More than 900,000 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space on one floor, so exhibit freight rolls from the dock to the booth without elevators. Ballrooms and meeting rooms sit on other levels.
Exhibitor guide · Las Vegas, NV · Updated
Mandalay Bay Convention Center Exhibitor Guide
More than 900,000 sq ft of exhibit halls on one level, at the airport end of the Strip, with three hotels and a 12,000-seat arena attached. It is also the venue with the strictest hand-carry rule in town and a Formula 1 race outside the door every November. This guide covers the Bayside halls, MGM's in-house services, move-in rules, drayage, travel times and the 2026–27 shows.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: “Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada” by Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the Mandalay Bay Convention Center
The GES rules for IMEX America 2026 allowed hand-carrying from your own vehicle in designated areas, but no hand carts or dollies, with one person staying with the car.
Mandalay Bay Exhibitor Services handles electrical, internet and telecom, plumbing, compressed air, hanging signs and booth cleaning, and the resort is the exclusive caterer.
Plan about 20 minutes by car in a normal week, more in big show weeks and much more in Formula 1 week. The travel planner below gives times for nine common trips.
Photos: "Geek Fest 2008" by bugeaters, CC BY 2.0 Source · "Video conference in High Def" by bugeaters, CC BY 2.0 Source · "people riding the waves in the pool at Mandalay Bay Beach" by Jeff Sandquist, CC BY 2.0 Source
Lunch hour at MIX10, Mandalay Bay
Photo: "Meal Hall at Lunch Time in the Mandalay Bay Hotel" by MIXEvent, CC BY 2.0 Source
The calendar
Mandalay Bay Convention Center trade shows 2026–2027
Mandalay Bay draws shows that want everything under one roof: a keynote in the arena, a hosted-buyer floor by day and receptions at the beach. Dates are from each organizer; attendance figures, where given, are rounded planning ranges.
SupplySide Global
Dietary supplements, food, beverage and personal care ingredients · expo floor Oct 28–30 · 2026
Shoptalk Spring
Retail and e-commerce · 2027
Licensing Expo
Brand and character licensing · 2027
Cosmoprof North America
Beauty: cosmetics, hair, nails, packaging · 2027
Cisco Live
Networking and IT · Cisco's customer conference and World of Solutions expo · 2027
IMEX America, the meetings industry's own show, ran October 13–15, 2026 in Bayside Halls B–F and is contracted to Mandalay Bay through 2030; listings point to late September 2027. Black Hat USA has used Mandalay Bay every August; its site lists late July to early August 2027, which we could not open to confirm. AWS re:Invent has held sessions here; its 2026 venues were not confirmed when we checked. MAGIC, once a Mandalay Bay show, now runs at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Only at Mandalay Bay
Mandalay Bay travel-time planner: the airport, the LVCC and the south Strip
Mandalay Bay is the closest major venue to Harry Reid International and the farthest from the LVCC, with a free tram to Luxor and Excalibur and no Monorail stop. "How far is it?" is the first question every Mandalay Bay exhibitor asks, so pick two points and a traffic level. Times are typical planning figures by car or rideshare, not guarantees.
Planning times outside rush hour. In Formula 1 week, closures on and around the Strip change routes; check the race's closure maps for your dates.
The building
Mandalay Bay Convention Center floor plan: Bayside halls, ballrooms and the arena
The exhibit floor is one level, which is the venue's biggest advantage: no freight elevators and no bridges between halls. The Bayside exhibit halls, A through F, combine into one floor, with the Bayside lobbies as the main attendee entrances. Ballrooms, meeting rooms and the arena surround them. MGM does not publish a hall-by-hall size table online, so check the floor plan in your show kit.
900,000+sq ft of contiguous exhibit space in the Bayside halls A–F, after the 2015 addition of 350,000 sq ft
2M+sq ft of total convention space, including ballrooms, meeting rooms and foyers
70,000sq ft Oceanside Ballroom, opened in January 2016 with a 20,000 sq ft foyer
9,400seats theater-style in the Mandalay Bay Ballroom at its largest set, per a venue capacity listing
12,000seats in the Michelob Ultra Arena next door, used for keynotes, awards and evening events
≈ 30 ftBayside hall ceiling in a 2012 venue listing; confirm the clear height for your hall before you design a sign
Ballrooms are carpeted: plan floor protection and lighter structures, and expect no forklifts inside. Arena rigging runs through its own vendor and deadlines. Sizes from MGM's 2016 expansion announcement and venue listings; MGM Resorts convention services has current plans.
Loading dock & move-in
Mandalay Bay Convention Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to Mandalay Bay Convention Center →
- Marshaling yard firstEvery vehicle unloading at the dock checks in at the contractor's marshaling yard first. For IMEX America 2026 that was the GES yard at 2982 West Post Road, with labor check-in at loading dock door 1-D.
- One level, straight to the boothThe exhibit halls are on one floor, so freight goes from the dock to the booth without elevators. Direct shipments still wait their turn: IMEX 2026 accepted them on one day only.
- Hand-carry, no dolliesAt IMEX 2026, hand-carrying from a personal vehicle was allowed only in designated areas, without hand carts or dollies, and one person had to stay with the vehicle and move it after unloading.
- No crates in the boothStoring crates, cartons or boxes in your booth is prohibited. Label empties so the contractor stores them until move-out.
- Vehicles and machineryThere are no outdoor exhibit lots like the LVCC's. Display vehicles and machinery come in through the docks, with fuel and battery rules set by the fire marshal and your show.
- Day −35Advance warehouse opens (IMEX 2026: September 9 at the GES warehouse on Lindell Road). EAC registered with show management, certificate of insurance to the contractor.
- Day −21Purple ships from New York. Vehicle and battery plans to the fire marshal if you display equipment.
- Day −10Warehouse cutoff (IMEX 2026: October 2). Formula 1-week shows should ship earlier.
- Day −3Move-in on your targeted time (IMEX 2026: October 10 to 12, around the clock).
- Day −1Booth finished by the deadline: IMEX 2026 set 8 p.m. the night before opening, with a $500 per hour penalty after.
- Show +1Move-out: carriers checked in by 11 a.m. and everything out by noon the day after IMEX 2026 closed.
Labor, exclusives & union rules
Mandalay Bay Convention Center union rules and MGM in-house services
Nevada is a right-to-work state, but show labor runs through the general contractor's Las Vegas union agreements, and MGM keeps the utilities in-house. These rules come from the GES exhibitor information for IMEX America 2026 at Mandalay Bay. Your own show kit is the final word.
✓Your full-time staff
- Set up your exhibit, carrying photo ID and company identification
- Hand-carry from a personal vehicle in the designated areas, by hand only
- Unpack, place and demonstrate your products
- Clean up your own booth between days
●Contractor and MGM work
- Truck unloading, forklifts and any heavy machinery or lifting equipment go through the general contractor's union crews
- Mandalay Bay Exhibitor Services: electrical and booth lighting, internet and telecom, compressed air and water, plumbing, hanging signs and booth cleaning
- Rigging and truss through Mandalay Bay's services
- Food and beverage only from Mandalay Bay, the exclusive caterer
- EACs register with show management and file insurance with the contractor
!Watch for
- Your staff cannot operate heavy machinery or lift equipment
- Hand carts and dollies were not allowed for hand-carry at IMEX 2026
- Contractor labor had a 4-hour daily minimum, which booth partners could share
- Compressed gas cylinders need fire marshal approval; helium cannot stay in the building overnight
- Booth cooking needs Clark County Fire and catering approval
- Double-decks and covered areas need engineered drawings and fire plan review
Background photo: "Wecome to MIX10 at Mandalay Bay" by MIXEvent, CC BY 2.0 Source
Free tool
Mandalay Bay drayage cost estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 at about $185 per hundredweight, in line with the big Las Vegas venues. Mandalay Bay publishes no rate: your general contractor's show kit carries the actual tariff, with surcharges for uncrated, late and off-target freight. See every venue on the Las Vegas drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$4,440
Cut this with a lighter booth
Where to stay & getting there
Hotels near the Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Three hotels are attached, the free tram runs to Luxor and Excalibur, and there is no Monorail station: the line ends at MGM Grand.
Attached
Mandalay Bay
Walk to the booth in minutes. The room block fills first.
Attached, all-suite
Delano Las Vegas
A quieter tower for executives and client meetings.
Attached, top floors
Four Seasons
Non-gaming, for VIP guests.
Free tram
Monorail terminusLuxor and Excalibur
One and two tram stops away, and usually the cheaper beds for crews in show weeks.
MGM Grand
For teams splitting the week with the LVCC: the Monorail starts here.
Venue guide →About 10 min drive
Harry Reid International (LAS)
The closest major Las Vegas venue to the airport. Allegiant Stadium is across I-15; game and concert days add late-afternoon traffic.
Insider tips
Mandalay Bay Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Pack for carrying, not rolling
At IMEX 2026 hand carts and dollies were banned for hand-carry, and someone had to stay with the car. Bring small kits in bags or cases one person can lift, and bring a second person.
Finish before the penalty clock
IMEX 2026 required every display complete by 8 p.m. the night before opening, with a $500 per hour penalty after. Build in a buffer, especially if your crew starts late on a target day.
Plan around race week
The Las Vegas Grand Prix runs around November 19–21 in 2026 and November 18–20 in 2027, with Strip closures. If your show is near those dates, ship to the warehouse early and add time to every trip.
Ride the tram, house crews at Luxor
The free tram links Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur in minutes. Crews staying there skip rideshare queues at the end of a long move-in night.
Get cooking and gas approved early
Booth cooking needs Clark County Fire and catering approval, compressed gas needs the fire marshal, and helium cannot stay overnight. Food samples come only from Mandalay Bay catering.
Keep the booth crate-free
Storing crates or cartons inside the booth is prohibited, and fire marshals walk the aisles. Put EMPTY labels on as you unpack and keep a small locked cabinet for daily supplies.
History
Mandalay Bay Convention Center history: a resort that built its own convention center
Mandalay Bay was built on the site of the Hacienda, one of the original Strip hotels, and its convention center was added four years later to catch shows too big for hotel ballrooms.
- 1956The Hacienda opens at the far south end of the Strip, for decades the first hotel drivers saw arriving from California.
- 1996The Hacienda is imploded on New Year's Eve, live on television, to clear the site.
- 1999Mandalay Bay opens in March, built by Circus Circus Enterprises, which renames itself Mandalay Resort Group. The Four Seasons takes the top floors.
- 2003The Mandalay Bay Convention Center opens in January.
- 2005MGM Mirage buys Mandalay Resort Group for about $7.9 billion; the center becomes an MGM property.
- 2015–16A $70 million expansion adds 350,000 sq ft of exhibit space (August 2015) and the 70,000 sq ft Oceanside Ballroom (January 2016), taking the center past 2 million sq ft with more than 900,000 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space.
- 2020Allegiant Stadium opens across Interstate 15, putting an NFL stadium and its event calendar next door.
- 2023The Las Vegas Grand Prix brings Formula 1 to the Strip each November; road closures now shape move-in for shows in that window.
- TodayIMEX America, Cosmoprof North America, Licensing Expo, Shoptalk, SupplySide Global and Black Hat anchor the calendar.
FAQ
Mandalay Bay Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors
Is Mandalay Bay all on one level?
The exhibit halls are: more than 900,000 sq ft of contiguous space in the Bayside halls. Ballrooms and meeting rooms sit on other levels and in the Oceanside wing. For an exhibit booth that means no freight elevators, which makes installs faster than in buildings with upper-level halls.
Can I bring my own electrician or rigger?
No. Mandalay Bay Exhibitor Services handles electrical, internet and telecom, plumbing, compressed air, hanging signs and booth cleaning, and rigging and truss go through Mandalay Bay's services. Order before the discount deadline in your kit.
Can my own staff set up our booth at Mandalay Bay?
Yes. Under the GES rules for IMEX America 2026, full-time company personnel with photo and company ID may set up their exhibit, but they cannot operate heavy machinery or lift equipment. EACs must register with show management and file insurance with the contractor.
How far is it from the LVCC?
About 20 minutes by car in a normal week, longer in big show weeks and Formula 1 week. Use the planner above. Teams working both venues in one week often stay near MGM Grand and take the Monorail for the LVCC leg.
Does the Formula 1 race affect my show?
If your show is in mid-to-late November, yes. The Las Vegas Grand Prix runs around November 19–21 in 2026 and November 18–20 in 2027, and closures around the Strip change freight routes and travel times. Ship early and check the race's closure maps.
Can vehicles or machinery be displayed?
Yes, inside the halls; there are no outdoor exhibit lots like the LVCC's. Vehicles come in through the docks with the contractor, fuel and battery rules apply, and your staff may not operate machinery or lifting equipment on the floor.
How tall can I build?
Your show's height rules and the hall's clear height decide it. A 2012 venue listing gave the Bayside hall a 30 ft ceiling; confirm the figure for your hall in the show kit, and order hanging signs through Mandalay Bay Exhibitor Services.
How much is drayage at Mandalay Bay?
Plan about $185 per hundredweight for crated freight. Mandalay Bay does not publish rates; your general contractor's show kit carries the tariff, including surcharges for uncrated and late freight.
Where do crews stay?
Luxor and Excalibur, one and two free tram stops away, usually at a fraction of the Mandalay Bay rate in show weeks.
Is there a Monorail station?
No. The Monorail ends at MGM Grand, about ten minutes away by car. The free tram to Luxor and Excalibur is the on-site transit.
What about stadium event days?
Allegiant Stadium is across the freeway. Game and concert days add heavy late-afternoon traffic around the south Strip, which matters for move-out. Check the stadium calendar against your dates.
What does Purple do that the show contractor does not?
The contractor moves freight and rents pipe and drape. Purple designs and builds your booth, ships and installs from New York, and coordinates crews and freight for Mandalay Bay, including the EAC paperwork and the move-in deadline.
Exhibiting at Mandalay Bay?
Start with the booth number. We handle the rest.
Tell us your hall, your move-in target and whether anything rolls, runs on fuel or needs to be cooked. Within two business days we send a design that suits a no-dolly move-in, a drayage estimate and a schedule that beats the finish deadline, Formula 1 week included.
Background photo: Unsplash (free license)
Compare venues
Mandalay Bay Convention Center vs other Nevada venues
How the Mandalay Bay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandalay Bay Convention CenterThis guide | Convention center | 900,000+ sq ft contiguous Bayside halls | ≈ 30 ft (check hall) | Union · staff setup OK | ≈ $185/cwt | LAS · ~10 min |
| 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 |
| Las Vegas Convention CenterLas Vegas | Convention center | 623,058 sq ft Central Hall | 25–42 ft | Union · staff setup OK | ≈ $185/cwt | LAS · 3.5 mi |
| 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 Mandalay Bay Convention Center
MGM Grand Conference CenterSouth Strip
ARIA Convention CenterCityCenter
Caesars PalaceCenter Strip
Caesars ForumCenter Strip
Venetian ExpoMid-Strip
Las Vegas Convention CenterAbout 20 minutes north
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 Mandalay Bay Convention Center opened in 2003 and, after its 2015–16 expansion, has more than 2 million square feet of space, with more than 900,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit halls on one level." Purple Exhibits, Mandalay Bay Exhibitor Guide, 2026. Sources: MGM Resorts 2016 expansion announcement (via KNPR and Hotel Online), GES exhibitor information for IMEX America 2026, venue capacity listings, Formula 1 2027 calendar, Library of Congress (Carol M. Highsmith Archive), U.S. National Archives, Wikipedia (Mandalay Bay, Mandalay Bay Convention Center), and organizer sites for SupplySide Global, Shoptalk, Licensing Expo, Cosmoprof North America and IMEX America.