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NAB Show Attendance 2026
NAB Show attendees hailed from 146 countries, underscoring its expanding international footprint. Almost one in four participants traveled from outside the U.S. (22%), while 48% were first-time attendees — almost half of the total audience. This surge highlights the event’s growing global appeal and its increasing relevance as a destination for storytellers worldwide.
Expanded Audiences
Three audience areas in particular are driving growth that reveals not just an evolving media landscape, but also an evolving NAB Show:
- Content Creators: The number of registered attendees who are content creators increased 140% over 2025, with NAB Show’s Content Creator VIP Program and other initiatives poised to expand that universe.
- Enterprise: More than 13,000 attendees reported that they are corporate media professionals, almost double the 2025 number.
- Sports: The 2026 NAB Show included attendees from about 75 professional sports teams, 22 professional leagues and governing bodies, 30 sports venues, 15 esports/gaming organizations, 35 collegiate athletic departments, and 15 sports content producers/distributors.
Show Trends, Exhibits and Connections
The NAB Show defined the future of the evolving media and entertainment landscape, with key trends such as artificial intelligence, creator economy and the intersection of sports and technology at the forefront. The Show featured more than 1,100 exhibitors from around the globe, spanning the equivalent of nearly eight soccer fields and highlighting 132 first-time participants showcasing their innovations. Global brands included Sony, Canon, Ross, Blackmagic Design, Adobe, Google Cloud, AT&T and AWS.
Exhibitors from around the world brought the latest breakthroughs to life on a dynamic Show floor. The exhibition became a high-energy hub of discovery, connection and opportunity, reinforcing NAB Show’s position as the global epicenter for industry professionals and where business gets done.
“At NAB Show, we talk to studios, to the broadcasters, longstanding customers, but at the same time, we’re able to engage with developers and content creators,” said Gaby Ferreres, head of Industry Marketing, M&E, Sports, Games and Advertising at AWS. “It’s a broad swath of different audiences that we get to meet with and engage with at NAB.”
Other highlights of the show were new and enhanced networking environments, including a Networking Lounge with curated meetups and happy hours, and an invite-only Executive Lounge for high-level meetings and conversations.
Top Speakers and Sessions
NAB Show brought together a broad spectrum of thought leaders, including representatives from major corporations like Microsoft, NBC Sports, FIFA, Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix. Top speakers included:
- Nate Bargatze, television host and comedian, Nateland
- Akela Cooper, screenwriter of “M3GAN” and “Malignant”
- Mark Fischbach aka Markiplier, YouTuber and filmmaker
- Anna Gomez, commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
- Marcus Jones, All-Pro Cornerback, New England Patriots
- Jon Miller, president, Acquisitions and Partnerships, NBC Sports
- Jeff Probst, host and executive producer, “Survivor”
- Jen Psaki, anchor, MS NOW
- Eric Robles, showrunner, Netflix’s “Stranger Things: Tales from ’85”
- Mo Rocca, “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent and author
- JB Smoove, actor and comedian
- Olivia Trusty, commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
NAB Show delivered more than 530 conference sessions featuring some 900 speakers from across the global media and entertainment ecosystem. An influx of new voices and emerging topics underscored NAB Show’s commitment to championing innovation and driving forward-looking conversations.
Another great NAB Show this year which gets better and better every year. See you at the next NAB Show 2027.
Ralph Hajik
Photojournalist
RJTravelMedia -
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