Orlando, FL — Registration is now open for IAAPA Expo 2026, and the Halloween-themed Haunting Grounds area will move into the Orange County Convention Center’s West Building as part of the show’s largest footprint to date. The Expo runs Nov. 16-20, 2026.
The West Building expansion is the headline structural change for the 2026 show, and it is where most of the haunt-relevant programming will live. In addition to Haunting Grounds, the West Building will host the Food & Beverage Pavilion, which has doubled in size and will feature live chef demonstrations, and the EDUTalk Stage. Two new venues debut in the same building: the What’s New Theater and the Young Professionals Hub.
Haunting Grounds
Haunting Grounds is IAAPA Expo’s dedicated Halloween-and-haunt area, where vendors specific to the haunted attraction industry exhibit alongside themed activations and education. HAN’s 2025 coverage of Haunting Grounds covered the area’s role as the haunt industry’s annual touchpoint inside the broader attractions trade show. IAAPA has not yet released the full Haunting Grounds exhibitor list or programming slate for 2026.
The move to the West Building puts Haunting Grounds in the same hall as the expanded Food & Beverage Pavilion and the EDUTalk Stage, which should change the flow attendees take through the show.
What’s new in the South Building
IAAPA Expo will also debut two new themed lounges in the South Building. The Cruise Lounge will serve as a dedicated networking space for attendees tracking the cruise industry, and the Glamping Lounge will host networking and discussions for the nature and adventure parks segment.
The South Building continues to anchor the show’s traditional networking lineup: behind-the-scenes EDUTours, sector-specific receptions, and ticketed events including the Leadership Breakfast and the Women in the Industry Networking Lunch.
What IAAPA leadership said
“IAAPA Expo remains the place where the global attractions community comes together to discover new ideas, build relationships, and shape the future of our industry,” said Todd Andrus, executive director and vice president for IAAPA North America. “With the addition of the West Building, we’re able to create an even more dynamic experience for our members and attendees, one that offers expanded opportunities for business growth, professional development, and collaboration across every segment of the attractions industry.”
Luciana Periales, president and CEO of Neverland Parks and chair of the IAAPA Board of Directors, said the Expo’s value comes from its global cross-section. “IAAPA Expo is one of the few locations where attractions professionals from around the world come together under one roof. As an operator from Latin America, I have experienced firsthand the value of learning from colleagues across different markets, cultures, and sectors. The connections made at IAAPA Expo often spark new ideas, partnerships, and innovations that continue to shape our businesses long after the event concludes.”
IAAPA Celebrates returns to Epic Universe
IAAPA Celebrates, the Expo’s flagship member event, returns to Universal Epic Universe for 2026. The all-inclusive evening at Universal Orlando’s newest park gives IAAPA members access to the park’s attractions, food and beverage, and entertainment as a networking and after-hours event.
Event details
IAAPA Expo 2026 runs Nov. 16-20, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The 2026 edition will be the largest in the show’s history, with more than 1,100 exhibiting companies and more than 170 expert-led education sessions across operations, technology, guest experience, safety, sustainability, and more. Registration and additional information are available at iaapa.org/expos-and-events/iaapa-expo.
