CA | – |
NCPA Annual Convention exhibitor questions
Questions exhibitors ask us before NCPA Annual Convention
How much does a booth at the NCPA Convention 2027 cost?
Plan two budgets. NCPA charged Corporate Members $9,400 and non-members $13,000 for a 10×20 in 2026. The structure from us runs $7,500 to $15,000 as a 10×20 rental, while a 20×20 custom island for a wholesaler or software firm runs $50,000 to $120,000. Demo equipment, power and meeting space move the number most.
When should we commit to the NCPA 2027 Expo Hall?
NCPA assigns booth numbers only after full payment, and Corporate Members get preferred location, so earlier money buys a better aisle. The 2027 prospectus and its deadlines are not confirmed yet. In 2026 cancellations were refunded less $500 until July 15. We need design sign-off by mid-July 2027.
Can we rent a booth for NCPA, and what comes with it?
A rental from us brings the frame, printed fabric, counters cut for a pharmacy demo, LED lighting and storage on one fixed proposal, with freight, install and dismantle. NCPA's own space fee covers just pipe-and-drape, meaning an 8-foot backdrop with low side rails, plus an ID sign, so the rental replaces the drape entirely.
Can our team set up its own booth at NCPA?
NCPA lets service companies other than its official contractors work the floor if they check in at the Exhibitor Service Center with work orders and receive service badges. Labor rules then follow the San Antonio building, which is not confirmed yet. Whoever builds, the 2026 rules required booths fully set by 11 a.m. on the first Expo day.
Can we hold a customer reception during the NCPA Convention?
Only with NCPA's written approval. Its 2026 rules barred receptions, focus groups or sponsored symposia that conflict with official programming, and exhibitor or affiliate groups had to request meeting space in writing by July 1. Marketing outside the Exhibit Hall also needs written consent, so we plan the booth to carry the full message.
What does drayage cost at NCPA, and who pays it?
You do, through the general contractor's material handling form, at rates printed in the exhibitor kit NCPA's contractor sends at least 60 days out. San Antonio's 2027 rates are not confirmed yet. We weigh every crate before it ships, list the drayage estimate on your proposal and consolidate freight to keep the hundredweight count down.
Can we reuse our NCPA booth at other pharmacy shows?
We design it to travel. The same counters and back wall can go to the APhA Annual Meeting, McKesson ideaShare or NACDS Total Store Expo with new graphics, and we store the kit between shows. A 10×20 inline also converts to a 20×20 island with added frames when you move up.
Do you handle Levy Exposition Services orders for NCPA?
Levy Exposition Services was NCPA's general service contractor in 2026; the 2027 contractor is not confirmed yet. Whoever NCPA names, we file the electrical, carpet, internet, labor and material handling forms from its kit, catch the discount deadline, and send you copies of each order so nothing is billed twice.
We already own a booth. Can you bring it to San Antonio?
Send us the crates or the drawings. We inspect the structure, reprint graphics for an independent pharmacy audience, repair what is worn, open up sidewalls that break NCPA's 50 percent rule, and then ship, install and dismantle it in San Antonio with our project manager on the floor.
When is the NCPA Annual Convention 2027?
NCPA lists its 2027 Annual Convention for September 25–28, 2027 in San Antonio, Texas. NCPA has not posted Expo Hall days for San Antonio, so they are not confirmed yet; the 2026 floor opened on day two and day three of the meeting. NCPA has also published Louisville for September 16–19, 2028.
Where is the NCPA Annual Convention 2027 held?
In San Antonio, Texas. The building is not confirmed yet: NCPA's convention page lists only the city and dates. The 2026 convention was at the Kansas City Convention Center, with exhibits in Halls D and E, and the 2025 convention was in New Orleans.
How many people attend the NCPA Annual Convention?
NCPA projected 3,000+ attendees for its 2026 Kansas City convention, based on previous years: about 1,000 pharmacy owners and managers plus 2,000 staff pharmacists, team members, students, academics and state association executives. Its prospectus reports that 90 percent of attendees found products or services that helped their business.
Is the NCPA Annual Convention open to the public?
The convention is closed to the public: a badge is required for every NCPA and affiliate event and for the NCPA Expo Hall. Registration is aimed at community pharmacists, technicians and their teams, and one-day badges are sold only to pharmacists. Exhibitors receive badges with their booth space.
How do we get a booth at the NCPA Annual Convention?
Send the Exhibitor Application and Contract to exhibits@ncpa.org; NCPA replies with a payment link and assigns the booth once paid in full. In 2026 Corporate Members received three badges per 10×10 and non-members two, with extra staff at $495 each, and Corporate Members were placed first on the floor.
Before you sign for NCPA Annual Convention
Five things to ask every builder quoting NCPA Annual Convention:
- Are all fees on paper, including what the contractor at San Antonio bills?
- Does your own shop build the booth, or do you subcontract it?
- Will your project manager be on the floor at San Antonio for install and dismantle?
- For NCPA Annual Convention, what is in the rental and what is billed by the show?
- Where does the booth go after NCPA Annual Convention, and what does storage cost?
Common situations
Already own a booth? Bring it: we refresh the graphics, repair what is worn, ship it, install it at NCPA Annual Convention and store it until the next show. You keep the structure you paid for and bring it to NCPA Annual Convention.
Exhibiting from outside the US? We are your team on the ground: freight to the advance warehouse, show-service orders, installation and storage, with one project manager answering your emails in your time zone.
Short on time? A NCPA Annual Convention rental carrying your graphics can be ready in two to three weeks. We tell you on the first call what is realistic before NCPA Annual Convention.
Get a proposal
Tell us about your NCPA Annual Convention booth
What happens next
- We reply within one business day with questions about your products, goals and NCPA Annual Convention footprint.
- Usually within a week, you receive a concept rendering and a fixed NCPA Annual Convention proposal. All fees listed upfront, in full, on paper, before NCPA Annual Convention.
- The build takes 30–45 days; we ship to the advance warehouse and install before the hall opens at San Antonio.