CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026
August 26, 2026 – August 28, 2026
Las Vegas Convention Center — 3150 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
10,000+ estimated attendees
CHAMPS Trade Show — North America's largest B2B counterculture wholesale marketplace — runs August 26-28, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Over 10,000 smoke shop owners, headshop retailers, glass artists, vaporizer brands, CBD distributors, and cannabis accessory buyers attend for three days of sourcing and brand discovery. The show closes Friday August 28, with the Strip's strongest late-August entertainment weekend running Saturday-Sunday: The Chainsmokers at EBC, Zedd at OMNIA Dayclub, Tiësto at LIV Beach, and Diplo at EBC at Night.
Dates
August 26, 2026 – August 28, 2026
Venue
Las Vegas Convention Center
Address
3150 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Est. Attendance
10,000+
Type
trade show
Guest List
Free Nightclub Entry
Your CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026 Resources
Guides & Info for CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026 Attendees
Everything you need for CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026 in Las Vegas — from badge pickup to after-hours nightlife.
Attendee Guide
Badge pickup, show hours, tips & logistics
🎶Nightlife & After Parties
Best clubs and bars during the show
🏨Wynn & Encore
Nightlife at Wynn for attendees
🏨The Cosmopolitan
Nightlife at Cosmo for attendees
🏨Caesars Palace
Nightlife at Caesars for attendees
🏨MGM Grand
Nightlife at MGM Grand for attendees
🏨Bellagio
Nightlife at Bellagio for attendees
🗺️All Hotels
Browse every Las Vegas hotel with nightlife access
About CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026
What Is CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026?
CHAMPS Trade Show arrives at the Las Vegas Convention Center for its August 2026 edition, running Wednesday August 26 through Friday August 28. For the wholesale buyers, headshop retailers, smoke shop owners, glass artists, and cannabis accessory distributors who fill the LVCC's hall for three days each summer, the late August timing carries a specific industry significance: the CHAMPS August show is the final major buying opportunity before Q4 retail stocking season begins. Buyers who source inventory at CHAMPS August place orders that will arrive on shelves in October and November, capturing the cannabis accessory market's holiday-adjacent demand surge before competing retailers have made their inventory commitments. This buying calendar context shapes how serious CHAMPS August attendees approach the show floor differently than the spring edition: the spring show is for brand discovery and relationship-building across an unhurried four-day window, while the August three-day format concentrates the purchasing decision timeline. Las Vegas in late August means peak desert summer heat outside the convention center — daytime temperatures run 104 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit during the August 26-28 show days — but the LVCC interior is fully climate-controlled, and the real heat exposure for CHAMPS attendees is limited to the transit between hotel and convention center. August on the Las Vegas Strip also means the pool party season is still fully operational: Encore Beach Club, OMNIA Dayclub, Marquee Dayclub, and Ayu Dayclub all continue through August with headliner DJ programming that positions Las Vegas's daytime entertainment calendar at or near its summer peak. CHAMPS August closes on Friday, with Saturday August 29 delivering one of the strongest single-day Strip entertainment windows of the 2026 summer: The Chainsmokers headline Encore Beach Club at 11 AM, Zedd at OMNIA Dayclub, Tiësto at LIV Beach, Chris Lake at Palm Tree Beach Club, and Diplo at EBC at Night at 10:30 PM. The practical reality for CHAMPS buyers is that the trade show and the Strip's entertainment calendar produce a combined value that no other single August week in Las Vegas replicates: four days of wholesale sourcing followed by one of the year's most stacked pool and nightclub weekends.
From the Attendee Guide
Badge Pickup & Show Hours
Badge Pickup
Entry to CHAMPS Trade Show requires two forms of business identification — this requirement has been consistently enforced across every CHAMPS Las Vegas edition, and arriving without complete documentation means being turned away at the LVCC entrance with no accommodation for partial credentials. The standard accepted combination is a current business card paired with one of the following supporting documents: a state-issued business license, a seller's permit, a resale certificate, a retail tax identification number document, or a supplier registration letter from an established manufacturer or distributor in the counterculture accessories market. A business card alone is not sufficient. The second document must affirmatively establish that you operate in a qualifying industry category: retail smoke shop owner, headshop buyer, online counterculture retailer, vaporizer distributor, glass art wholesaler, CBD brand representative, or related B2B industry participant. Journalists, bloggers, general consumers, and industry-adjacent visitors without a demonstrable wholesale or retail business affiliation are not admitted — CHAMPS enforces this consistently, and the enforcement is tighter at the August show than at some prior spring editions. On-site registration operates at the LVCC convention hall entrance on each day of the show. There is no pre-registration kiosk or advance credentialing process equivalent to consumer trade shows — you register at the door on the day of attendance. On Day 1 (Wednesday August 26), plan for 15 to 20 minutes of registration time if you arrive at the 11 AM open, when the line is longest. Thursday and Friday morning registration moves faster. If you are attending multiple days, retain all documentation across the full three-day window — credentials are verified at entry on each separate day. Buyers attending for the first time should review the complete admissions policy at champstradeshows.com before departing for Las Vegas to avoid documentation gaps that the show's on-site staff cannot waive.
Show Floor Hours
Quick Tips for First-Timers
- Build your target vendor list before arriving. The CHAMPS floor spans hundreds of booths across multiple halls at the LVCC — buyers who arrive without a priority list spend the first two hours orienting rather than purchasing. Download the official CHAMPS floor map (published at champstradeshows.com a week before the show) and mark target exhibitors by hall and booth number before Wednesday morning.
- Document your business credentials in triplicate. Bring three copies of your secondary business ID (license, seller's permit, or resale certificate) — one for each day of attendance. The on-site credential check re-verifies on each entry. Digital copies on your phone serve as backup if a paper copy is lost, but physical documents process faster at the door.
- The 11 AM to 12:30 PM window on Wednesday is the highest-quality networking time of the week. Exhibitors are fully set up and engaged, crowds have not yet built to peak density, and brand representatives have maximum availability for extended conversations. Serious buyers who need one-on-one time with a specific manufacturer's representative should arrive at 11 AM on Wednesday for the best access.
- Thursday afternoon is the floor's highest-pressure buying session. Buyers who spent Wednesday and Thursday morning in discovery mode converge on target exhibitors Thursday afternoon to close purchase decisions before the Friday final day. If you have a booth that requires multiple vendor visits and comparison, complete your discovery phase by Wednesday evening and schedule Thursday for purchasing conversations.
Getting There
How to Get to CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026
Parking
The LVCC has large surface lots and a parking garage surrounding the complex. Expect to pay $15–25 per day during major shows. Lots fill up fast — arrive before 9 AM or consider rideshare instead.
Rideshare (Uber / Lyft)
Uber and Lyft have a designated pickup and dropoff area on Convention Center Drive. Surge pricing is common during morning arrivals and evening departures — stagger your schedule to avoid the rush.
Public Transit / Monorail
The Las Vegas Monorail has a dedicated Convention Center station with direct service to Strip hotels from MGM Grand to the Sahara. A single ride is $5 and a full-day pass is $13. During peak convention hours the monorail is often faster than driving.
Walking from the Strip
The north end of the Las Vegas Strip is about a 15-minute walk from the LVCC. The monorail makes it easy to reach central and south Strip hotels in under 10 minutes.
Vegas After Hours
Nightlife During CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026
When 10,000 trade show attendees descend on Las Vegas for CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026, the nightlife scene shifts into a higher gear. The Strip's biggest clubs extend their lineups, book marquee DJs, and host industry-specific after-parties to capture the surge. Expect longer peak hours, busier dance floors, and an electric atmosphere that feeds off the energy of the trade show crowd. Whether your group is celebrating a successful day of meetings or just looking to unwind, you will find every style of nightlife within minutes of your hotel.
Convention weeks create a unique dynamic in Vegas. The typical weekend tourist crowd blends with professionals who are in town on expense accounts and looking to make the most of their evenings. Bottle service tables sell out faster than usual, especially at venues like XS, OMNIA, and Marquee. If VIP seating is on your radar, booking early is strongly recommended. For everyone else, the guest list is the smartest move — it guarantees free entry and lets you skip the general-admission line that grows significantly during major trade show weeks.
The best part of going out during CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026 is the social element. You will run into colleagues, competitors, and new contacts on the dance floor. Some of the most productive conversations at any convention happen after midnight over cocktails, not on the show floor. Strip clubs like Sapphire and Crazy Horse III are also extremely popular with convention groups — free guest list from your hotel and no cover through our guest list make it an easy choice for groups of any size.
After the Show
CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026 After Dark — Nightlife Picks
CHAMPS Trade Show August 2026 delivers an after-hours context that the spring edition cannot match: the Saturday August 29 Strip entertainment lineup is one of the strongest single-day concentrations of headliner DJ talent of the summer season. When the CHAMPS floor closes on Friday August 28 at 6 PM, attendees have a 28-hour window before the Saturday programming peaks — enough time for a full night Thursday (August 27), rest, and positioning for the Saturday dayclub circuit opening at 11 AM. The post-CHAMPS weekend is not an incidental bonus to the trade show; for a significant portion of CHAMPS buyers — particularly those in the cannabis accessories and electronic music-adjacent lifestyle markets — the August Strip weekend is a deliberate factor in the show's Las Vegas timing. The counterculture and cannabis retail demographics that attend CHAMPS overlap substantially with the fan base that follows Calvin Harris, Diplo, The Chainsmokers, and the EDM-rooted artists who dominate the August Strip roster. This demographic alignment means the CHAMPS August crowd uses the Strip's nightclub circuit in a way that differs from the CES or NAB construction of convention-to-nightlife as separate activities: for CHAMPS attendees, the nightclub calendar is a recognized part of the same cultural universe as the show floor, not a tourist add-on.
Encore Beach Club at Night (EBC at Night)
Outdoor Nightclub / Pool Party
Subtronics headlines Friday August 28 at 10:30 PM — the highest-profile booking during CHAMPS week. The Encore pool deck stays swimmable through the Nightswim set. One monorail stop north from Resorts World plus an 8-min walk to the Wynn campus.
Zouk Nightclub
Nightclub
The Strip's premier underground electronic music venue, one monorail stop north from the LVCC Convention Center station. Tech-house and bass-music programming on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights during CHAMPS week. Ray Volpe headlines Friday August 28.
Hakkasan Nightclub
Nightclub
Five-floor EDM and hip-hop venue at MGM Grand with DJ Franzen's R&Bae Wednesdays running the Ling Ling Lounge on the opening night of CHAMPS. Southernmost monorail stop from the LVCC; access via the Convention Center line with one transfer.
OMNIA Nightclub
Nightclub
Deorro headlines OMNIA on Friday August 28 (10:30 PM). The kinetic chandelier main room at Caesars Palace runs its full Friday production. Accessible via the Flamingo/Caesars monorail stop from the LVCC.
Sapphire Las Vegas
Gentlemen's Club
Free admission through NoCoverVegas guest list. Open until 6 AM — the most common after-hours destination for CHAMPS groups who run on counterculture schedules. Free shuttle service from Strip hotels. The largest gentlemen's club in the world, 2.5 miles from the LVCC.
Skip the Cover Charge
How to Get Free Entry During CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026
Cover charges at Las Vegas nightclubs typically run $30 to $75 per person during convention weeks, and lines can stretch past an hour. Here is how to skip both.
- 1
Sign Up for the Guest List
Fill out the form at the bottom of this page with your name, phone number, group size, and hotel. It takes less than thirty seconds.
- 2
Get Your Confirmation
You will receive a text message confirming your spot on the guest list along with details about your free guest list entry from your hotel.
- 3
Show Up and Walk In
Your car arrives at the scheduled time. When you reach the venue, give the host your name — you bypass the general-admission line and enter with no cover charge. That is it. No catch, no minimum spend required.
Make the Most of Your Trip
Insider Tips for CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026 Attendees
Balance Your Schedule
Convention days are long and draining. If you plan to go out at night, map out which sessions and booths are must-sees so you can leave the show floor by late afternoon. A short break at your hotel between the trade show and dinner makes a massive difference in your energy level for the evening ahead.
Pick the Right Nights
The first night of CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026 is usually the wildest — everyone has just arrived and the excitement is high. The final night tends to be more relaxed as attendees pack and prepare for early flights. For the best club lineups, Friday and Saturday nights always deliver regardless of the convention calendar.
Recovery Game Plan
Hydration is everything in the desert. Keep a water bottle on you during the trade show and match every cocktail with a glass of water at night. Order room service breakfast or grab a quick bite at your hotel before heading to the venue — skipping breakfast after a late night is a recipe for a miserable afternoon on the show floor.
Book as a Group
Heading out with colleagues or clients? Larger groups get better treatment at every venue in Las Vegas. When you sign up for the guest list, include your full group count so we can arrange a ride that fits everyone and ensure your party walks in together. Groups of six or more can often request reserved seating at no extra cost.
Pool Parties During CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026
Convention sessions typically wrap by 5 PM. That leaves the perfect window for a pool party before dinner. Las Vegas dayclubs operate March through October with free guest list entry — a popular choice for networking or blowing off steam after a full day of sessions and exhibits.
After the Show
Top Nightclubs During CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026
XS Nightclub
Wynn Las Vegas
OMNIA Nightclub
Caesars Palace
Hakkasan
MGM Grand
Marquee Nightclub
The Cosmopolitan
TAO Nightclub
The Venetian
Zouk Nightclub
Resorts World
Gentlemen's Clubs
Strip Clubs During CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026
Las Vegas strip clubs are a popular after-hours option during convention week. Most offer free guest list entry and complimentary transportation from your hotel — no cover, no minimums.
Sapphire Las Vegas
Crazy Horse 3
Treasures
Hustler Club
Spearmint Rhino
Peppermint Hippo
Kings of Hustler
Palomino Club
Little Darlings
Deja Vu Showgirls
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CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026 — FAQ
When is CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026?
CHAMPS Trade Show 2026 in Las Vegas runs Wednesday August 26 through Friday August 28, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road. Show hours are 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day. This is the summer edition of CHAMPS Las Vegas — the show also runs a spring edition in May and typically a winter edition in December. The August show is the critical late-summer buying window for Q4 inventory purchasing in the smoke shop and cannabis accessories retail calendar.
Who can attend CHAMPS Trade Show?
CHAMPS is a strictly B2B trade show — open only to wholesale buyers, retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and industry professionals in the counterculture, cannabis accessories, smoking products, and related markets. Accepted attendees include smoke shop owners, headshop buyers, vape retailers, online counterculture retailers, glass art dealers, CBD product buyers, vaporizer hardware distributors, and manufacturer and brand representatives. Two forms of business ID are required at entry — a business card plus a supporting document (business license, seller's permit, resale certificate, or tax ID). General consumers, journalists without press credentials, and industry-adjacent visitors without a demonstrable B2B industry affiliation are not admitted.
How is CHAMPS different from MJBizCon?
CHAMPS and MJBizCon serve adjacent but distinct markets. MJBizCon (typically held November at the Las Vegas Convention Center) is the primary cannabis industry trade show — focused on cannabis cultivation, dispensary operations, extraction technology, and plant-touching businesses. CHAMPS focuses on the accessories, merchandise, and alternative lifestyle products that surround the cannabis and counterculture retail ecosystem: glass art, vaporizer hardware, rolling accessories, CBD products, branded apparel, and the full range of smoke shop and headshop inventory. Retailers and distributors often attend both shows — CHAMPS to source accessories inventory for Q4 and MJBizCon for cannabis product relationships. The shows do not directly compete on calendar or product focus.
What nightlife is near the Las Vegas Convention Center during CHAMPS?
The LVCC's location on Paradise Road gives it direct monorail access to the Strip's full nightclub and dayclub circuit via the Las Vegas Monorail Convention Center stop. One stop north: Resorts World (Zouk Nightclub, Ayu Dayclub). Two stops south: Harrah's and The LINQ. Three stops south: Flamingo and Caesars Palace (OMNIA Nightclub, OMNIA Dayclub). The LINQ Promenade is 20 minutes from the LVCC by rideshare and covers Fly Nightclub, High Roller, and restaurant access. Sapphire Las Vegas gentlemen's club is 2.5 miles northwest of the LVCC with complimentary shuttle service from Strip hotels. Register through NoCoverVegas for free guest list access at any Strip nightclub — particularly important for Friday August 28 and Saturday August 29 when headliner cover charges run $40 to $75 per person.
Are pool parties open during CHAMPS Trade Show August 2026?
Yes — late August is still full pool party season in Las Vegas. Encore Beach Club at Wynn, OMNIA Dayclub at Caesars Palace, Marquee Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan, Ayu Dayclub at Resorts World, and Palm Tree Beach Club at MGM Grand all operate through the end of August. Saturday August 29 (the day after CHAMPS closes) is the peak post-show pool day: The Chainsmokers at EBC, Zedd at OMNIA Dayclub, Tiësto at LIV Beach, and Chris Lake at Palm Tree Beach Club all run simultaneously from 11 AM. Pool party guest list registration through NoCoverVegas for Saturday August 29 should be submitted at least 5-7 days in advance — these headliner dayclubs sell out.
What hotels are convenient to both the LVCC and the Strip for CHAMPS?
Resorts World Las Vegas is the closest major Strip property to the Las Vegas Convention Center — directly adjacent via Paradise Road, with the Resorts World monorail stop providing one-stop access to the LVCC Convention Center station in under 10 minutes. The proximity makes Resorts World the most operationally convenient hotel for CHAMPS buyers: Zouk Nightclub and Ayu Dayclub are on-property, and the LVCC campus is a short rideshare or taxi-equivalent distance. Wynn and Encore are the next-closest premium Strip properties and include the EBC and XS Nightlife properties that headline the CHAMPS after-hours calendar. Mid-Strip hotels at Harrah's, The Cosmopolitan, and Caesars Palace add 5-10 minutes of transit to the LVCC but provide central Strip access to Marquee, OMNIA, and Hakkasan. Book August hotels early — the Strip experiences higher demand in late August than the lull between Black Hat/DEF CON (August 1-9) and Labor Day.
Can I go to nightclubs during CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026?
Absolutely. Las Vegas nightclubs operate year-round and convention weeks are some of their busiest periods. Most venues open at 10:30 PM and run until 4 AM. Sign up for a free guest list to skip cover charges and long general-admission lines.
Is there free transportation to nightclubs during CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026?
Yes. When you sign up through our guest list, you receive a free guest list entry from your hotel to the venue. The guest list is completely free with no obligation to purchase anything at the club.
What is the best night to go out during CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026?
The first and second nights of the trade show tend to have the biggest crowds and the most energy. Many attendees save the final night for a quieter dinner instead. Friday and Saturday nights always have the strongest DJ lineups regardless of the convention schedule.
How should I dress for Las Vegas nightclubs?
Nightclubs on the Strip enforce a dress code. Men should wear collared shirts or stylish button-downs with dress shoes — no athletic wear, shorts, or sandals. Women have more flexibility but upscale attire is expected. If you are coming straight from the trade show, plan to change at your hotel first.
Las Vegas Nightlife — All Resources
Nightclubs
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Free Guest List for CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026 Attendees
Get On The List
Free nightclub entry + free guest list entry at your hotel during CHAMPS Trade Show Las Vegas 2026