Nevada is right-to-work, but freight, forklifts and booth labor run through the general contractor and Teamsters Local 631. Your own full-time staff can still build the booth.

Exhibitor guide · Las Vegas, NV · Updated
Las Vegas Convention Center Exhibitor Guide
Four halls, four ceilings. Your booth can have 42 ft of air in the West Hall or 25 ft in Central Hall C1, and the upper South halls carry 300 lbs per sq ft instead of 450. CES, SEMA, NAB and World of Concrete all build here. This guide covers every hall, the Teamsters and Freeman rules, drayage, the Vegas Loop and the 2026–27 calendar.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: Florian Schindler, Unsplash (Unsplash License).
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the Las Vegas Convention Center
The LVCVA lists over 2.5 million sq ft of exhibit space in a 4.6 million sq ft building, plus 225 meeting rooms. Central Hall alone is 623,058 sq ft.
42 ft in the West Hall, 33–35 ft in North, 25–35 ft in Central and 25–30 ft in South, per the LVCVA hall table. Your show sets the booth height limit.
Four Loop stations on campus turn a 25-minute walk into a ride of under two minutes, at no charge between campus stations, says the LVCVA.



Photos: "Las Vegas Convention Center" by CONEXPO-CON/AGG, CC BY 2.0 Source · "IFPE 2017" by CONEXPO-CON/AGG, CC BY 2.0 Source · "Las Vegas Convention Center - CES 2010" by BenGrantham, CC BY 2.0 Source
The calendar
Las Vegas Convention Center trade shows 2026–2027
More of America's biggest trade shows run here than anywhere else, and the LVCVA expected up to 48 trade shows on the campus in 2026. Show week means a keynote that fills a hall, badge scans at 8 a.m. and three days of conversations at the booth. Dates are from each organizer; attendance is a rounded planning range.
SEMA Show
Automotive aftermarket · every LVCC hall plus outdoor lots · AAPEX runs Nov 3–5 at the Venetian Expo · 2026
CES
Consumer technology · all LVCC halls plus the Venetian Expo · about 140,000–150,000 citywide · 2027
World of Concrete
Commercial concrete and masonry · education from Jan 18 · 2027
Design & Construction Week: KBIS + IBS
Kitchen, bath and home building · back in Las Vegas after Orlando in 2026 · 2027
Amusement Expo International
Amusement, arcade and vending · North Hall · education Mar 15–16 · 2027
NAB Show
Broadcast, media and entertainment tech · West, Central and North halls · conference from Apr 3 · 2027
ConExpo-Con/Agg, the largest use of the campus with cranes in the parking lots, ran March 3–7, 2026 and returns March 13–17, 2029. Design & Construction Week was in Orlando in 2026. Money20/20 USA has announced a move to the LVCC for October 2027, with dates not yet published. Other big Las Vegas shows such as SHOT Show, ISC West and JCK are at the Venetian Expo.
Las Vegas Convention Center hall checker: will your booth fit West, Central, North or South?
The LVCC is the only Las Vegas venue where your hall assignment can change the ceiling by 17 ft and the floor load by a third. Pick the hall section on your booth contract, enter your tallest element and heaviest load, and see how it compares with the building's published limits. It checks the building only: your show's height and sign rules still apply.
Ceiling heights, floor loads, Loop stations and dock numbers from the LVCVA facility brochure (December 2024). C3 is listed at 31 and 35 ft; the checker uses the lower figure. Hanging-sign and ladder rules from the Freeman work rules for NAB Show 2025 at the LVCC.
The campus
Las Vegas Convention Center floor plan: West, Central, North and South halls
The LVCC is four buildings on a 200-acre campus, joined by concourses, the Paradise Bridge to the West Hall and the Vegas Loop underneath. Which hall your show lands in changes ceiling height, floor load, freight doors and how far your crew walks. Tap a hall for its sections and ceilings.
Schematic. Widths are proportional to the exhibit area in the LVCVA's December 2024 facility brochure; this is not an architectural plan. Official hall maps are on the LVCVA's Vegas Means Business site and in your show kit.
West Hall (W1–W4)
- 601,960 sq ft in four halls
- 42 ft ceiling throughout
- 328,000 sq ft column-free
Opened in June 2021, the newest and tallest hall, under the curved canopy facing the Strip. Islands, tall structures and hanging signs make the most sense here. Loop West Station is in the lobby; its own docks (W401–W416) line the building.
Central Hall (C1–C5)
- 623,058 sq ft, the largest building
- 25 ft in C1 and C2 · 31–35 ft in C3 · 35 ft in C4 and C5
- 178,251 sq ft C3, the biggest single hall
The main hall on the site of the original 1959 dome, reopened January 5, 2026 after the renovation. Check your section: a double-deck that clears C4 may not clear C1. Loop Central Station sits between Central and North.
North Hall (N1–N4)
- 409,077 sq ft in four halls
- 35 ft in N1 and N2 · 33 ft in N3 and N4
- ~100,000 sq ft per hall
Connected to Central and linked to the West Hall by the Paradise Bridge. Meeting rooms N101–N264 sit around and above it, with a skywalk to Westgate on the second level.
South Hall (S1–S4, two levels)
- 424,862 sq ft on Level 1 (S1 at 25 ft, S2 at 30 ft)
- 395,175 sq ft on Level 2 (S3, S4 at 25 ft)
- 300 lbs/sq ft floor load upstairs
Across Desert Inn Road, joined to Central by a new climate-controlled concourse. The upper halls have their own dock positions (43–52 on the LVCVA freight map) but a lower floor load than the 450 lbs/sq ft on the ground. Loop South Station is at the east entrance.
Loading dock & move-in
Las Vegas Convention Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to Las Vegas Convention Center →
- Docks per buildingThe LVCVA freight map numbers docks 1–24 around Central and North, 26–35 and 40–42 on South Level 1, 43–52 on South Level 2 and W401–W416 at the West Hall. The general contractor assigns yours.
- Marshaling yard or advance warehouseThe advance warehouse usually opens about 30 days out and puts your freight on the booth before you arrive. Direct-to-show trucks check in at the contractor's marshaling yard and are called in by target time, which can mean hours of waiting.
- Hand-carryAt NAB 2025 exhibitors could hand-carry from a car, van or pickup and use a personal luggage or office dolly. Hand carts, four-wheel dollies and pallet jacks were not allowed.
- Empties and move-outPut EMPTY labels on crates as you unpack or they will not be stored. Nothing leaves the dock without a material handling agreement (MHA).
- ParkingMore than 5,000 spaces across the campus lots, including the former Landmark and Riviera sites. Fees and exhibitor parking vary by show.
- Day −60Design approved for your hall section. Rigging and electrical orders open at early-bird rates.
- Day −35Advance warehouse opens. EAC registration and certificate of insurance due; hanging sign orders close around now.
- Day −21Purple ships from New York. Graphics final.
- Day −8Advance warehouse deadline in many kits; late fees after that.
- Day 0Targeted move-in. Warehouse freight is already on the floor; full-time staff or EAC crews start the build.
- Show +1Move-out. MHA turned in, empties returned, trucks loaded by the contractor.

Labor & union rules
Las Vegas Convention Center union rules: who does what
Las Vegas is a union town for trade shows with its own jurisdictions. The rules below come from the Freeman work rules for NAB Show 2025 at the LVCC and the AAPEX 2026 union rules for the same contractor. Each show's kit is the final word, and every rule has a price when it is learned on the floor.
✓Your full-time staff
- Install and dismantle your exhibit, carrying company ID such as a medical card or payroll stub
- Unpack, place, test and repair your own products
- Hand-carry from your own vehicle with a personal luggage or office dolly
- Plug equipment into a receptacle up to 20A/120V, hang up to four small clip-on lights per 10×10 and mount monitors
- Assemble ground-supported truss that is part of the booth structure
●Contractor and union work
- Teamsters Local 631: truck unloading, forklifts and booth labor when not done by your own staff
- The general contractor (Freeman at CES and NAB) handles material handling, electrical distribution, rigging and booth cleaning at those shows
- Cox Business is the exclusive provider of internet, data and phone at the LVCC
- Sodexo Live! runs catering, including food in booths
- Exhibitor-appointed contractors register with show management and the building
!Watch for
- At NAB 2025, exhibitors could not use ladders; EACs could, with their own ANSI and CSA rated ladders
- Hanging signs and truss from the ceiling are rigging work; signs over 200 lbs needed a chain hoist
- Hot work (welding, sparks, cutting metal) needs pre-approval from LVCVA Fire Prevention
- Double-decks and covered areas need engineered drawings and plan review; confirm the current size threshold with your show
- Workers from a non-union agency do not count as your staff
Background photo: "CES Show Floor" by ETC@USC, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Free tool
Las Vegas Convention Center drayage cost estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 at about $185 per hundredweight, billed per shipment with a 200 lb minimum, with surcharges for uncrated freight, late and off-target delivery and special handling. One reference point: CES 2027 bills a flat $0.71 per pound at the LVCC with a 100 lb minimum and free small packages up to 30 lbs. That is a CES program; other shows use the contractor's own tariff. See every venue on the Las Vegas drayage rates page.
Where to stay & getting there
Hotels near the Las Vegas Convention Center
The LVCC has no attached hotel, but it sits a block east of the Strip with the Monorail, the Vegas Loop and a skywalk to Westgate, so crews can walk to dinner and clients are back at their hotel in minutes.
Westgate Las Vegas
Connected by a second-level skywalk, with a Monorail stop and a Loop station. Big room blocks for CES and other citywides.
Venue guide →Renaissance Las Vegas
Non-gaming and quiet, the closest bed to the Central Hall doors.
Hilton Grand Vacations and Courtyard LVCC
Suites with kitchens for teams staying a full week, and a walkable corporate option.
Resorts World Las Vegas
Its own Vegas Loop station connects directly to the campus. Good for client dinners near the West Hall.
Venue guide → Loop from EncoreWynn and Encore
Where many executives stay, with a Loop station at Encore. Book meetings here, sleep closer.
Venue guide →Getting around
The Monorail's LVCC station links to Westgate, SAHARA, Harrah's/LINQ, Flamingo/Caesars, Horseshoe/Paris and MGM Grand. Harry Reid International is about 3.5 miles away.
Insider tips
Las Vegas Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Read the hall code before you design
C1, C2 and most of the South Hall top out at 25 ft; the West Hall gives you 42. A double-deck drawn for a West Hall island may not fit the same show's Central Hall section, so design to the hall on your contract.
Upstairs South is lighter-duty
S3 and S4 on the South Hall's second level are rated at 300 lbs per sq ft, against 450 on the ground floors. Put heavy machinery, vehicles and water features on Level 1 or in the West Hall.
Ride the Loop, not the concourse
The LVCVA says the Loop turns a 25-minute walk into a ride of under two minutes, free between the four campus stations. Send runners for a forgotten part by Loop, not on foot.
Luggage dolly yes, hand cart no
At NAB 2025 exhibitors could hand-carry from their own car with a personal luggage or office dolly, but hand carts and four-wheel dollies were banned. Pack the small kit in rolling cases.
Build a booth that needs no ladder
Under the NAB 2025 Freeman rules your own staff could not use ladders, while EAC crews could. If your team builds it, design a frame they can assemble from the floor, or budget for labor.
Keep the hanging sign under 200 lbs
At NAB 2025 any sign over 200 lbs needed a chain hoist, a step down from 250 lbs the year before. A lighter fabric sign avoids the hoist charge in a hall where you will want one.
History
Las Vegas Convention Center history: from silver dome to West Hall
The LVCC exists because 1950s Las Vegas needed to fill hotel rooms in the slow months. County leaders picked a failed racetrack one block east of the Strip, hired Los Angeles architect Adrian Wilson, and opened a silver-domed rotunda in April 1959. The dome is long gone; the campus now runs to 4.6 million sq ft.




- 1959Opens in April on the former Las Vegas Park Speedway site: a 6,300-seat silver dome beside a 90,000 sq ft exhibit hall. The first event is the World Congress of Flight.
- 1961–65The dome becomes a boxing venue: Fullmer vs. Robinson (1961), Liston vs. Patterson II (1963) and Ali vs. Patterson on November 22, 1965.
- 1964The Beatles play two shows in one day, August 20, on their first North American tour.
- 1966–82Home court of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels before the Thomas & Mack Center opens.
- 1971The Las Vegas Convention Center Act authorizes $7 million to rebuild and expand. By 1985 the center has hosted 7,000 conventions.
- 1978The winter Consumer Electronics Show moves to Las Vegas and stays. Billy Graham fills the dome for crusades between 1978 and 1980.
- 1991The silver dome is demolished; the rebuilt center reaches 1.6 million sq ft.
- 1993–95The 1994 FIFA World Cup draw is held here. The LVCVA buys the shuttered Landmark hotel across the street and implodes it for parking.
- 1998Expansion brings the campus to 1.9 million sq ft. COMDEX regularly tops 200,000 attendees.
- 2002–04The $150 million South Hall opens across Desert Inn Road, adding two levels of halls.
- 2015The LVCVA buys the Riviera for $182.5 million and implodes it for the West Hall site.
- 2021The West Hall opens in June with about 600,000 sq ft of exhibit space, 328,000 of it column-free, and the Boring Company's Vegas Loop opens beneath the campus.
- 2022Resorts World opens the first resort Loop station with a direct link to the campus; Westgate and Encore stations follow.
- 2025WWE World at WrestleMania takes over the campus in April, a sign that the LVCC now hosts fan events alongside trade shows.
- 2026Central Hall reopens January 5, completing the $600 million, eight-year renovation of the Central, North and South halls, with a climate-controlled concourse linking North and South.
Show week
What a Las Vegas Convention Center show week looks like
Keynotes that fill a hall, badge scans at the door and three or four days of conversations at the booth, bracketed by a long move-in and a fast move-out. The timings below are from the SEMA Show 2026 exhibitor rules at the LVCC, one of the biggest builds of the year; your show's kit sets its own, but the pattern is typical.
Move-in: five days for a big show
SEMA 2026 ran move-in from Thursday, October 29 to Monday, November 2, from 7 a.m. to 6, 8 or 10 p.m. EAC crews could enter at 7:30 a.m. with approved wristbands. Each exhibitor gets a freight target time; missing it can bring off-target fees.
The 3 p.m. deadline
At SEMA 2026 every display had to be in place by 3 p.m. on the last move-in day, with aisles cleared and empties labeled. A booth not started by then is built by the contractor at your cost, and unclaimed space can be resold.
Show days: in at 7, open at 9
SEMA 2026 opened 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 9 to 4 on the last day, with exhibitors allowed in from 7 a.m. Booths must be staffed every show hour, and SEMA does not let off-site hospitality start before 6 p.m.
Tools: drills yes, saws no
SEMA 2026 let full-time staff build with hand tools, electric drills and screwdrivers, but not saws, pipe wrenches or power tools, and not from a ladder higher than 30 inches. Design the booth so it goes together with a drill.
No early teardown
Starting move-out before the official close cost a $500 fine and seniority points at SEMA 2026, and nothing could leave the floor between 1 and 4 p.m. on the final day. Teardown not started by noon the next day is done for you, at your expense.
Move-out: carriers by Sunday morning
At SEMA 2026 freight had to be ready by noon on the Sunday after the show, and your own carrier had to check in by 9 a.m. Miss it and the contractor sends it with its own carrier or back to the warehouse, usually at a higher rate.
Insurance is part of show week too: SEMA 2026 required at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate in general liability, naming SEMA, the LVCVA and Freeman as additional insureds, with the certificate due 30 days before move-in. EACs carry their own.
FAQ
Las Vegas Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors
Can I bring my own tools and set up my own 10×10 at the LVCC?
Usually yes, if the people doing the work are your full-time employees with company ID such as a payroll stub. Under the Freeman rules for NAB 2025, exhibitors could not use ladders or operate forklifts or pallet jacks, and workers from a non-union agency do not count as staff. Check your show's kit.
Is the LVCC a union venue?
Yes, for show labor. Teamsters Local 631 handles freight, forklifts and booth labor not done by your own staff, and the general contractor provides electrical and rigging. Nevada is a right-to-work state, but these jurisdictions apply on the show floor.
How much should I budget for drayage at the LVCC?
For a 10×20 rental with two crates, plan roughly $1,500 to $3,500. For a 20×20 custom booth with five to eight crates, $4,000 to $9,000 is common. Weight and the number of shipments drive it. CES 2027 uses a flat $0.71 per pound; most other shows bill per hundredweight. The estimator above gives a closer number.
What is the ceiling height at the Las Vegas Convention Center?
It depends on the hall: 42 ft in West Hall W1–W4, 35 ft in N1 and N2, 33 ft in N3 and N4, 25 ft in C1 and C2, 31–35 ft in C3, 35 ft in C4 and C5, 30 ft in South S2 and 25 ft in the other South halls, per the LVCVA. Your show sets the maximum booth height.
When does the advance warehouse close for CES and KBIS?
Typically about a week before move-in, with late fees after that. The exact date is in your show's exhibitor kit; aim to arrive well before it so your freight is not at the back of the line.
Which hall will my show be in?
It changes by show, year and exhibitor category. NAB 2027 uses the West, Central and North halls, Amusement Expo 2027 is in North Hall, and SEMA and CES fill every hall. Confirm the hall section on your booth contract before design starts.
Do I need a hanging sign?
On an island in the 42 ft West Hall, usually: it is what makes you visible across a 150,000 sq ft hall. In the 25 ft sections of Central and South, a tall back wall or tower often does the same job for less. Signs are rigged by the general contractor, and heavy ones need a chain hoist.
What is the busiest month to exhibit in Las Vegas?
January and February, when CES, World of Concrete, SHOT Show, Design & Construction Week and MAGIC run within a few weeks. October is next, with several large conventions in a short window. Labor and hotels are tightest in both.
How early should I arrive for move-in?
If your freight went to the advance warehouse, be at the booth the morning of your targeted move-in day. If it ships direct, your truck needs to check in at the marshaling yard by its target time or it waits behind everyone else.
How early can I move in at the LVCC?
Only on the move-in days and hours your show publishes, and your freight arrives at its assigned target time. For SEMA 2026, move-in ran five days, from October 29 to November 2, starting at 7 a.m., with EAC crews admitted from 7:30 a.m. and every display due in place by 3 p.m. on the last day. Smaller shows often have two or three move-in days.
Is there parking for exhibitors at the LVCC?
Yes. The LVCVA lists more than 5,000 spaces in the Silver, Bronze, Platinum, Diamond, Blue, Orange and White lots around the four halls. Fees and which lots are open to exhibitors are set by each show, and some lots are used for outdoor exhibits during big shows such as SEMA and ConExpo. If you park far from your hall, the free Vegas Loop links the campus stations.
What tools can my own staff use to build the booth?
Rules vary by show. The SEMA 2026 rules let full-time staff use hand tools, electric drills and screwdrivers, but not saws, pipe wrenches or power tools, and not stand on a ladder over 30 inches. The NAB 2025 Freeman rules did not allow exhibitors to use ladders at all. Check your show's work rules before you pack the toolbox.
What insurance do I need to exhibit at the LVCC?
Shows set the requirement. SEMA 2026, for example, asked for general liability of at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, naming the show, the LVCVA and Freeman as additional insureds, with the certificate due 30 days before move-in. Exhibitor-appointed contractors must carry their own coverage.
Is the Vegas Loop free at the LVCC?
Yes, between the four stations on the convention center campus, according to the LVCVA. Rides to resort stations off the campus, such as Resorts World, Westgate and Encore, are ticketed. Hours follow the event calendar.
Can my booth be stored in Las Vegas between shows?
Many exhibitors who return for CES, NAB and SEMA keep their booth in Las Vegas storage so they do not pay cross-country freight twice a year. Ask your exhibit house or the general contractor for storage pricing.
What does Purple do that the show contractor does not?
The show contractor moves freight, provides electrical and rigging and rents pipe and drape. Purple designs and builds your booth, ships and installs from New York, and coordinates crews and freight for the LVCC, including the EAC paperwork.

Exhibiting at the LVCC?
Got a booth number? We will take it from there.
Tell us your hall section, whether your own full-time staff will build, and anything heavy or tall in the plan. Within two business days we send a design that fits that hall's ceiling and floor load, a drayage estimate and a move-in plan for the right dock.
Background photo: "Las Vegas - SpringHill Suites Las Vegas Convention Center - Rooftop Pool - Night View of Las Vegas Strip" by jared422_80, CC BY 2.0 Source
Compare venues
Las Vegas Convention Center vs other Nevada venues
How the Las Vegas Convention Center stacks up against the other Nevada halls we have guides for. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.
| Venue | Type | Largest space | Ceiling | Labor | Drayage (plan) | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Convention CenterThis guide | Convention center | 623,058 sq ft Central Hall | 25–42 ft | Union · staff setup OK | ≈ $185/cwt | LAS · 3.5 mi |
| ARIA Convention CenterLas Vegas | Resort ballrooms | ≈ 51,500 sq ft Bristlecone Ballroom | 24 ft | Union · check show kit | ≈ $185/cwt | LAS · 3.3 mi |
| Caesars ForumLas Vegas | Conference center ballrooms | 110,000 sq ft Forum & Summit ballrooms | 30 ft (listed) | Union · venue exclusives | ≈ $195/cwt | LAS · 3 mi |
| Caesars PalaceLas Vegas | Resort ballrooms | 50,944 sq ft Julius & Octavius ballrooms | ≈ 17–26 ft | Union · check show kit | ≈ $170/cwt | LAS · 4 mi |
| Mandalay Bay Convention CenterLas Vegas | Convention center | 900,000+ sq ft contiguous Bayside halls | ≈ 30 ft (check hall) | Union · staff setup OK | ≈ $185/cwt | LAS · ~10 min |
| MGM Grand Conference CenterLas Vegas | Resort ballrooms | 92,000 sq ft Marquee Ballroom | 27 ft | Union · check kit | ≈ $175/cwt | LAS · 3 mi |
| Resorts World Las VegasLas Vegas | Resort ballrooms | 70,000 sq ft The Complex | 24 ft | Union · check show kit | ≈ $170/cwt | LAS · 4 mi |
| Venetian ExpoLas Vegas | Convention center | 380,000 sq ft Hall G | 13 ft 5 in–32 ft 6 in | Union · staff setup OK | ≈ $195/cwt | LAS · 4 mi |
| Westgate Las Vegas Resort & CasinoLas Vegas | Resort ballrooms | 70,000 sq ft Paradise Event Center | 24 ft 9 in | Union · check show kit | ≈ $175/cwt | LAS · 4 mi |
| Wynn Las Vegas and EncoreLas Vegas | Resort ballrooms | 83,187 sq ft Cristal Ballroom | 28 ft | Union · staff setup OK | ≈ $185/cwt | LAS · 5 mi |
More Nevada guides
Other venues near the Las Vegas Convention Center
All venue guides → · Las Vegas trade show calendar · Las Vegas drayage rates
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. To cite: "The Las Vegas Convention Center has over 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space in four halls and opened in April 1959." Purple Exhibits, Las Vegas Convention Center Exhibitor Guide, 2026. Sources: LVCVA Las Vegas Convention Center facility brochure (December 2024), LVCVA renovation announcements (January 2026), Freeman work rules and labor union regulations for NAB Show 2025, AAPEX 2026 union rules, CES 2027 exhibitor rates, Wikipedia (Las Vegas Convention Center), U.S. National Archives, and organizer sites for SEMA, CES, World of Concrete, Design & Construction Week, Amusement Expo, NAB Show and ConExpo-Con/Agg.
