【2026-2027】Complete Calendar of B2B Trade Shows & Exhibitions in Thailand | Industry-by-Industry Checklist

Thailand's B2B trade shows are a group of industry-specific business fairs — among the largest in ASEAN — with over 100 events held annually, centered on three major venues near Bangkok: BITEC, IMPACT, and QSNCC. The industry segments are clearly defined, spanning manufacturing, food, IT, logistics, and healthcare, making it easy to narrow down participation and attendance decisions using three axes: venue × industry × timing.

This article is a calendar organizing major trade shows from May 2026 to May 2027 by industry and month, intended for business planning, exhibition, and procurement teams at B2B companies considering entering or expanding in Thailand. After reading, you will be able to narrow down the right trade shows for your business within 30 minutes and translate that into an actionable preparation checklist for exhibiting or attending.

The biggest cause of failure in selecting trade shows in Thailand is not industry mismatch, but venue mismatch. BITEC is the primary arena for manufacturing, machine tools, and logistics; IMPACT skews toward food, construction, automotive, and large-scale B2C events; and QSNCC serves medical, financial, and integrated experience (AV) shows — each venue attracts a distinctly different visitor profile. Furthermore, venue realignments are underway, such as ProPak Asia relocating from BITEC to IMPACT starting in 2026, making it essential to verify the latest official information. This section organizes three key decision-making criteria: industry, venue, and action.

When mapping your business to relevant trade shows using a reverse-lookup approach, the following industry clusters provide a useful framework.

Niche sectors (such as semiconductors and renewable energy) are often incorporated as concurrent shows within major exhibitions, making them easy to overlook if you only track standalone events. Always check the concurrent show listings in the official exhibitor guide.

BITEC (Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre) is located in the Bang Na district and serves as the primary hub for manufacturing, machine tools, and logistics trade shows. Events such as METALEX, Manufacturing Expo, INTERMACH, and Logistics Automation Expo draw technical buyers from across the ASEAN region.

IMPACT Muang Thong Thani is a large-scale facility in northern Bangkok featuring multiple halls and outdoor spaces. It hosts major B2B and B2C-oriented events including THAIFEX-Anuga Asia, ProPak Asia (relocating from BITEC starting in 2026), Architect Expo, Bangkok International Motor Show, DigiTech ASEAN, and VIV Asia.

QSNCC (Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre) is a convention center in the city center with direct BTS access, used for shows such as WHX Bangkok (formerly Medlab Asia) and InfoComm Asia 2026, which draw visitors from the financial district, healthcare professionals, and integrated experience specialists. A useful rule of thumb: choose QSNCC for accessibility, and BITEC or IMPACT for scale and co-located events.

Even for the same trade show, the required lead time varies significantly depending on whether you are exhibiting, attending, or accompanying business meetings.

• Exhibitors: Secure booth space at least six months in advance. Importing samples requires advance arrangements with Thai customs (including ATA Carnet procedures), and working backwards from the event date is essential when factoring in booth design, interpreters, and local staff coordination.
• Attendees: Pre-registration (free or paid) is generally sufficient and can be completed close to the event. However, some large-scale shows restrict walk-in entry on the day without prior registration.
• Business meeting accompaniment: Scheduling meeting slots with prospective partners one to two months in advance improves efficiency. Organizer-run Buyer's Programs or Matching Programs may be available to facilitate introductions.

The option of attending as a visitor before committing to exhibiting is a rational approach — particularly for first-time participants in a given industry, assessing the show as an attendee before deciding whether to exhibit the following year carries considerably less risk.

From May to October 2026, the Thai exhibition calendar enters its peak season. Major industry-specific trade shows follow in rapid succession: THAIFEX-Anuga Asia (May), Manufacturing Expo (June), and WHX Bangkok (formerly Medlab Asia, July). If planning a site visit itinerary, attending two to three shows back-to-back is a realistic approach.

May 2026 is a concentrated month for Southeast Asian B2B trade shows, and one of the rare periods when attending multiple exhibitions in a single week is feasible.

THAIFEX is widely recognized as one of ASEAN's largest food trade fairs, and exhibitor slots tend to fill up almost entirely from the previous year. Japanese food-related companies may also want to consider exhibiting through JETRO's Japan Pavilion.

June through July sees a continuous run of manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare events.

Manufacturing Expo is co-located with Automotive Manufacturing, making it the largest annual business opportunity for automotive parts suppliers. Note that ProPak Asia is moving from BITEC to IMPACT starting in 2026, which differs from past routing assumptions based on BITEC-centric travel plans. InfoComm Asia 2026 is also held at QSNCC rather than BITEC, so AV and integrated experience professionals should be sure to confirm the venue.

August through October falls in the off-peak period, with fewer large-scale concurrent shows. However, niche industry-specific exhibitions and trade fairs held in regional locations (such as Pattaya) do take place during this time. When these align with a company's sector, the closer proximity between visitors and exhibitors can actually lead to more efficient business negotiations.

Venue bookings are relatively flexible during the off-peak period, making it a viable option to independently organize satellite seminars or private exhibitions. For companies looking to host invitation-only events of several dozen attendees for their domestic Thai distributor networks, this period tends to be advantageous in terms of both cost and audience attention.

METALEX (November) and DigiTech (November) are the highlights of the second half of the year. As the new year begins, food and automotive-related events take center stage, leading into the Bangkok International Motor Show in March, Architect Expo in late April to May, and THAIFEX at the end of May — connecting back into the next annual cycle.

The latter half of November sees METALEX and DigiTech held in quick succession, making it the peak travel period for IT departments in the manufacturing industry.

METALEX marks its 40th edition, covering a wide range of areas including CNC, sheet metal, welding, industrial robots, measurement, and smart manufacturing solutions. DigiTech centers on exhibitors in cloud, cybersecurity, AI, and data analytics, and serves as a typical first point of contact for companies looking to expand their SaaS offerings into the Thailand and CLMV markets.

December sees fewer large-scale exhibitions ahead of the year-end holidays, though closed conferences organized by industry associations tend to become more active.

For the period from January to March 2027, the number of major exhibitions with officially announced dates is limited at this time. Distinguishing between confirmed and unannounced information is the starting point for effective planning.

Dates Confirmed

• VIV Asia 2027: March 10–12, 2027, IMPACT (biennial event; livestock, feed, and animal health)

Dates Not Yet Announced (2026 figures provided for reference)

• Bangkok International Motor Show 2027: In 2026, held 2026/3/25–4/5, IMPACT
• Food Pack Asia 2027: In 2026, held 2026/3/18–21, BITEC
• ASEAN Smart Energy & Energy Storage Expo 2027: In 2026, held 2026/3/25–27, IMPACT

For reference, Health & Nutrition Asia was held in 2026 (2026/3/10–12, BITEC), with its edition year and venue varying in alignment with VIV Asia's biennial schedule. Exhibition planning for the livestock industry is generally structured around VIV Asia's biennial schedule. It is advisable to recheck each official website during 2026 to confirm dates for the January–March 2027 period.

For the period from April to May 2027, official dates for many major exhibitions have yet to be announced. It is recommended to refer to 2026 figures as a baseline while checking each official website for the latest information during 2026.

Architect Expo is the largest architectural technology exhibition in ASEAN, drawing primarily real estate developers, general contractors, and building materials manufacturers. For B2B exhibitors in building materials and construction technology, it is one of the events with the most relevant visitor profile of the year. The dates for the 2027 edition are expected to be announced in the latter half of 2026 on each official website.

Whether exhibiting or attending as a visitor, working backwards from six months out minimizes the risk of failure. In particular, visas, sample imports, interpreters, and hotel bookings are areas where delays are common during peak periods if not addressed well in advance.

Up to 6 months in advance

• Check availability of exhibition space on the organizer's official website
• Provisionally reserve booth size and position (corner, island, or inline)
• If participating via a Japan Pavilion, confirm the JETRO application deadline
• Arrange an ATA Carnet for sample imports (if applicable)

Up to 3 months in advance

• Select booth design and construction contractors
• Prepare multilingual brochures (Japanese, English, and Thai is a safe standard)
• Arrange interpreters (Thai-language interpreters tend to be in short supply during busy periods)
• Handle import procedures for novelty items and samples

Up to 1 month in advance

• Finalize advance appointments with invited buyers
• Create a meeting schedule
• Arrange shifts and accommodation for local staff
• Prepare business cards, including QR code-enabled versions

The day before

• Conduct a final booth check and verify power and network connectivity
• Confirm the next day's operations (morning briefing and rotation schedule)

1 Month Before

• Confirm visa requirements (short-term business visits may be exempt, but recheck based on length of stay)
• Complete pre-registration on the official website (often free)
• Book flights and hotels (hotels near the venue fill up quickly during exhibition weeks)
• Contact exhibiting companies you plan to meet in advance to confirm appointments

1 Week Before

• Review the exhibitor list and determine your priority visit order
• Print the venue floor map or ensure it is accessible offline
• Confirm travel routes (BITEC is near Bangna station; IMPACT offers a free shuttle bus)

Day Of

• Bring three times your usual supply of business cards (business card exchanges are very active at Thai trade shows)
• Carry spare batteries and a mobile Wi-Fi device
• If bringing an interpreter, share your meeting targets with them in advance

The following is a summary of commonly overlooked points at Thai trade shows.

• Thai Public Holidays: Visakha Bucha and Asanha Bucha, which fall between May and July, are public holidays. Trade shows themselves often proceed as scheduled, but Thai business partners and offices may be closed. Confirm in advance.
• Traffic Congestion: Traffic around BITEC and IMPACT is severe during morning and evening rush hours. Allow two to three times the normal taxi travel time. In some cases, combining BTS with a shuttle bus may be faster.
• Hotel Booking Competition: During major exhibition weeks, nearby hotels fill up three to four months in advance. If working with a fixed budget, aim to book no later than three months ahead.
• Post-Exhibition Follow-Up: Rather than stopping at business card exchanges, plan a follow-up email within three days and a Zoom or in-person appointment within two weeks — this significantly improves the rate at which leads convert into deals.
• Cash vs. Cashless: Street stalls and taxis primarily use PromptPay or cash. Cashless payments within the venue are generally fine, but having access to Thai domestic mobile payment options will make getting around smoother.

For Thai B2B trade shows, narrowing your focus by the three axes of industry, timing, and venue greatly improves the quality of your decision-making. THAIFEX in May, Manufacturing Expo in June, and METALEX in November are the annual highlights by industry sector, and using these as anchors when planning other exhibitions to participate in or visit will help minimize inefficiencies.

Whether exhibiting or attending, planning with a lead time of six months or more will give you room to maneuver. All bottlenecks that cannot be resolved on the day itself — sample imports, visas, interpreters, hotels — should ideally be addressed two to three months in advance. For the latest information on event schedules and specific exhibition conditions, it is recommended to check the official website of each trade show.

References: BITEC Official (www.bitec.co.th), TCEB Event Calendar (businesseventsthailand.com), JETRO J-messe (jetro.go.jp/j-messe/).