CABDA EAST

Taking a Break Until January 2027

CABDA EAST

After much consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision that CABDA East will not take place in 2026. 

We will be taking a short hiatus and plan to return in January 2027 with a fresh location, a reimagined floor plan, and an expanded format that will now include a dedicated pre-show conference. 

We tried our absolute hardest to make this move happen in time for the 2026 show cycle, but simply couldn’t pull it off in a way that met our standards for quality, and would be worthy of your time.

If you’re looking for someone to blame...blame me.
 
I didn’t want to put on a show that wasn’t up to the standard our attendees and exhibitors deserve. Hosting an event that felt rushed, cramped, or second-rate would have been an insult to the amazing people who support us year after year. That’s simply not who we are.

Since our very first East Coast event in March of 2020, I’ve been honored to meet so many incredible retailers, suppliers, and industry friends. We’ve shared countless conversations in the aisles, forged partnerships over coffee, and celebrated the spirit of our industry together.

Those memories—and the friendships I’ve built with all of you—are what make this decision so difficult.  

While we’ll all miss seeing our East Coast friends this year, we are hard at work creating something truly special for our 2027 return. I promise it will be well worth the wait! 

In the meantime, I warmly invite all of our East Coast attendees to join us at our other shows:

CABDA Midwest – Chicago, IL - FEBRUARY 4 & 5, 2026
CABDA West – Las Vegas, NV - MARCH 18 & 19, 2026

We look forward to making new memories with you there, and to welcoming you back to a bigger, better CABDA East in 2027!


Cordially,

Jim Kersten
Show Director, CABDA Expo
[email protected]