“Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show” is referred to with an acronym “SHOT”. The SHOT Show is universally recognized as the largest and most comprehensive annual event for industry professionals who engage in shooting sports, hunting, and other outdoor recreation. This exhibition is held each year in Las Vegas, Nevada, and brings together tens of thousands of professionals from around the world involved in the shooting sports, hunting, and outdoor recreation business to showcase new products, ideas, and information.
Additionally, the SHOT Show is owned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), a trade association that supports manufacturers and other industries that are engaged in the manufacturing and sales of firearms. Also, the SHOT Show is limited to professionals in the industry and is not open to the public. The attendees of SHOT Show include Manufacturers, Retailers, Media, law enforcement, and other professionals.
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Where and When Does the Event Take Place?
The SHOT Show is a yearly occurrence, occurring every January. Beginning in 2010, the event has been in Las Vegas, Nevada, hosted in two major, large connected venues: The Venetian Expo and CAESARS FORUM.
The SHOT Show 2026 will be occurring from January 20-23 at both venues. This year’s SHOT Show will showcase a fantastic opportunity to see, talk about, and engage with new products, network with others in the industry and much more to enhance the shooting sports/hunting/outdoor industry.
Event Activities and Content
It is a complete industry experience, combining business opportunities with education and community networking.
Exhibitor Exhibitions and Innovations
The exhitbition attracts more than 2,500 exhibitors showcasing a wide range of products and services covering all things related to firearms and ammunition, hunting, outdoor clothes and gear, optics, and tactical and law enforcement products.
For law enforcement items, there is an area dedicated to protective and tactical gear for law enforcement and military personnel. This area emphasizes body armor and other gear. There are also certain areas that highlight the newest product releases such as the “New Product Center”.
Education and Profession Development
SHOT show is host to many educational and training seminars. Programs like SHOT university offer courses that are targeted towards those in the retail space on how to increase sales, simplify operations and bolster compliance with various regulations and laws. Additional educational sessions could include topics like new trends in the industry or marketing information as well as legislative updates.
Networking and Community
The show acts as an important meeting space for all people in this industry to connect and build community. There are multiple networking opportunities scheduled both during the show and in the evening after the show.
A good case in point is SHOT After Dark, which is a series of social events to be held at several venues throughout Las Vegas. All these events provide a relaxed social environment in order to kick back and share ideas and thoughts.
Product Demonstrations and Special Events
SHOT SHOW typically has a Range Day before the show, where anyone can test drive hundreds of new firearms and products at the shooting range. There are also various areas for pre-show events.
Highlights of SHOT Show 2025
The SHOT Show 2025 was touted as one of the largest shows ever in SHOT Show history because of record exhibitor space and attendance. It was a successful event providing vendor innovation and conducting business despite some transport problems. One example was the unexpected shooting range closure that impacted pre-show events.
However, at the 2025 show, there were simply thousands of innovations to look at from over 2,850 exhibitors. New and innovative firearms included, the Savage Revel lever-action rimfire rifle, as well as the KelTec PR57 pistol. There was also product from a diverse array of brands including Hornady and Remington of new ammunition.
The Next SHOT Show 2026
SHOT Show 2026 will essentially follow the same successful format of 2025 with some strategic enhancements. Enhancements will include networking, digital promotions, and additional exhibitor enhancements for overall efficiency in the exhibitor experience.
The same vision will occur for 2026 with a primary focus on the launch of new products and technologies as thousands of manufacturers will be unveiling new products. See for yourself the newest state-of-the-art technologies in shooting sports, hunting, and law enforcement.
Additionally, educational programs like SHOT University, will run from January 20-22. The educational sessions will offer learning about business strategy, compliance and trends related to artificial intelligence, e-commerce, cyber security, and personnel management.
In 2026, SHOT Show will again offer a Supplier Showcase and an Archery Business + Hunting Retailer Pavilion in the Specialty area. The Supplier Showcase will feature a pre-show program designed for suppliers of raw materials, components, and manufacturing services to meet with manufacturers.
This program will occur on January 19–20 in the Palazzo Ballroom at the Venetian. There will also be a dedicated pavilion for the Archery and Hunting areas with the latest in bows, arrows, and other accessories and equipment.
In addition to networking events like SHOT After Dark or just catching up with industry peers, show organizers will again look to provide networking and promotional opportunities – including new options like SHOT Show Planner, an online service to help match exhibitors with attendees and to facilitate the scheduling of meetings.
Furthermore, the VEGAS UNLOCKED program offers discounts to SHOT Show badge holders at various Las Vegas venues. It also offers new digital features for exhibitors to maximize their promotions.