Surf Expo 2027Exhibitor guide for Orlando: booth costs, key dates, deadlines

Surf Expo has two 2027 editions in Orlando: January 6 to 8, 2027, Wednesday to Friday, and September 9 to 11, 2027, Thursday to Saturday. The January floor opens at 9 a.m. each day, closing at 6 p.m. midweek and at 4 p.m. on the Friday.

The show fills the OCCC West Concourse at 9800 International Drive in Orlando, Florida, for both the January and September 2027 editions. The West Building docks sit behind the hall off Convention Way, and Orlando International Airport is about 12 miles away.

A 10×20 rental with a board rack and order counter runs $7,500 to $15,000 from us, and a custom 20×20 surf or dive island $50,000 to $120,000. Surf Expo quotes booth space through its sales category managers rather than online. Freeman material handling, OCCC power and parking at $20 plus tax a day add to the total.

Surf Expo is trade only and not open to the public. Retail buyers must supply a federal tax ID, a retail business license or resale certificate and two recent invoices for similar merchandise; first-time buyers also show photo ID and proof of employment. Qualified buyers who register two weeks ahead attend free.

Buyers from surf shops, boutiques, resorts, hotels, cruise lines, theme parks and national chains, with strong attendance from the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and Central and South America. In September 2026 buyers came from more than 2,000 companies, over half buying for operations of 2 to 250 stores, from 50 states and 52 countries.

Only if you can hand carry or use a 2-wheel dolly and unload in 30 minutes or less from a car, SUV, pickup or passenger van. Box trucks, Sprinter vans, crates on wheels and items over 300 pounds go through Freeman's union material handling, and booths larger than 10×20 rarely qualify. Surfboard builders count as qualified POV.

Freeman, Surf Expo's show services provider, is the exclusive material handler and uses union labor. It stores freight up to 30 days ahead at its warehouse, delivers to your booth, handles empties and reloads carriers at move-out. We ship to the warehouse so your crates are on the floor first, and the estimate is on your proposal.

Our Surf Expo rentals start at 10×20 and scale to islands: fabric graphics on a frame, padded board racks, hang rail and faceouts, a lit order counter, storage and flooring. Freight to Freeman, install and dismantle are priced together, and the same kit can come back for the September 9–11 show.

Children under 16 may attend only as minor buyers with an approved shop owner, as minor exhibitors registered by your company contact, or as nursing infants under one. A minor exhibitor counts against your badge allotment of 10 badges per 10×10, and no minor may walk the floor alone.

New exhibitors submit a request through Surf Expo's Request Info form, returning exhibitors use the January 2027 application, and nonprofits can submit a participation request. A sales category manager assigns space, and your Contract Contact then gets the booth confirmation and badge registration links.

Connect is Surf Expo's free buyer tool, included with your booth, for requesting appointments and messaging registered buyers before the show once your badge is registered. The show app adds lead capture by badge scan, and the Buyer Relations team recruits target accounts through hosted buyer programs.

For brands selling to surf shops, resorts and gift stores it is the category's main U.S. order-writing show: more than 80% of buyers write orders on site, and every attendee is vetted and badged first. New brands do best with Connect appointments booked ahead and in-stock goods for at-once Caribbean and East Coast buyers.

Evolvcon is Surf Expo's only official housing partner, with discounted rooms held on a first-come basis; Surf Expo warns that other resellers are not affiliated with the show. Hotels along International Drive put your team close to the West Concourse during move-in.

Non-exhibiting brands, manufacturers, reps and suppliers may apply for a Non-Exhibiting Manufacturer badge at $2,000 per person, up to two per company, valid for one show. Soliciting and handing out materials are not allowed with that badge, so a booth is the only way to sell on the floor.