The NAB Show, which is being held from Oct. 9-13 in Las Vegas, is back to being an in-person event after going digital last year due to the pandemic.

You might recall the event being one of the last trade shows to be canceled as concerns grew over public safety. The Las Vegas show is an enormous revenue generator for the National Association of Broadcasters. Financial documents reveal annual events and program services generate over $60 million each year from 2015-2019 for the non-profit organization. Without a 2021 event, like many businesses, the organization most likely took a financial hit. 

Show organizers have now fully opened registration for the 2021 event after offering free passes through NAB Amplify earlier this month. 

Key companies have already signed up to exhibit including Aputure, Canon, Blackmagic Design, Lectrosonics, and Sony, among others. Surprisingly off the exhibitor list this year (so far) is ARRI. If they do decide not to attend, it would follow in the footsteps of RED, another major camera manufacturer who stopped exhibiting years ago. Instead of NAB, RED chose Cine Gear Expo as its go-to destination as it's more local to the company's headquarters in Los Angeles. 

According to show organizers, over 600 companies have reserved space from 31 different countries. The event has also implemented new health and safety protocols that include temperature checks upon entry, a no-contact policy, touchless registration, and a show floor that will allow for social distancing and one-way entries/exits. 

Alongside NAB Show 2021, SMTE (Oct. 8-9) and the Radio Show (Oct. 13-14) will coincide during the event. SMTE focuses on revenue-generating strategies for small and medium market television stations while the Radio Show is co-produced by the Radio Advertising Bureau, offering sessions, networking opportunities, and tech presentations for the audio community. Additionally, the SCTE·ISBE Cable-Tec Expo in Atlanta will link with the NAB Show’s Broadcast Engineering and Information Technology (BEIT) Conference in Las Vegas on Oct. 12. 

So it's safe to say there's going to be a lot going on come October. 

The bigger question will be how many attendees will want to return to the event. NAB Show is a trade show No Film School has covered for years. By the time October rolls around, is it business as usual?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Use code AMP01 to get these limited-time discounts*

  • A FREE Exhibits Pass
  • $75 off one “a-la-carte” conference
  • $100 off when you choose one or more “a-la-carte” conference
  • $100 off a Post|Production World Pass

You can register for NAB Show 2021 here. 

nabnab 2021
Festivals & Events