NAB Show New York 2026 concluded Thursday at the Javits Center, recording more than 9,000 registrations, with approximately 6,700 people actually attending the two-day event. The conference focused on artificial intelligence, streaming, live sports and emerging media technologies. According to preliminary figures released by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), 57% of attendees were first-time participants. Representatives from 72 countries attended, while approximately 250 exhibiting companies and sponsors showcased products and services. The conference featured 101 educational sessions and 156 speakers.
“From new business models to next-gen tools, industry leaders shared how they’re using emerging technology to move their businesses forward,” said NAB Executive Vice President of Global Connections and Events Karen Chupka. “That’s part of the value of bringing the people into the same room who finance content, produce it and develop the technology.” Artificial intelligence’s impact on production costs, changing content distribution models and the growing importance of live sports were among the major topics discussed throughout the event.
During a session titled “Game On: The Power of Sports on Broadcast,” sports commentator Clay Travis encouraged broadcasters to experiment with new approaches to audience development rather than expecting immediate results. “I think you have to be experimental. I’m a data guy, but I’ll try a lot of things,” Travis told NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “Scale comes with time, but it also comes with experiment.”
LeGeyt emphasized the importance of sports programming to local broadcasters, noting that major sports rights help support the financing of local news and community programming. New York Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky also participated in discussions about attracting new audiences to professional sports, including efforts to increase interest in individual NHL players. Looking ahead, NAB announced that NAB Show New York and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) Summit will co-locate at the Javits Center in 2027.
The SMPTE Summit will take place September 28-30, featuring three days of technical sessions addressing emerging technologies, industry standards and production workflows. NAB Show New York will return September 29-30. “We’re excited to bring the SMPTE Summit back to New York alongside NAB Show,” said SMPTE Executive Director Sally-Ann D’Amato. “This is a natural fit for our organizations and a tremendous opportunity for the industry.” Meanwhile, the 2027 NAB Show in Las Vegas is scheduled for April 3-7, with exhibits open April 4-7.
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