Top Trade Shows in San Francisco That You Must Attend in 2025

San Francisco stands as a vibrant hub of innovation, culture, and business on the West Coast. With its dynamic economy and diverse population, the city is a prime location for some of the most influential trade shows in various industries. Each year, San Francisco opens its doors to a multitude of events that cater to both emerging startups and established giants, offering unparalleled opportunities for growth, networking, and visibility.

In this blog, we will highlight the must-visit trade shows taking place in San Francisco in 2025. Whether you’re looking to connect with potential customers, explore partnerships, or elevate your brand’s presence, these events are key platforms for achieving your business objectives.

 

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1. InnSpire Conference & Trade Show

2. SPIE Photonics

3. Game Developers Conference – GDC

4. Optical Fiber Communication – OFC

5. RSA Conference

6. American Thoracic Society – ATS

7. IEEE International Microwave Symposium – IMS

8. Small Business Expo

9. DAC 2025

 

1. InnSpire Conference & Trade Show

When: January 26 – 28, 2025
Where: InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

About The Trade Show:

The InnSpre Conference & Trade Show is a premier meeting place for innkeepers, owners, general managers, leading industry suppliers, and experts. It allows you to increase your company’s exposure and get your solutions to innkeepers. The event hosts various workshops and sessions on different industry topics. Book your trade show booth rental for this show and amplify your brand recognition and generate promising leads.

 

2. SPIE Photonics

When: January 28 – 30, 2025
Where: Moscone Centre, San Francisco

About The Trade Show:

SPIE Photonics West is the world’s largest photonics technologies event, offering exhibitors unparalleled opportunities to showcase their innovations to a focused and engaged audience. With more than 24,000 technical professionals from over 70 countries, the event provides a dynamic platform for visibility and networking.

The 2025 event featured over 1,500 exhibitors and more than 5,000 technical presentations, including the BiOS Expo, Quantum West Expo, and the co-located AR|VR|MR conference.

In such a competitive environment, having an outstanding trade show booth rental is crucial to capturing attention and making a lasting impression.

 

Creative booth solution for SF? Get in touch with us!

 

 

When: March 17 – 21, 2025
Where: San Francisco

About The Trade Show:

GDC is a week-long celebration of the art, craft, and business of game creation, and it provides a unique chance for developers to stay up to date on industry advancements. It will be attended by more than 28,000 attendees and 500+ exhibitors from across the country. Exhibiting at the GDC 2025 will help you meet your target audience and forge partnerships.  This is your chance to enhance your exposure and increase your brand awareness. Book your trade show booth for GDC and make a lasting impression on your target audience.

 

When: March 30 – April 03, 2025
Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco

About The Trade Show:

The Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) Conference and Exhibition 2025 is the leading global event for optical networking and communications, bringing together over 13,500 professionals from 83+ countries. Featuring more than 700 industry-leading exhibitors, OFC showcases the latest advancements in optical networking technologies, including groundbreaking innovations in quantum networking, artificial intelligence (AI), space optics, and data-center connectivity. Attendees can explore cutting-edge solutions across a range of topics, such as 1.6 Terabit, AI, Coherent PON, and multicore fiber, making it the premier hub for industry leaders, analysts, and academia to collaborate, innovate, and shape the future of optical communications.

 

5. RSA Conference

When: April 28 – May 01, 2025
Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco

About The Trade Show:

Exhibiting at the RSA Conference 2025 provides an unparalleled platform to position your brand at the forefront of the cybersecurity industry. As the premier event for cybersecurity professionals worldwide, this conference attracts key decision-makers, thought leaders, and influencers from across the globe, all converging to explore cutting-edge solutions and share insights on the future of security.

By participating as an exhibitor, with a trade show booth you’ll gain the opportunity to connect with top-tier industry leaders and engage in meaningful discussions that can lead to strategic partnerships and growth opportunities. This is your chance to not only showcase your latest innovations but also demonstrate your expertise and commitment to staying ahead of evolving cyber threats.

 

Browse through our portfolio to find booth ideas in San Francisco!

 

6. American Thoracic Society – ATS

When: May 18 – 21, 2025
Where: The Moscone Center, San Francisco

About The Trade Show:

The ATS International Conference is the leading event in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. About 10,500 people attended this event, with 73% of attendees from the U.S. and 27% representing an international audience. It offers an unparalleled platform for engaging clinicians, researchers, and healthcare leaders. This multidisciplinary event promotes knowledge sharing and innovation, empowering participants to advance patient care. A custom-designed trade show booth can significantly improve your chances of success and position your brand as an industry leader. A well-designed booth allows you to showcase products, develop meaningful relations, and engage directly with decision-makers, paving the way for long-term professional relationships.

 

7. IEEE International Microwave Symposium – IMS

When: June 15 – 20, 2025
Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco

About The Trade Show:

The IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS) invites over 9,000 RF and microwave professionals from around the world. With 45% of attendees focused on RF, 25% on microwave, and 18% on millimeter-wave technologies, IMS provides direct access to a specialized audience looking solutions in areas like active components, semiconductors, antennas, test equipment, and more.

By booking a rental trade show booth, you can connect face-to-face with industry decision-makers and influencers, 82.4% of whom consider exhibitor meetings critical. Your booth can serve as a launchpad for building connections, demonstrating your expertise, and creating lasting impressions. 

 

8. Small Business Expo

When: June 18, 2025
Where: South San Francisco Convention Center, San Francisco

About The Trade Show:

The Small Business Expo is the Bay Area’s premier event for small business owners. With a dynamic atmosphere designed to develop relations, this event connects you with expert industry leaders to guide you and help increase revenue of your business. The expo is the ultimate trade exhibition and B2B marketing event, with a varied range of exhibitors displaying products and services critical for scaling operations, growing client bases, and keeping ahead in competitive markets.

Exhibiting with a trade show booth at the expo positions your brand at the forefront of B2B marketing success. Capture quality leads, showcase your expertise, and engage directly with a receptive audience.

 

9. DAC 2025

When: June 23 – 25, 2025
Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco

About The Trade Show:

DAC 2025 presents an exceptional opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their cutting-edge tools and technologies to a global audience of top professionals in the electronic design automation (EDA) industry. As the premier event in this field, DAC (Design Automation Conference) consistently draws a diverse crowd of designers, researchers, and developers who are shaping the future of electronic design.

Exhibiting at DAC 2025 with a trade show booth rental allows you to position your brand at the forefront of innovation in the electronic design industry, offering a prime opportunity to connect directly with key decision-makers, influential leaders, and potential customers. This event is a critical meeting point for industry professionals, from chip designers and system architects to software developers and researchers, all eager to explore the latest advancements in EDA tools, methodologies, and technologies.

Conclusion

As we wrap up our exploration of the top trade shows in San Francisco for 2025, it’s clear that the city continues to be a pivotal arena for industry leaders and innovators from around the globe. From groundbreaking advancements in photonics and game development to the latest trends in the hydrogen industry and beyond, San Francisco offers a unique platform for businesses to showcase their innovations, connect with peers, and forge lasting partnerships.

For exhibitors looking to make a significant impact at these events, partnering with Exponents offers a competitive edge. With decades of experience in designing and delivering engaging trade show booth rentals, Exponents understands the nuances of creating spaces that not only draw attention but also facilitate meaningful interactions. Our commitment to delivering turnkey solutions—from bespoke design and construction to logistics and on-site support—ensures that your presence at any of these trade shows is not just seen, but remembered.

Get in touch with us at  800-639-1174  or email us at info@exponents.com and let us help you navigate the bustling landscape of trade shows in San Francisco.