concrete, roads and underground · New Orleans
RETC 2027New Orleans booth costs, dates and deadlines: exhibitor guide
Under the river city: RETC 2027 booths in New Orleans
- Event dates
- June 27–30, 2027
- Exhibit hall
- June 28–30, 2027 (Mon 5–7 p.m.; Tue 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4–7 p.m.; Wed 9 a.m.–noon)
- Venue
- New Orleans, LAVenue not confirmed yet
4.9 star client rating3,000+ exhibitors10,000+ booths builtSince 2015
Quick answers
RETC 2027 in 30 seconds
RETC, the Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference, is the biennial North American tunneling conference run by SME's Underground Construction Association. RETC 2027 takes place June 27–30, 2027 in New Orleans at a venue RETC has not named; it is not confirmed yet. The 2025 edition met at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. RETC expects more than 1,300 attendees and sells 215 booths on over 30,000 square feet, every one an 8×10 at $3,650 with four registrations. Exhibitors include tunnel boring machine makers and lining, grouting and ground support suppliers. Purple builds backwalls, counters and sample displays for the 8×10 format.
- When is RETC 2027?
- June 27–30, 2027, at New Orleans, LA (venue not confirmed yet).
- When does the RETC exhibit hall open?
- June 28–30, 2027, Mon 5–7 p.m.; Tue 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4–7 p.m.; Wed 9 a.m.–noon.
- How big is RETC?
- 215 booths of 8×10 on over 30,000 sq ft; 1,300+ attendees expected (2027 edition).
- What is the all-in cost of a 10×20 booth at RETC?
- $7,500 – $15,000, all-in, for a Purple rental with design, graphics, lighting, install and dismantle. Space and show services are billed separately by RETC.
- At RETC, what is the next exhibitor deadline?
- Final manuscripts due from accepted RETC authors: December 15, 2026.
Official RETC 2027 links: RETC 2027 floor planRETC 2027 hotelsRETC 2027 scheduleRETC 2027 booth space
Underground & infrastructure · New Orleans · 2027
8×10
the only booth size on the RETC 2027 floor, all 215 of them source
The lookNew Orleans 2027
Headlamps on, rings closing.
RETC brings the tunneling industry to New Orleans June 27–30, 2027, with 215 booths of 8×10 and more than 1,300 attendees expected.
Everything about RETC 2027 in one place
RETC 2027 fact sheet
| Official name | RETC 2027: Rapid Excavation & Tunneling Conference |
|---|---|
| Event dates | June 27–30, 2027 |
| Exhibit hall dates | June 28–30, 2027 (Mon 5–7 p.m.; Tue 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4–7 p.m.; Wed 9 a.m.–noon) source |
| Venue | New Orleans, LA |
| Organizer | SME (Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration) and its Underground Construction Association |
| Size (2027) | 215 booths of 8×10 on over 30,000 sq ft; 1,300+ attendees expected source |
| Who attends | More than 1,300 qualified tunneling and underground construction professionals expected |
| Next deadline | Final manuscripts due from accepted RETC authors: December 15, 2026 source |
| Nearest airport | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) |
| Hotels | 2027 hotel block not confirmed yet; RETC books housing only through its own link and warns against outside housing callers Official hotel page → |
| Official website | retc.org |
Official RETC resources
RETC 2027 calendar
RETC 2027 dates and deadlines
These are the dates the organizer has published for RETC, listed in order and linked to the pages that state them. The next one is highlighted.
01 Purple at RETC 2027
Under the river city: RETC 2027 booths in New Orleans
Every two years the North American tunneling industry gathers at the Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference, and the exhibit hall is a grid of 8×10 booths shared by machine makers and lining suppliers. We make that small footprint read like a tunnel face.
- Jun 27–30, 2027 · New Orleans
- 215 booths, all 8×10
- Held every two years
What makes RETC different, and how we build for it
The Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference is SME's biennial program for the tunneling profession, run by its Underground Construction Association, and RETC calls it the nation's leading tunnel conference.The 2027 edition comes to New Orleans June 27–30 after RETC 2025 at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, where 21 technical sessions ran. The exhibit hall sells a single format, the 8×10 booth, and Map Your Show runs the floor plan, ShowGuide and Exhibitor Resource Center. The hall opens with a Monday evening reception and hosts lunch and a reception on Tuesday.
Project managers and superintendents who choose tunnel boring machines, ground support, grouting and muck handling for live bids.
Consulting engineers who specify linings, segments, waterproofing and instrumentation for transit, water and sewer tunnels.
Transit, water and wastewater owners planning underground programs and meeting the firms who will build them.
Engineers and suppliers from abroad that RETC describes as part of its international audience.
Your team in New Orleans
How Purple runs RETC 2027 in New Orleans
We fabricate the tunnel-face wall, the counter and the sample plinths at the Fishkill, NY or Las Vegas shop and pack them into rolling cases. When the Exhibitor Service Kit opens in March 2027 and names the New Orleans venue, we book freight to its warehouse or the dock. Our project manager sets the booth during the Sunday and Monday move-in with the labor the venue requires.
Inside RETC 2027
Rules that shape your RETC booth
RETC sells 8×10 exhibit spaces with an 8-foot back drape and 3-foot draped side rails. We build backwalls and counters that sit inside that envelope and replace the drape where the kit allows.
Wireless internet on the exhibit floor must be purchased through the Exhibitor Service Kit. We order it with the furnishings so any live data demo works at the opening reception.
Each 8×10 includes two full-conference and two exhibit-staff registrations; extra staff are charged. We design the booth for a team of two to four.
Half the booth fee was due August 31, 2026 and the balance is due January 31, 2027; after that date the full rental is owed even if you withdraw.
Programs worth planning for
A one-day short course at RETC that earns PDH credit, listed on the RETC home page for the 2027 conference.
Free company listings for exhibitors with discounted advertising; the deadline for both is May 10, 2027.
Technical papers on tunneling practice and research; final manuscripts from accepted authors are due December 15, 2026.
RETC is the biennial meeting place for tunnel builders: choose it over No-Dig North America when your product goes into bored or mined tunnels, such as TBMs, linings and ground support, rather than trenchless pipe work. Compare all the construction and equipment shows we build for →
construction and equipment at RETC
The industry behind RETC, in pictures
02 Booths & pricing for RETC 2027
How much is an 8×10 booth at RETC 2027?
RETC sells one booth format: an 8×10 space with an 8-foot back drape, 3-foot draped side rails, an ID sign and four registrations. There is no Purple 10×20 or island here. Inside the 8×10 we build what fits: a tension-fabric backwall, a lit counter, a screen and sample stands for segment, grout or cutter tool displays, packed to ship light.
Product demos, two-person teams
Above: Avertic by Engtex, a Purple inline booth
See 10×20 rental booths →
Multiple product lines, a small meeting nook
Shown: a Purple inline booth for ABC Compressors
See 10×30 rental booths →
Hanging sign, open floor plan, lounge
Pictured: SMOXH, a Purple island exhibit
See 20×20 rental booths →
Demo stations plus private meetings
Above: Bonomi, a Purple large-format exhibit
See 20×30 rental booths →In Purple's RETC price
- Your design and 3D rendering, revised until it is right for RETC
- Structure, printed graphics, counters and storage, as specified for RETC
- In-booth lighting and power distribution
- Installation and dismantle in New Orleans, run by our project manager on the floor
- Each service order and deadline in the RETC exhibitor kit, tracked for you
Billed by the organizer and the show contractor
- Your RETC booth space, paid to the organizer
- Drayage, or material handling, when it is not in the RETC space rate
- Electrical service, internet and rigging at the venue
- Booth cleaning, and union labor where the venue requires it
Rates to plan with for RETC:
- RETC booth, 2027 $3,650 per 8×10 with two full-conference and two exhibit-only registrations source
- Cancellation, 2027 Refund less $500 per booth by January 31, 2027; full rental owed after source
- Booth graphics and fixtures Backwall, counter, lighting and samples priced per project by Purple for the 8×10 format source
Every one of these is estimated on your proposal, so you see the full RETC total on paper before you sign.
Ranges shown are all-in 2026 rental prices for design, structure, graphics, installation and dismantle at RETC; custom builds get their own quote. Get an exact number for RETC with the booth cost calculator or the 2026 booth cost guide.
Share the booth size you have at RETC and what you need the space to do. A reply within one business day, then a RETC rendering and fixed proposal, usually within a week. No charge.
Ready-made booths for RETC 2027
Rental booths priced for New Orleans
Four of our ready-made designs with one all-in price for a show in New Orleans: design, production, shipping, install, dismantle and the show paperwork. Pick one and we send a rendering with your graphics within 24 hours.
Curved Arch Header and Display PedestalsFrom $21,350 all-in9 items · design, build, shipping, install and dismantle
Lit Shelf Towers and Freestanding Display RacksFrom $28,450 all-in8 items · design, build, shipping, install and dismantle
Four-Sofa Lounge and Shelved Graphic WallFrom $43,750 all-in7 items · design, build, shipping, install and dismantle
Rectangular Hanging Sign and Graphic TowersFrom $29,600 all-in9 items · design, build, shipping, install and dismantle
All booth rentals priced for New Orleans10×20 rentals20×20 rentalsHow all-in pricing works
The booth we would build for RETC 2027
The tunnel-face 8×10
On a floor where every booth is the same 8×10, the back wall carries the whole message. A lit, full-height image of a cutterhead or a finished ring gives the space depth, and one real piece of hardware at the aisle gives tunnelers something to pick up.
Tunnel face wall
An 8-foot tension-fabric backwall with a cutterhead, ring build or breakthrough image, lit from above.
Hardware plinth
A low plinth at the aisle corner with a disc cutter, a segment corner and gasket, or a grout port.
Data counter
A lockable counter with a monitor showing advance rates, settlement monitoring or a project timeline.
The demo
Show one real drive: ground conditions, machine or product choice, advance per shift or settlement measured. Run it on a short loop during the receptions and let staff pick it up for one-to-one talks.
The meetings
The hall is open about eight hours across three days, mostly at the receptions and Tuesday lunch, so set meetings with contractors and owners around the technical sessions and use the booth for walk-up visits.
Advance every shift. Hold every ring.
Read before you design for RETC 2027
RETC 2027 exhibit rules: the 8 by 10 booth, set-up windows, Wi-Fi and the January cancellation date
RETC sells one booth format on a hotel-style exhibit floor, and the 2027 venue in New Orleans is not confirmed yet. The organizer's exhibitor FAQs and exhibit sales page set what a tunneling supplier can build and when.
| Rule | What the manual says | What it means for your booth |
|---|---|---|
| 01Booth format | Every space is 8 ft by 10 ft with an 8 ft back drape, 3 ft side rails and a 7 by 44 inch ID sign; $3,650 per booth source | A tunneling supplier works inside one shallow bay, so we build a tension-fabric backwall and a lit counter that pack into two cases. |
| 02Floor density | 215 booths across more than 30,000 sq ft of exhibit space source | Booths sit tight, so a cutter disc, segment sample or grout pump has to fit inside the 8 ft depth without spilling into the aisle. |
| 03Set-up windows | Set-up runs Sunday, June 27, 2027, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday, June 28, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. source | Freight must reach the room by Sunday, and the booth is designed for a two-person, tool-light build inside those hours. |
| 04Floor Wi-Fi | Wireless internet on the exhibit floor is not included and is bought through the Exhibitor Service Kit source | A live TBM telemetry dashboard needs its own paid line, which we order with the furnishings so it works at the Monday evening opening. |
| 05Furnishings and carpet | Furnishings and carpet are ordered through the Exhibitor Service Kit, released after April 2027 source | The kit arrives about two months before the show, so we keep graphics and the order list ready to file the week it opens. |
| 06Cancellation date | Written cancellation by January 31, 2027 refunds fees paid less a $500 processing fee; after that date the full booth rental is owed source | Once January 31 passes the space cost is locked either way, which is the natural point to commit to production. |
Your people arrive at the venue to a lit, stocked booth. You just show up.
03 Built by Purple
RETC booths built for tunnelers
Case study · Shapoorji Pallonji
Shapoorji Pallonji at an engineering and infrastructure exhibition
Shapoorji Pallonji needed a structured booth that conveyed an engineering group's capability to technical visitors; a tunneling contractor or TBM supplier at RETC has the same job, only inside an 8×10.
Read the Shapoorji Pallonji 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 client reviews
Trusted by exhibitors including
04 Designing for tunnel boring machine makers, ground support, segment and lining, grouting, muck handling, ventilation and instrumentation suppliers at RETC
Designing an RETC 8×10 that reads like a tunnel face
1Make 80 square feet look deep
Every booth on the RETC floor is 8×10, so the difference is the wall. A full-height tunnel image with depth, lit from the top, pulls visitors into a space that is otherwise the same size as every neighbor.
2Bring one piece of the tunnel
Tunnelers read hardware: a disc cutter, a segment corner with its gasket, a grout port. One real object on a plinth at the aisle starts more conversations than a row of brochures.
3Plan for the reception hours
The hall opens Monday 5 to 7 p.m. for its opening reception and hosts lunch and a reception on Tuesday. We keep the counter at the side so the front stays open for groups with drinks in hand.
4Order Wi-Fi early
RETC does not provide free Wi-Fi on the exhibit floor; internet is bought through the Exhibitor Service Kit. We order a hard line for any live monitoring or TBM data demo.
Concept rendering
Your proposal for RETC includes a rendering like this one
You see your RETC booth in 3D before we cut a single panel: layout, graphics, lighting and product positions, revised until it is right. Pictured: a Purple concept for Netronix.
Start my RETC conceptFloor at a glance
Where you could be at RETC 2027
The 2027 hall layout is on RETC's Map Your Show floor plan; the venue is not confirmed yet. These are the parts of the exhibit program that shape a booth.
8×10 booth grid
215 booths on over 30,000 square feet, all 8×10, sold through the interactive floor plan.
Our advice Corner positions near the reception bars see the most traffic during evening hours.
Exhibit hall receptions
Opening reception Monday 5 to 7 p.m., lunch Tuesday 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a reception Tuesday 4 to 7 p.m.
Our advice Staff the booth fully for both receptions; that is when most attendees walk the floor.
05 New Orleans, LA
RETC 2027 move-in, hall hours and New Orleans planning
RETC's exhibitor schedule sets move-in for Sunday, June 27, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, June 28, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with move-out on Wednesday, June 30, from noon to 6 p.m. The Exhibitor Service Kit opens in March 2027 and furnishings, carpet and internet are ordered there after April 2027. The New Orleans venue is not confirmed yet, so the general services contractor, advance warehouse and labor rules come with the kit. RETC warns exhibitors that companies selling housing or attendee lists are not affiliated with SME. We plan freight to New Orleans the week the kit opens.
What Purple handles
- Backwalls, counters and lighting built for the 8×10 format
- Sample plinths for cutters, segments, gaskets and grout
- Screens for TBM progress and monitoring data
- Exhibitor Service Kit orders for internet and furnishings
- Freight to New Orleans once the 2027 kit names the venue
- Storage for RETC 2029
RETC timeline, counted back from move-in
Final RETC booth payment and last refundable cancellation date: January 31, 2027.
For RETC, we need design sign-off by March 2027.
- January 31, 2027Final booth payment due to SME; last day to cancel with a refund less $500.
- March 2027Exhibitor Service Kit opens; we confirm venue, contractor and freight rules and finish the design.
- April 2027Production in our Fishkill, NY or Las Vegas shop; exhibitor registration opens.
- May 10, 2027Deadline for the ShowGuide and Onsite Program listings.
- June 27–28, 2027Move-in Sunday and Monday, with our project manager on the floor.
- June 28–30, 2027Exhibit hall days; move-out Wednesday from noon.
Purple's planning timeline for RETC. Move-in, freight target and order deadlines are set by the RETC exhibitor kit and your assigned schedule; we confirm them for your booth once you book.
Print the RETC budget & deadline sheetBefore you book RETC 2027
RETC exhibitor details from SME's own pages
Companies that buy space after May 10, 2027 miss the printed Onsite Program and ShowGuide but still appear in the mobile app and on the interactive floor plan. source
SME sends exhibitor emails only to the primary contact named on the space application, so add SME and Map Your Show to your safe senders list. source
Furnishings and carpet are ordered through the Exhibitor Service Kit after April 2027; the booth comes with drape and an ID sign only. source
RETC warns that outside companies call exhibitors about housing and attendee lists; book rooms only through the link RETC publishes. source
The post-conference attendee list includes every attendee who opts in to share contact details, which makes the booth conversation easier to follow up. source
Who you meet on the floor
They choose machines, ground support and muck handling for the drives they are bidding and building.
They specify linings, waterproofing and instrumentation and come for the technical sessions and the new products on the floor.
They plan underground programs and meet the contractors and suppliers who will deliver them.
Side by side
RETC vs International Bridge Conference vs UESI Pipelines Conference: 2027 at a glance
| RETC | International Bridge Conference | UESI Pipelines Conference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | June 27–30, 2027 | June 30–July 2, 2027 | August 7–11, 2027 |
| Where | New Orleans, LA | Nashville, TN · Omni Nashville Hotel | Louisville, KY · Kentucky International Convention Center |
| Size | 1,300+ attendees expected at RETC 2027, per RETC | 1,200 attendees expected, per ESWP's estimate | 1,000+ attendees each year, per the 2027 prospectus |
| Main buyers | Tunnel contractors and superintendents | State DOT bridge engineers | Utility pipeline owners |
| Booth space | Price not published | Single booth, 2027: $3,100 aisle; $3,200 corner | Inline booth, 2027: 10×10 $4,750 by Jan 15, 2027, $5,250 after; 10×20 $9,500 / $11,500 |
Figures carry the year and source shown on each show's own page.
Travel to RETC 2027
Getting to RETC 2027: airport and hotels
Fly in
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Stay
2027 hotel block not confirmed yet; RETC books housing only through its own link and warns against outside housing callers
Travel facts from retc.org.
RETC by the numbers
RETC year by year
How RETC 2027 compares with other construction and equipment shows
The construction and equipment shows closest to RETC on the calendar, with the latest size each organizer has published. Each name other than RETC opens our exhibitor guide for that show.
| Show | Dates | City | Latest published size |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGC Annual ConventionAssociated General Contractors of America (AGC) | April 6–8, 2027 | Phoenix, AZ | 90+ exhibitors (2026) |
| CGA Conference & ExpoCommon Ground Alliance (CGA) | April 12–15, 2027 | Tampa, FL | The Broadmoor, April 24–27, 2028 exhibitors |
| IFCEEADSC | May 11–14, 2027 | Grapevine, TX | 59% contractors, 15% engineers, 11% consultants attendees (2024) |
| CFMA Annual Conference & ExhibitionConstruction Financial Management Association (CFMA) | May 22–26, 2027 | Nashville, TN | – |
| RETCSME (Society for Mining | June 27–30, 2027 | New Orleans, LA | 215 booths of 8×10 on over 30,000 sq ft; 1,300+ attendees expected (2027) |
| International Bridge ConferenceEngineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP) | June 30–July 2, 2027 | Nashville, TN | close to 80 booth listings (2026) |
| UESI Pipelines ConferenceUtility Engineering & Surveying Institute (UESI) of ASCE | August 7–11, 2027 | Louisville, KY | About 100 exhibitors and 1,000+ attendees a year, per UESI (2027) |
| SAIA Annual Convention & ExpositionScaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) | August 9–12, 2027 | Tampa, FL | – |
| APWA PWXAmerican Public Works Association (APWA) | August 22–25, 2027 | Phoenix, AZ | 487 exhibitors (2026) |
| Commercial UAV ExpoDiversified Communications (Commercial UAV News) | September 7–9, 2027 | Las Vegas, NV | 250+ exhibitors; 3,800 verified professionals from 65 countries (12th annual) (2026) |
RETC exhibitor questions
RETC 2027 questions from exhibitors
When is RETC 2027?
June 27–30, 2027, in New Orleans, per RETC. The exhibit hall opens Monday, June 28 at 5 p.m. with its opening reception and closes at noon on Wednesday, June 30.
Where is RETC 2027 held?
In New Orleans; the venue is not confirmed yet on RETC's site. RETC 2025 was held at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, where all events took place unless noted.
How much is a booth at RETC 2027?
$3,650 per 8×10 booth, per RETC. The price includes two full-conference registrations, two exhibit-only registrations, drape (8 feet at the back, 3 feet at the sides), a 7-by-44-inch name and number sign, and general security.
What are the RETC 2027 exhibit hall hours?
Monday, June 28 from 5 to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, June 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, June 30 from 9 a.m. to noon, per RETC's exhibitor FAQ.
When are RETC booth payments due?
The final payment is due January 31, 2027, after a 50% payment due August 31, 2026, per RETC's key dates. Cancellations by January 31, 2027 are refunded less a $500 processing fee per booth.
Is RETC held every year?
It runs every two years: RETC describes itself as the biennial gathering of the tunneling industry, with the 2025 conference in Dallas and the 2027 conference in New Orleans.
Who attends RETC?
More than 1,300 qualified tunneling and underground construction professionals are expected in 2027, per RETC: contractors, design engineers, owners and suppliers from North America and abroad.
How many exhibitors are at RETC?
More than 180, per RETC's expo page, on over 30,000 square feet with 215 booths to choose from, per the 2027 exhibit sales page.
Can we build a custom booth at RETC?
Within the 8×10: RETC sells one booth size, so the work goes into the backwall, counter, lighting and samples. Furnishings and carpet are ordered through the Exhibitor Service Kit.
Is there free Wi-Fi in the RETC exhibit hall?
No. RETC's exhibitor FAQ says Wi-Fi must be purchased through the Exhibitor Service Kit, which opens in March 2027.
When is RETC move-in?
Sunday, June 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, June 28 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Move-out runs Wednesday, June 30 from noon to 6 p.m., per RETC's exhibitor schedule.
What is the deadline to appear in the RETC ShowGuide?
May 10, 2027, for both the ShowGuide and the Onsite Program. Companies that buy space after that date still appear in the mobile app and the interactive floor plan.
How is RETC different from No-Dig or the UIC?
RETC is about bored and mined tunnels: TBMs, linings and ground support. No-Dig covers trenchless pipe installation and rehabilitation, and the Underground Infrastructure Conference focuses on pipeline construction contractors.
Before you sign for RETC
Ask any RETC exhibit builder these five questions:
- Can you build a backwall and counter that fit the 8×10 envelope with RETC's drape rules?
- How heavy a sample, such as a segment corner or a disc cutter, can your plinth carry safely?
- Will you plan freight once the Exhibitor Service Kit names the New Orleans venue and contractor?
- Can the whole booth ship in rolling cases to keep drayage low?
- Will you store it for RETC 2029?
What RETC exhibitors ask us
Everyone gets the same 8×10. How do we stand out? With the backwall and one object. A lit, full-height tunnel image and a real cutter or segment at the aisle make an 8×10 read deeper than its neighbors, which still have drape.
The 2027 venue is not confirmed yet. Can we plan now? The booth size, hall hours and move-in days are published, so design can start. Freight and labor details follow when the Exhibitor Service Kit opens in March 2027.
Is RETC worth it if we already do No-Dig? They reach different crews: RETC gathers people who build bored and mined tunnels, and it meets only every two years, so a missed edition means a long wait.
Get a proposal
Tell us about your RETC booth
What happens next
- You get a reply within one business day, asking about your products, goals and footprint at RETC.
- Usually within a week, you receive a concept rendering and a fixed RETC proposal. No fee left off: every RETC cost is listed upfront, on paper.
- We build in 30–45 days, ship to the RETC advance warehouse and install before the hall opens.