In short
NAB Show visitors are engineers and production people who want to see kit working in a real workflow, so booths that do well run live demos on real signal chains, schedule short theatre presentations and give technical staff a place to talk detail. Start a custom booth about 6–9 months ahead and confirm dates, height limits and rules in the exhibitor manual.
Key points
- Where and when: Las Vegas, annual, in April.
- The audience is mostly broadcast engineers.
- Live, working demos showing the full workflow, not isolated products.
- A small theatre with a schedule for partner and product sessions.
- Plan a custom booth about 6–9 months before the show.
NAB Show for exhibitors
NAB Show covers cameras, production, post-production, streaming, broadcast infrastructure and cloud media. Booths range from small inline spaces to large islands with studios and theatres; live demos and presentations are central.
| NAB Show | |
|---|---|
| City | Las Vegas |
| Venue | Las Vegas Convention Center |
| Sector | Broadcast, media and entertainment technology |
| Cycle | Annual, in April |
| Main stand activity | Demonstrations |
| Custom stand lead time | 6–9 months |
Who you are designing for
Broadcast engineers, production and post teams, streaming platforms, creators and media executives.
What matters most on a NAB Show booth:
- Live, working demos showing the full workflow, not isolated products.
- A small theatre with a schedule for partner and product sessions.
- Monitors set for colour-critical viewing where it matters.
- Rack space and cable routes hidden but accessible.
Layouts for demonstrations, by stand type
Most NAB Show exhibitors build around demonstrations. How that works depends on how many sides of your plot are open. If you are unsure which type you have, see exhibition stand types.
| Stand type | Open sides | What works |
|---|---|---|
| Row (inline) | 1 | One demo point at the front edge with a screen behind it and a counter to one side; visitors watch from the aisle and step in. |
| Corner | 2 | A demo facing each aisle, with the tallest brand element at the closed corner so it reads from both approaches. |
| Peninsula | 3 | Demo pods on the three open sides, a small meeting table against the back wall for follow-up conversations. |
| Island | 4 | A hero product or small stage at the centre, demo pods on each face, and a closed core for storage and a meeting room. |
Stand ideas for NAB Show
- A live production set from camera to playout, running all day.
- A small theatre with a screen schedule of partner sessions.
- A colour-critical grading suite with controlled lighting.
Planning, approvals and logistics
Las Vegas show labour rules apply; heavy AV and racks need material handling planned. Network and power loads are high for live demos.
Allow about 6–9 months for a custom booth. The exhibitor manual sets height limits, open-side rules and service deadlines; see venue approval and technical drawings.
Mistakes we see at NAB Show
- Unstable demo set-ups that fail in front of engineers.
- Screens in direct hall light, killing colour and contrast.
Try your NAB Show layout in 3D
ExhibitionBase Studio turns your plot size, open sides and a brief about demonstrations into an editable 3D booth for 5 credits, renders it and exports a plan for your builder. New workspaces get 5 free credits.
Frequently asked questions
01Should my NAB booth have a theatre?
If you have several products or partners, a scheduled theatre draws a seated audience and gives a reason to return. Small booths can run sessions on a single large screen.
02How do I keep demos reliable?
Rehearse the full chain before the show, bring spares and keep a technician on the booth. Wired networking is more reliable than hall Wi-Fi.
03How early should I start designing a NAB Show booth?
For a custom booth, about 6–9 months ahead: long enough for design, organiser approval, production and shipping. Shell scheme booths can be planned in weeks.
04Can I reuse my NAB Show booth at other shows?
Often, if it is modular. Design the core (walls, counters, demonstrations area) to work on several plot sizes, and swap graphics per show. See [modular vs custom stands](/guides/modular-vs-custom-exhibition-stands).
Put it into practice
From a client brief to a 3D stand concept in minutes
An editable 3D exhibition stand concept from a written brief and the brand's website, at your exact size.
Guidance here reflects common practice. Venues, organisers and countries set their own rules: always check the exhibitor manual and work with a qualified stand builder and engineer for structures.
