MILWAUKEE (July 23, 2025) — As CONEXPO‑CON/AGG 2026 nears, the construction industry’s largest trade show released an overview of its history.
From humble beginnings in 1909, when the original Road Show in Columbus, Ohio, hosted 40 equipment manufacturers in a 40,000‑square‑foot space, to today’s 2.9 million‑square‑foot, 2,000-exhibitor event, CONEXPO‑CON/AGG’s evolution embodies the exponential growth of the construction industry.
Milestones
- 1909 — The inaugural Road Show, Columbus, Ohio, spotlighted machinery soon dubbed “hazardous equipment” over 40,000 square feet.
- 1928 — Detroit hosted the Combined Biennial Show, later known as the Concrete & Aggregates Show.
- 1963 — The Columbus Road Show rebranded to the Construction Equipment Exposition & Road Show.
- 1969 — “ConExpo” emerged as the new moniker for the event.
- 1996 — ConExpo and Con/Agg formally united under the CONEXPO‑CON/AGG banner in Las Vegas, transitioning to a triennial frequency.
- 2005 — The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) assumed sole responsibility for managing the show; in 2018, it secured operation rights through 2040.
Record-Breaking Scale & Reach
1996 vs. 2023: Exhibitors rose from 800 to 2,056; exhibit space ballooned from 1 million to 2.83 million square feet; attendees jumped from 84,000 to 139,110.
In 2023, CONEXPO attracted approximately 139,000 visitors — including 24,000 international attendees from 133 countries — with exhibitors representing 36 nations.
CONEXPO‑CON/AGG 2026
Set for March 3–7, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Las Vegas Festival Grounds, the next edition will feature:
- 2,000 exhibitor brands
- 2.9 million square feet of indoor and outdoor displays
- 150 educational sessions spanning technology, sustainability and industry best practices
- New Ground Breakers Stage
- New workshops: small business, EmpowerHER, Shop Talks and Walks
Visit conexpoconagg.com.