LAS VEGAS, Nov. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Registration is open for Brand Licensing Expo 2027 (formerly Licensing Expo), set for May 25-27, 2027, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Brand Licensing Expo is the annual event where the world’s biggest and most influential brand owners, retailers, manufacturers, and marketers meet to discuss what the world of brands has to offer, shape the future of retail, pop culture and fandom, and “Unexpect the Expected.” The event is more than a tradeshow, it is where the brains behind what you buy on the shelf meet to broker deals, find inspiration, and license intellectual property for consumer products and live experiences spanning entertainment, sports, gaming, art, celebrity, fashion, heritage, food & beverage and more. The event is produced as part of Brand Licensing by Informa.
This is where curiosity sparks the collaborations that become cultural moments. Over three full days, attendees and exhibitors will shape the future of the growing $389.8 billion licensing industry, as exhibitors and attendees connect to turn new collaborations into market-ready opportunities.
The event, sponsored by industry association Licensing International, enters a transformative next chapter with a new name to better reflect the creative and collaborative industry it serves, and the momentum behind it is already clear: Brand Licensing Expo heads into 2027 building on the record-breaking 2026 edition with 265+ exhibitors already confirmed, featuring names like Amazon MGM Studios, The Coca-Cola Company, Crayola, Hang Ten, Jazwares, Legendary Entertainment, Minecraft, Miniso, and Tetris, with more signing on each week. Show floor space is filling quickly, showing the strength and appetite for this vibrant industry to connect.
What’s New at Brand Licensing Expo 2027?
The show returns bigger and bolder, backed by a strong exhibitor line-up, and a refreshed identity that reflects the growth and diversification of this always-growing industry. Along with the core benefits such as curated matchmaking, future-forward content, and the world’s biggest and most inspirational brands on display, the 2027 edition introduces a series of enhancements designed to sharpen the experience for first-time visitors and long-time regulars alike:
- A dedicated event app for easier navigation of the full event offering.
- Deeper networking and education tracks tailored to both emerging talent and seasoned dealmakers, with a focus on sports, fashion, retail, food and beverage, and brand marketing.
- Enhanced ticketing options, shaped by customer insight, to unlock greater value for attendees.
“It is incredibly encouraging to see so much early confidence in Brand Licensing Expo 2027,” said Ella Haynes, Event Director, Brand Licensing by Informa. “With many of the industry’s top brands already confirmed and the floor plan filling up fast, it is a strong signal of just how much momentum this industry continues to build. The world of brand fandom is constantly evolving, making it more important than ever to attend and stay ahead of trends. Ultimately, it is hard to know where the next big retail sensation will come from, which is why we invite attendees to ‘unexpect the expected’ and be in the room where tomorrow’s consumer product landscape is defined.”
Pass Options for an Optimized and Tailored Experience
Brand Licensing Expo is evolving its pass structure to help guide each attendee’s experience based on industry knowledge and business objectives.
The Expo Pass, $35 with Early Bird rates, includes full show floor access for all three days, access to the Event Planner with 20 exhibitor meeting requests (excludes Service Providers; Meeting Boost must be purchased to send meeting requests), admission to keynotes, seminars, and panel discussions, and access to networking on the show floor.
Available pass upgrades:
- The Meeting Boost adds 50 additional exhibitor meeting requests for $395.
- Licensing Unlocked provides access to interactive webinars led by industry experts, allowing attendees to build licensing knowledge ahead of the show, for $249.
- The All-Access Experience includes 100 exhibitor meeting requests, 25 visitor meeting requests (an exclusive benefit), access to the Matchmaking Lounge, and entry to the Opening Night Party, for $2,250.
Qualified retailers can register for free (conditions on the website).
A Who’s Who of the Most Powerful Brands
Brand Licensing Expo 2027’s stellar lineup spans entertainment, gaming, toys, sports, corporate brands, and pop culture, with confirmed returning exhibitors including Netflix, Sony, Jazwares, Mattel, Nintendo, Peanuts, SEGA, Hasbro, Dr. Seuss, LEGO, NASCAR, and Ubisoft, among many others.
These industry giants are joined by 30 new companies already signed up to exhibit for the first time, spanning categories from food & beverage to fashion, characters, and specialty goods, including Duolingo, Big Shot Pictures, Gamer Supps, Brick Loot, TADA/Believe Inc, Catzilla, John Pork, On Planet Weird, Shiba Says, Moomin (via Rights & Brands), CuddleGrave, Deercat & Friends, Realtree Outdoor Entertainment, RipNDip, and DSG Outerwear, among others. This wave of newcomers reflects the show’s continued pull across a widening range of categories, as brand owners of every size and sector look to Brand Licensing Expo as the launchpad for their next brand extension opportunity.
It is here that branded consumer products are born, and unconventional collaborations come to life.
To view the full exhibitor list, please visit www.brandlicensingexpo.com.
Future-forward: Education, Conversation, and Thought Leadership take the Stage
Attendees will also find a packed conference lineup featuring some of the most recognized names in brand licensing, alongside new voices for the next generation of product executives. C-level, senior executives, brand strategists, and category pioneers will take the License Global Headline Stage for candid conversations and panels on the biggest topics shaping the business world today.
“Our stage has consistently delivered top-of-the-line expertise, and 2027 will be no exception,” said Amanda Cioletti, Vice President of Content and Strategy, Brand Licensing by Informa. “Our speakers bring exceptional thought leadership and actionable takeaways attendees can put to work the moment they leave the show floor. They will be sharing the stories, and the business decisions behind them, that are shaping tomorrow’s strategies.”
Speakers will be announced soon.
A New Identity, Same Trusted Excellence
Brand Licensing Expo 2027 marks the first event to take place under the brand’s new identity, reflecting an updated vision for how the show serves and represents the global licensing community, while preserving everything that has made it the industry’s essential gathering place for more than four decades. The new name is intended to put “brand” front and center and capture the broader scope of brand extension, IP collaboration, and consumer product strategy.
Join Us in 2027
Tickets to attend Brand Licensing Expo start at Early Bird pricing of $35 for the Expo Pass. Qualified retailers can attend for free.
To attend Brand Licensing Expo 2027, please register at www.brandlicensingexpo.com.
To apply as a speaker for Brand Licensing Expo 2027, please visit www.brandlicensingexpo.com.
About Brand Licensing by Informa
Brand Licensing by Informa delivers best-in-class events, media, and education to advance the business of IP licensing, brand extensions, collaborations, and experiences globally. Through our portfolio of market-leading events covering all major regional markets and trusted media platform License Global, we make IP discovery easy and power the development of branded consumer products and experiences that connect brands with fans around the world. Our events, Brand Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Brand Licensing France and Brand Licensing China are sponsored by association partner, Licensing International. For more information, please visit www.BrandLicensingbyInforma.com.
About Brand Licensing Expo
Launched in 1980, Brand Licensing Expo is the world’s largest and most influential annual event dedicated to IP licensing and brand extension. Every year, thousands of consumer product professionals, brand owners, retailers, manufacturers and marketers from around the world gather to meet with the most popular and best loved brands. Brand Licensing Expo is the launchpad for global content and IP announcements, and the only place to experience the future direction of brands, fandom, and the consumer products that will dominate retail around the world. Brand Licensing Expo is part of Brand Licensing by Informa and is sponsored by association partner, Licensing International. For more information, please visit www.BrandLicensingExpo.com.
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