Hosted by the National Confectioners Association (NCA), the 2026 Sweets & Snacks Expo contains the latest and hottest releases in candy, snack, and bakery. This year, the Expo is moving to Las Vegas for the first time (May 19-21), and will showcase emerging packaging and flavor trends, interesting products, and more.

Sneak peek

More than 16,000 industry personnel are expected to attend this year’s conference, with subject matter experts and thought leaders sharing innovation and trend forecasting, proprietary data and insights, and operational and tech strategies.

“Sweets & Snacks Expo is the premier showcase for the confectionery and snack categories, and last year’s record-setting attendance and exhibitor participation reaffirmed its unmatched value to the industry,” says John Downs, president and CEO, NCA. “With winning opportunities for networking and relationship building, trendspotting, and discovering the latest innovations, we can’t wait to welcome them to the center of the candy and snack universe.”

The Expo gathers manufacturers, retailers, brokers, and suppliers for the largest event of its kind in the Americas, notes Carly Schildhaus, director of public affairs and communications, NCA.

“Attendees will get a first look at the newest candy and snack products coming to market, connect directly with thought leaders and experts across categories, and gain insights that help drive the industries forward,” she promises.

Sessions

Education is another cornerstone of the Sweets & Snacks Expo experience, Schildhaus notes.

“The program focuses on topics that are top-of-mind for attendees, including ingredient innovation, packaging and manufacturing, and other emerging trends shaping the industry,” she adds. 

Featured stages include the Supplier Showcase (May 18-19), show floor stages, and “The Eye-Opener Series,” which strives to ensure conference-goers’ time is spent on products that interest them. The Supplier Showcase aims to provide a dedicated marketplace for suppliers to showcase ingredients, machinery, packaging, and other services that support manufacturers.

The show floor educational sessions include:

Tuesday, May 19

• Gina Logan, from data insights firm Kantar, will present “Make Good Choices: How Snack Shoppers Evaluate ‘Better’ Claims,” 11‒11:50 am, Red Stage, booth 5527, exploring which wellness snack attributes drive the most spend, how snacking fits into 

today’s balanced diet, and how brands can deliver BFY snacks shoppers actually want.

• Ferrara’s CMO Greg Guidotti will headline “Unwrapping Innovation and Trends in Candy” (1‒2 pm, Gold Stage, booth 1177), noting what’s currently shaping the category, what to consider when renovating/innovating your brand, and how cultural relevance and speed-to-market influence innovation success.
• Barry Callebaut’s Global Head of Cocoa and Research Patrick Adamkiewicz and Director of Brand/Portfolio and Customer Marketing Laura Bergan will showcase “The Changing Cocoa Market: Supply, Trends and What’s Next for Chocolate.” Attendees will discover how supply and demand dynamics are evolving, and why this matters to chocolate brands.

Wednesday, May 20

• Gopuff’s Head of Partnerships Michael Peroutka will dive into “From Scroll to Cart: What Drives Gen Z Discovery and Loyalty” (11‒11:50 am, Gold Stage), revealing how to influence purchase decisions and build lasting brand loyalty among the younger crowd.
• Bell’s CMO Kelli Heinz will explore “What’s Trending in Candy and Snack Flavors” (12‒12:50 pm, Gold Stage), presenting insights into how generational preferences shape candy and snack flavor trends (with bonus samples of the latest trending flavor profiles).
• Mintel’s Principal Strategist Jenny Zegler will investigate formulation opportunities in “The Multisensory Mandate: Moving Beyond Taste to Total Experience” (1‒1:50 pm, Blue Stage, booth 5576), exploring how brands can use texture, color, and aroma in practical and purposeful ways.

Additionally, the Eye-Opener Series, located in rooms W228‒233, includes:

• Circana’s Sally Lyons Wyatt will present the State of Snacking (Tues. May 19, 9-10 am).  Attendees will learn what purchase and consumption changes have happened over the past year, how wellbeing motivations are driving snack choices for some consumers, and the impact of demand influencers like social media, AI, innovation, and channel choice. 
• 210 Analytics’ Anne-Marie Roerink will give a category performance update at the State of Treating (Wed. May 20, 9-10 am). NCA’s 2026 State of Treating study will make for an in-depth look at the everyday and seasonal confectionery landscape, and explore consumer insights.

Image Credit: Liz Parker Kuhn

Schildhaus also encourages attendees to check out the conference’s popular 5x5 series, giving five confectionery and snack companies, respectively, from Startup Street the chance to present their products to a panel of retailers and receive feedback in five minutes or less. Both will take place at the Gold Stage, from 3-4 pm, with the Confections iteration on May 19 and Snacks on May 20.

Image Credit: Liz Parker Kuhn

Startup Street is suitable for companies who are making their debut at the Expo, each with three years or less on the market, explains Schildhaus. Exhibitors also receive an entry in the Most Innovative New Product Awards (MINPA), a spot in the Featured Products Showcase, and both a listing in the Expo online directory and the map.

Image Credit: Liz Parker Kuhn

This year’s Startup Street companies include:

• Gummy Guys, creating plant-based pectin gummies
• Veggie Vice, chips made with dried vegetables and seasonings
• Smokey Dukes, pretzels created with a family spice blend and a smokey flavor palette
• Alert Pop, sugar-free energy lollipops with 35 mg natural caffeine
• Noms Chewing Gum, plant-based and infused with nanohydroxyapatite, which supports oral health
• Blue Unicorn, bars with 15 g protein, low sugar, and no nuts, gluten, or dairy
• Sweet Stash, BFY gummies made with organic flavors and plant-based colors 
• Milliways, a plastic-free chewing gum
• Dr. Seitan’s Snack Experiments, puffs with 20 g of protein per pack, in flavors like Cajun Chili Cheeze
• Romero Mexican Wedding Cookies, made from 40-year-old family recipes
• Crisp Power, protein pretzels created from a blend of proteins originating from grains and legumes

Image Credit: Jenni Spinner

Novelties and trends

“Innovation remains at the heart of Sweets & Snacks Expo. Whether attending for the first time or returning after years of participation, there’s always something new to discover. Only at Sweets & Snacks can attendees see so much innovation in one place, from brand-new businesses just entering the market to classic, recognizable brands,” Schildhaus comments. 

Image Credit: Jenni Spinner

The MINPA Reception and Awards ceremony (May 18, 5:30‒6:15 pm) will honor this year’s winners, with doors opening at 5 pm with a cocktail reception open to everyone. Last year’s Best in Show prize went to Belle’s Gourmet Popcorn’s Matcha Latte flavor. This year, to reflect today’s retail environment, NCA is introducing four new top honors:

• Two Trailblazer Awards (one for candy, one for snacks): Celebrates new and “disruptive” products, often from start-ups, which could illustrate where the category is headed 
• Two Powerhouse Awards (one for candy, one for snacks): This will honor significant launches (often from already established brands) that should drive sales in the marketplace

Image Credit: Liz Parker Kuhn

“The Most Innovative New Product Awards serve as a launchpad for brands looking to reach the next level across a wide range of categories,” notes Schildhaus.

To qualify for MINPA, products must be produced after May 16, 2025; be submitted in advance of the show by an exhibiting company; include only one flavor per SKU, for judging; and contain a product UPC. The 2026 evaluation panel includes buyers from Albertsons, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Dollar General, Harris Teeter, IT’SUGAR, Lidl, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more.

Image Credit: Liz Parker Kuhn

The Featured Products Showcase, available every day from 8 am to 5 pm (the exception being 8 am‒1 pm on May 21), will display the best-of-the-best from exhibitors. Attendees can expect to see new product launches, MINPA winners and submissions, plus classics and consumer favorites.

Social activities

“The move to Las Vegas opens up new opportunities for networking, discovery, and one-of-a-kind experiences both on and off the show floor,” Schildhaus enthuses. “In addition to the dynamic energy of the city itself, attendees will have access to unique moments like a special, attendee-only opportunity to experience The Wizard of Oz at Sphere—making this year’s event unlike any other in the show’s history.”

Image Credit: Liz Parker Kuhn

This year’s conference offers four distinct opportunities to network and mingle:

• The first, the NCA Women’s Leadership Group breakfast (May 20, 8 am, rooms W303‒310), will include roundtable discussions on a variety of personnel and professional development topics.
• That same day, conference attendees can wind down at Happy Hour: Love at First Bite (5:15‒7:15 pm, West Hall Main Lobby), which will include live dueling pianos, complimentary drinks, and Vegas-themed activities. 
• On May 21, from 8‒10 am, brands can mix at Distributor Connect, their chance to get face time with approximately 30 popular candy and snack distributors. No registration is required, and it’s open to all Expo attendees.
• Wrapping up the conference, on May 22 at 2 pm, NCA has offered attendees a special subsidized rate to view The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere, Vegas’s 366-foot-tall spherical entertainment arena. 

“There’s no place like home,” says Schildhaus. “This year, there’s no place like Sweets & Snacks Expo in Las Vegas.”