The GWCC's own planning guide says it plainly: Georgia is a right-to-work state. Your full-time staff can generally build the booth; your show's contractor sets the hand-carry and tool rules.
Exhibitor guide · Atlanta, GA · Updated
Georgia World Congress Center Exhibitor Guide
Three buildings in a row on Atlanta's convention and stadium campus, stitched together in 2020 by Exhibit Hall BC into more than a million contiguous square feet. Georgia is right-to-work, so your own staff can build the booth; power goes through Edlen, food through Levy, and any covered booth through the fire marshal 60 days out.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: aerial view of the Atlanta skyline by Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain.
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the Georgia World Congress Center
Edlen is the GWCC's exclusive electrical and utility provider. Food and beverage is Levy Restaurants, IT is CCLD, and parking and the marshaling yards are SP+.
Multilevel and covered booth plans need a licensed structural engineer's stamp and go to the fire marshal at least 60 days before move-in. Covered areas of 300 sq ft or more also need a fire watch.
In the Building A, B, BC and C halls, with 16 ft dropped-ceiling areas. Check your hall plan and your show's height limit before designing a tower or hanging sign.
Photos: "MomoCon Gaming 01" by jc1701, Public domain Source · "MomoCon 2015 Cosplay Skyrim Ebony Warrior 03" by jc1701, Public domain Source · "Dragon*Con Parade 2012" by Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0 Source
Floor plan & exhibit halls
Georgia World Congress Center floor plan: Buildings A, B and C
Three adjacent buildings make up the GWCC: Building A from the original 1976 center, the larger Building B, and Building C from the 2002 expansion. Exhibit Hall BC, opened in 2020, joins B and C into one floor. Which building your show is in decides your dock, your hotel and your walk.
Building A3 exhibit halls (about 86,000, 105,000 and 149,000 sq ft on the GWCC booklet), 29 meeting rooms and the 1,740-seat Sidney Marcus Auditorium · 350 lb/sq ft floor
Building BThe largest building: 5.5 hall units, 47 meeting rooms and the 33,000 sq ft Thomas B. Murphy Ballroom · columns on 90 ft centers, 350 lb/sq ft floor
Building C4.5 hall units, 23 meeting rooms, two auditoriums and the 25,700 sq ft Georgia Ballroom · columns on 90 and 160 ft centers, 400 lb/sq ft floor · connected to the Signia by Hilton
100,000sq ft Exhibit Hall BC, a fixed hall between B and C that makes more than 1 million contiguous sq ft
30 ftto the bottom of the grid in the exhibit halls, with 16 ft dropped-ceiling areas · floor boxes on 30 ft centers
~100meeting rooms and 2 ballrooms across the campus, plus 22-acre Centennial Olympic Park next door for outdoor events
Hall sizes and counts from the GWCC website, floor plan booklet (July 2026) and building specifications; official floor plans are on gwcc.com.
Only at the Georgia World Congress Center
Georgia World Congress Center Exhibit Hall BC: a million contiguous square feet
For 18 years Buildings B and C sat side by side without a shared floor. In January 2020 the GWCC opened Exhibit Hall BC between them, and for the first time a show could lay out more than a million square feet without a break. It opened on the floor of IPPE, the show that fills it every January.
- 100,000sq ft added by the BC hall, the first major expansion since Building C in 2002. Booth numbers in the hall start with "BC", so check that prefix on your space assignment
- 1M+sq ft of contiguous floor across B, BC and C. Big islands and long sightlines work here; IPPE 2027 alone books more than 634,000 sq ft
- 400 lbper sq ft floor load in Buildings BC and C, against 350 lb in A and B. Heavy machinery belongs on the C side
- $55Mand 18 months to build, finished ahead of schedule and under budget, with more than 20 events booked into it at opening
- 976rooms at the Signia by Hilton Atlanta, owned by the GWCCA and connected to Building C since January 2024
Insider tips
Georgia World Congress Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Stamp the drawings by Day −60
Covered and multilevel booth plans need a licensed structural engineer's stamp and must reach the GWCC at least 60 days before move-in, with a card authorization for the review fee. Miss it and the booth may not be approved.
Keep the canopy under 300 sq ft
At 300 sq ft or more of covered or enclosed area, you pay for a fire watch through GWCC Public Safety and need two remote exits. A smaller canopy, or two separate ones, keeps you below the line.
Heavy gear goes to the C side
Buildings BC and C are rated for 400 lb per sq ft against 350 lb in A and B, and C has columns on 160 ft centers. Ask for space there if you are showing machinery.
Bring your own cart, or book one
The GWCC has no carts, pallet jacks or dock plates to lend. Arrange them through the general contractor or the on-site FedEx Business Center before move-in.
Get sampling approval in writing
Levy Restaurants holds exclusive food and beverage rights and Coca-Cola holds pouring rights. Even a tray of samples needs written authorization, so request it with your kit orders.
Leave the electric car outside
Electric vehicles are not allowed inside the GWCC and no fueling happens on site. Display vehicles need approval from your event services representative and cannot move during show hours.
Loading dock & move-in
Georgia World Congress Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to Georgia World Congress Center →
- Marshaling yardA 540,000 sq ft yard on Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd, next to the Yellow Lot, holds about 600 trucks a few minutes from the docks. Your general contractor books it and dispatches you.
- Docks by buildingThe GWCC floor plan booklet lists 72 loading docks across the three buildings, each hall with its own dock numbers. Put the building and hall on every bill of lading.
- Freight through the GSCAll event freight goes through the show's general service contractor. The GWCC receiving warehouse does not accept event freight or store crates, and has no carts or pallet jacks for exhibitors.
- Small parcelsFedEx parcel service runs from Dock W2 at 104 Mangum Street NW, event by event; confirm with show management before you ship there.
- CratesEmpties go to the marshaling yard, never to the exhibit hall dock ramps or within 20 ft of an exit.
- Day −60Design approved. Covered or multilevel plans, stamped by a licensed structural engineer, go to the GWCC for fire marshal review. Banner and rigging requests due too.
- Day −30EAC form and certificate of insurance filed. Electrical ordered from Edlen; sampling authorization requested if you serve food.
- Day −14Purple ships to Atlanta through our carrier network.
- Day −7Advance warehouse deadline. Late freight pays the surcharge.
- Day 0Trucks check in at the marshaling yard; your own staff can start straight away on a right-to-work floor.
- Show +1Move-out. Empties return from the yard, MHA turned in.
Labor & rules of the floor
Georgia World Congress Center labor rules: who sets up my booth?
Georgia is a right-to-work state, and the GWCC's January 2025 Event Planning Guide says so. Most shows still route freight, labor and booth services through the general service contractor, commonly Freeman or GES, which sets the hand-carry and self-install rules for your show.
✓Your team or your EAC
- Your own full-time employees can generally assemble and dismantle the booth, no union card needed
- An exhibitor-appointed contractor (EAC) can build it, filed with the show
- Helium balloon columns and arches, if anchored and approved
- Electric aerial lifts on terrazzo and carpet, under the venue's rules
●Exclusive to the GWCC
- Edlen: electrical and utility services
- Levy Restaurants: all food and beverage, including sampling approval and bartenders
- CCLD: IT services
- In-house rigging for ballroom and exhibit hall production
- SP+: parking lots, decks and marshaling yards
- Coca-Cola: pouring and beverage signage rights
- Freight: the show's general service contractor
!Fire marshal & watch-outs
- Multilevel and covered booths: stamped plans at least 60 days before move-in, reviewed at prevailing rates
- Covered or enclosed areas of 300 sq ft or more: fire watch through GWCC Public Safety
- Smoke detectors in covered areas; two exits from decks or enclosed rooms of 300 sq ft or more
- No electric vehicles inside, no fueling on site
- No Mylar balloons; no double-faced tape on terrazzo
- Food samples only with written authorization
Background photo: "Georgia World Congress Center" by Iquo E, CC BY 2.0 Source
Free tool
Georgia World Congress Center drayage cost estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 and 2027 at about $150 per hundredweight, with a 200 lb minimum. The GWCC does not publish a rate: the general contractor's show kit carries the actual tariff. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$2,250
Cut this with a lighter booth
Arcade aisle at MomoCon
Photo: "MomoCon Gaming 03" by jc1701, Public domain Source
The calendar
Georgia World Congress Center trade shows 2026–2027
IPPE anchors the year every January. Packaging, dental, self-storage and outdoor-sports shows fill the spring and fall. Attendance figures are planning ranges; confirm each event with its organizer.
THE Show (MSM)
Self-storage industry · trade show and conference · 2026
IPPE
Poultry, feed and meat technology · 1,300+ exhibitors on 634,000+ sq ft · 2027
Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting
Dentistry · exhibit hall in Building A · 2027
PACK EXPO Southeast
Packaging and processing · ~500 exhibitors in Exhibit Hall C · 2027
NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits
Firearms, hunting and outdoor gear · 14+ acres of exhibits · 2027
Dates are from each organizer's site (checked October 2026); the NRA site also shows April 22–25, 2027 in one place, so confirm move-in with the organizer. IWF Atlanta, the even-year woodworking show, last ran August 25–28, 2026; its 2028 dates were not posted when we checked. Event listings show Anime Weekend Atlanta in Building C in November 2026; check its site for dates.
Where to stay & getting there
Hotels near the Georgia World Congress Center, transit and crew logistics
Two hotels connect to the campus, MARTA rail stops on it, and crews and trucks have their own parking and staging.
Connected to Building C
Signia by Hilton Atlanta
976 rooms, opened January 2024 and owned by the GWCCA. The campus headquarters hotel, so it fills first.
Connected
Peachtree CenterOmni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park
About 1,070 rooms, formerly the Omni at CNN Center, connected to the GWCC and State Farm Arena.
Atlanta Marriott Marquis
One of the big downtown blocks, a MARTA ride or a walk past Centennial Olympic Park.
Venue guide →10–15 min walk
Downtown Atlanta hotels
A wide range of price points along Andrew Young International Blvd and around the park.
On the campus
MARTA SEC District station
Formerly GWCC/CNN Center, renamed in December 2025. From Hartsfield-Jackson, ride MARTA rail and change at Five Points; by car the airport is about 15 to 20 minutes away.
Crew parking
GWCCA lots and decks
Over 5,600 spaces in the Yellow and Blue lots and the Green, Red, Orange and Silver decks, run by SP+. The standard daily rate is $15, higher on Falcons game days and during major events, so plan crew parking around the stadium schedule.
Trucks and crew arrival
Marshaling yard on Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd
540,000 sq ft beside the Yellow Lot, for about 600 trucks. Every contractor and crew member wears an ID badge and enters through the designated service entrances.
The building
Georgia World Congress Center history: built in phases since 1976
The GWCC opened in 1976 because Atlanta lacked a hall big enough for national conventions, and it has grown in phases ever since: expansions in the 1980s and 1992, Building C in 2002 and Exhibit Hall BC in 2020. In between it was the broadcast hub of the 1996 Olympics. Half a century later it is the center of a campus with a stadium, an arena, a park and its own hotel.
- 1971The Georgia General Assembly creates the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. Construction starts in October 1974.
- 1976The GWCC opens September 8 with about 350,000 sq ft of exhibit space. The first event is the Bobbin Show, the American Apparel Manufacturers Association convention.
- 1985The first of several expansions adds exhibit space, meeting rooms and support areas, followed by another phase in 1992.
- 1992The Georgia Dome opens next door.
- 1996The Olympics come to Atlanta. The GWCC houses the International Broadcast Center and hosts handball, fencing, judo, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.
- 1998Centennial Olympic Park reopens March 28 as a 21-acre public park beside the campus.
- 2002Building C opens, the fourth major expansion.
- 2008A tornado hits downtown on March 14 and damages the roof. Repairs are finished in time for the FIRST Robotics championship in April.
- 2020The $55 million, 100,000 sq ft Exhibit Hall BC opens January 28 on the IPPE show floor, creating more than 1 million contiguous sq ft.
- 2024The 976-room Signia by Hilton Atlanta opens in January, connected to Building C.
- 2025MARTA renames the campus station SEC District ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
FAQ
Georgia World Congress Center FAQ for exhibitors
Can I set up my own booth at the Georgia World Congress Center?
Generally, yes. Georgia is a right-to-work state, so your own full-time staff can assemble and dismantle the booth without a union card. Freight still routes through the show's general service contractor, which sets the hand-carry and tool rules, and electrical goes through Edlen.
How big is the Georgia World Congress Center?
More than 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space across Buildings A, B and C, with more than 1 million square feet of contiguous floor since Exhibit Hall BC opened in 2020. There are about a dozen exhibit halls, roughly 100 meeting rooms and two ballrooms.
How much is drayage at the GWCC?
Plan about $150 per hundredweight in 2026 and 2027, with a 200 lb minimum. The general contractor's show kit carries the actual tariff for your show.
Where is the GWCC loading dock?
Each building has its own docks, 72 in all on the GWCC's floor plan booklet. Trucks stage at the 540,000 sq ft marshaling yard on Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd, which holds about 600 trucks, and are dispatched by the general contractor.
Do covered or double-deck booths need approval?
Yes. Multilevel and covered booth plans need a licensed structural engineer's stamp and must be submitted at least 60 days before move-in for fire marshal review. Covered or enclosed areas of 300 sq ft or more need a fire watch, and decks of 300 sq ft or more need two remote exits.
What is the ceiling height in the exhibit halls?
30 ft to the bottom of the grid in the Building A, B, BC and C halls, with dropped-ceiling areas of 16 ft. Your show sets the booth height limit.
What's the biggest show at the GWCC?
IPPE, the International Production & Processing Expo for poultry, feed and meat technology. It fills the building every January; the 2027 edition, January 26 to 28, lists more than 1,300 exhibitors on over 634,000 sq ft.
Can I hand out food samples?
Only with written authorization. Levy Restaurants has exclusive food and beverage rights on the GWCCA campus, alcohol can only be served by Levy, and Coca-Cola holds pouring rights.
Which airport should I use?
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, about 15 to 20 minutes from downtown by car, or MARTA rail with one change at Five Points.
Is there transit access?
Yes. MARTA's SEC District station, formerly GWCC/CNN Center, sits on the campus.
What's next to the GWCC?
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, the Signia by Hilton hotel and Centennial Olympic Park, built for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, all sit on or beside the campus.
Exhibiting in Atlanta?
Tell us the show. We will fit the booth to the hall.
Tell us whether your space is in Building A, B, BC or C and whether the design has a canopy or a deck. Within two business days you get a design brief, a drayage estimate at Atlanta rates and a timeline that clears the 60-day fire marshal review.
Background photo: "Atlanta Centennial Park" by frankieleon, CC BY 2.0 Source
Compare venues
Georgia World Congress Center vs other major U.S. convention centers
How the Georgia World Congress Center stacks up against other major U.S. convention centers. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.
| Venue | Type | Largest space | Ceiling | Labor | Drayage (plan) | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia World Congress CenterThis guide | Convention center | 1M+ sq ft contiguous (Halls B, BC, C) | 30 ft to grid | Right-to-work | ≈ $150/cwt | ATL · 15–20 min |
| America's Center Convention ComplexSt. Louis | Convention center | 574,000 sq ft contiguous, with Dome floor | 40 ft | Union · 300 sq ft rule | ≈ $150/cwt | STL · 14 mi |
| Anaheim Convention CenterAnaheim | Convention center | 221,284 sq ft Hall D | 25 ft Hall D · 13 ft 8 in Hall E | Union · check kit | ≈ $172/cwt | SNA · 13 mi |
| Boston Convention & Exhibition CenterBoston | Convention center | 516,000 sq ft contiguous (Halls A–C) | 35 ft low · up to 100 ft | Union · staff setup OK | ≈ $324/cwt | BOS · 3 mi |
| Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention CenterSalt Lake City | Convention center | 515,000 sq ft contiguous, 10 halls | 30 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $120/cwt | SLC · ~6 mi |
| Charlotte Convention CenterCharlotte | Convention center | 280,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–C | 30 ft listed max | Right-to-work | ≈ $115/cwt | CLT · 7 mi |
| Huntington PlaceDetroit | Convention center | 623,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–D | 30 ft (A–D) · 18 ft 8 in (E) | Union · 400 sq ft rule | ≈ $155/cwt | DTW · 20 mi |
| Javits CenterNew York | Convention center | ~500,000 sq ft contiguous (Level 3) | Varies by hall · check plan | Union · 250 sq ft rule | ≈ $195/cwt | EWR / LGA / JFK · 45–70 min |
| McCormick PlaceChicago | Convention center | 840,000 sq ft Hall A (South) · 1.2M+ on one level | Varies by hall · check plan | Union · staff setup any size | ≈ $210/cwt | MDW · ~20 min |
| Minneapolis Convention CenterMinneapolis | Convention center | 376,200 sq ft contiguous, Halls B–E | 30 ft 6 in to truss · 85 ft domes | Union · open dock | ≈ $150/cwt | MSP · ~20 min |
| Moscone CenterSan Francisco | Convention center | 502,440 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–F | 37 ft Halls A–C · 28 ft Hall F | Union · check kit | ≈ $180/cwt | SFO · 25–40 min |
| Orange County Convention CenterOrlando | Convention center | 1,103,538 sq ft West Building | 30–40 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $155/cwt | MCO · 12 mi |
| San Diego Convention CenterSan Diego | Convention center | 525,701 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–H | 27 ft 4 in A–E · up to 64 ft F–H | Union · check kit | ≈ $176/cwt | SAN · 3 mi |
| Seattle Convention CenterSeattle | Convention center | 205,700 sq ft Arch Halls 4A–4F | 25 ft Arch · 30 ft Summit | Union · check kit | ≈ $165/cwt | SEA · Link ~40 min |
More Georgia guides
Other venues near the Georgia World Congress Center
Atlanta Marriott MarquisDowntown Atlanta
Georgia International Convention CenterCollege Park · by the airport
Cobb Galleria CentreAtlanta · Cumberland
Gas South Convention CenterDuluth
Savannah Convention CenterSavannah
BJCCBirmingham, AL
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Figures marked for verification are being confirmed with the venue. Sources: GWCCA Event Planning Guide (January 2025), GWCC website (exhibit, history, shipping and receiving), GWCC floor plan booklet (July 2026), GWCC building specifications, GWCCA Exhibit Hall BC press release (January 2020), Hilton newsroom (Signia by Hilton Atlanta), MARTA, Wikipedia (Georgia World Congress Center), organizer sites for IPPE, the Hinman Dental Meeting, PACK EXPO Southeast, the NRA Annual Meetings and MSM's THE Show, Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.