Theatre, stage and live event exhibitions of the world


Theatre, stage and live events bring joy to millions of people, but there’s plenty of hard work behind the scenes before that happens. Professionals in these industries need to know about the latest technologies, and network with like-minded pros to keep their professional edge.

Stagefreight has experience in multiple sectors, providing both exhibition and theatre transport services. We know how important theatre, stage and live event exhibitions are to theatre backstage teams. That’s why we’ve put together this new list of exhibitions for people in the theatre, stage and live event industries.

The Media Production Show

Tuesday 11th–Wednesday 12th June 2019

sound mixing board

This free annual event in London’s Olympia Exhibition Centre focuses on the technology behind content creation. It’s organised by publishers of market leading titles such as Broadcast Intelligence, KFTV and Screen International.

150 exhibitors present products and services connected to pre/post production and content distribution. The 5,300 attendees can also enjoy a free programme of seminars, where 200 industry superstars will be sharing their insights and knowledge.

Products and services at this event are organised into several distinct zones. Learn about post-production and rebuilding the internet for video at the Technology & Post Creative hub, or discuss podcasting and women in sound at the Audio Theatre. There’s even a Broadcast Sports zone where you can explore fan engagement, as well as AI and machine learning in sport.

For more details on this event, go to the official site here.

Stage|Set|Scenery

Tuesday 18th–Thursday 20th June 2019

This biannual international trade fair takes place in Berlin, with an emphasis on theatre, film and event technology. Attendees can learn more about stage machinery, lighting, acoustics, makeup and furnishings. There are also several different sectors represented, including film, decoration, events, safety and museums.

Organised by Messe Berlin GmbH and Deutsche Theatertechnische Gesellschaft, the event offers several distinct exhibition sectors including light, sound and security, and also covers newer technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality. There are more than 100 workshops, roundtables and presentations to choose from, as well as live demonstrations of sound systems and other new technologies.

274 companies will exhibit this year, 81 of which come from 21 foreign countries. There will also be over 6,500 attendees from 57 different countries. For more details on this exciting event, head over to the official website.

Event Production Show

Every February

Dedicated to live events of all kinds, Event Production Show at Olympia London brings together professionals from multiple event sectors. It’s suitable for concert promoters, festival organisers, production companies and even local authorities.

This year’s show offered over 200 exhibitors, allowing you to plan every part of your next event. It also offered a series of presentations and panels from 76 speakers discussing outdoor events, particulary independent festivals. The Networking Bar acted as a central hub for the show, allowing attendees to network with other event teams. There were also forums to discuss the matters the industry faces in the near future.

This year’s event is now over, but you can read all about it (and prepare for the next one!) at the official site. With over 6,000 attendees at 2019’s event, we’re sure you’ll be in good company.

Plasa Show

Sunday 15th September—Tuesday 17th September 2019

stage with crew, performers and spotlights

This flagship international event is dedicated to the entertainment technology industry. It’s a showcase for the latest developments in lighting, live sound, rigging, staging and AV equipment!

More than 200 brands will exhibit at this year’s show, with over 9,000 professionals attending. Visitors can also enjoy seminars and workshops across four theatres, while over 80 professionals will be presenting at this event.

With new product launches and groundbreaking technology by leading brands, as well as a full programme of thought-provoking content, this exhibition is a great choice for professionals in this industry. It takes place at the Olympia exhibition centre in London; you can learn more about it here.

Venues + Events Live

Wednesday 18th–Thursday 19th September 2019 (Old Billingsgate, London)

Monday 23rd–Tuesday 24th September 2019 (Manchester Central)

This events show focuses on a variety of venues, as well as restaurants, hotels, bars and event suppliers. It’s a great showcase of creativity, and sets out to inspire all kinds of event organisers. It’s known as an unmissable exhibition for people who organize events for a living, and has grown so much that it’s now also exhibiting in Manchester.

The event is free to attend, with more than 250 exhibitors showing their wares across five floors. You can attend talks from experts and celebrity speakers, or develop new skills in hands-on masterclasses. When you’re ready to take things a little easier, the expert tasting tutorials are waiting for you!

Offering broad appeal (and events in both London and Manchester) this show can inspire virtually any event. More than 6,000 people—including top-tier corporate event managers and event buyers from multiple industries—attend London’s event, while Manchesters expects over 2,500. For further details, visit the site here.

LDI Show

Monday 18th–Sunday 24th November 2019

This exciting event takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Running since 1988, LDI (or Live Design International) focuses on live audience experiences. More than 80 countries, 300 exhibitors and 14,000 professionals attend each year, coming from theatre, concerts, festivals, clubs and even theme parks.

14,000 attendees can take advantage of hands-on product demos (the main attraction) and experiential networking events from more than 390 exhibitors and even industry training. There will be more than 100 cutting-edge training sessions to take advantage of, too; previous training events include safe laser operation, the fundamentals of entertainment rigging and tracking in three dimensions!

Learn more about this event here.

Live Event Expo Tokyo

Wednesday 5th–Friday 7th February 2020

purple fabric suspended in air and manipulated by fans

This is Japan’s largest exhibition for the live entertainment industry. Running out of the Makuhari Messe convention centre it focuses on B2B relationships, bringing together people working with LED displays, pro audio, stage art, merchandise production and digital entertainment (i.e. VR, AR and projection mapping). If you work in concert venues, theatres or amusement parks, the Live Event Expo is a great choice.

Japan’s central location in Asia’s entertainment market makes the show a must-see if you’d like to work in this region. A recent addition to the show is a zone dedicated to increasingly popular eSports (video games played competitively, often for huge cash prizes). Attendees can learn about eSport event operation, broadcasting, IPs and much more.

2019’s show attracted 25,872 visitors—an increase of 1,996 over 2018’s show. Next year’s show promises to be just as diverse and engaging an event! You can get further details on this show here.

Expo-Scène 2019

Monday 25th–Tuesday 26th March 2020

Taking place at the Palais des Congrès in Montreal, this is a major Canadian event dedicated to industry professionals working with sound, lighting, video and multimedia technologies. More than 75 exhibitors attend, while more than 1,800 people visit from North America alone.

In addition to the exhibition stands, there are several workshops for attendees to take advantage of. Previous subjects include AV network fundamentals, modern workplace solutions and eco-responsibility in the arts. There are even charging stations and free chair massages to keep you energised!

Get ready for next year’s event by clicking here.

Prolight + Sound

Sunday 31st March–Wednesday 3rd April 2020

This annual event bills itself as the most important international meeting place for people working with entertainment technologies. It covers areas like audio, lighting, stage and set construction, as well as events equipment and systems integration.

Although the event takes place at Messe Frankfurt in Germany, 63% of exhibitors (and 50% of visitors) come from outside Germany itself. The event also offers a Business Matchmaking programme, which helps to put you in touch with relevant professionals in your industry. Professionals from across the sector attend, including wholesalers, retailers, technicians and even DJs.

As well as a great networking event, Prolight + Sound offers free lectures on several topics. These include event management, security, and health & safety at events. There are also open-air presentations; check out PA systems, LED walls and mobile marquee systems in a realistic environment!

For more details on this event, visit the official website.

USITT Expo

Wednesday 1st–Saturday 4th April 2020

concert with crowd, scaffolding and lights

This American event is hosted by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, and takes place in Houston. However, it tours the USA on a regular basis. A wide range of people will be attending, including designers, venue managers, business owners, educators and students. It offers a diversity of talent including experts from academic institutions) that few other events can provide.

Exhibiting companies cover several different professions, including video projection, special effects and scenic elements. The organisers work to keep booth rental costs low, while more than 3,000 professionals and 1,000 students attend the event itself.

Exhibitor highlights include a dark zone to showcase lighting and special effects. There will also be shows focused on costume rentals, makeup and related services.

For more information on this exciting event, visit the official website.


We hope you found our theatre, stage and live event exhibition roundup interesting. With events across the world, exhibitions in these industries have something to suit every area of interest! If you’re thinking of putting on a similar exhibition—or using all your new theatre tech to put on a show—Stagefreight has a broad range of event and theatre transport experience.

We can handle all the necessary paperwork and documentation if you’re thinking of exhibiting abroad. When you need something transporting, we can provide branding options for all our exhibition trailers. Our drivers can even support you throughout an exhibition, working as you need them to.

Take a look at our latest case studies to see what we can do, learn more about us on our About Us page, or just call us on 0113 797 898.

 

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