Amusement Expo International 2027: event guide

Amusement Expo International (AEI) brings together the amusement and out-of-home entertainment industry for two distinct parts: education sessions on 15–16 March 2027, followed by the trade show floor on 17–18 March. The programme is scheduled at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, United States. The event is sponsored by the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) and the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA).

For operators, owners and managers, AEI combines hands-on access to games and attractions with opportunities to hear industry perspectives and compare equipment. Manufacturers, distributors and service companies can present products and discuss their operational use with industry professionals.

Why Amusement Expo International matters

See equipment in use

The trade show floor gives industry professionals access to games, amusements and attractions, with the opportunity to try products and speak directly with manufacturers and distributors. For a venue operator, that creates a practical setting to compare how different equipment could fit a location, audience or operating plan.

Connect products with operating knowledge

AEI’s separate education programme lists expert presentations, panel discussions and roundtable discussions on issues facing the industry. The schedule also includes a networking lunch and keynote presentation, an All-Industry Gala reception and a Beers & Cheers gathering. These are useful complements to product exploration: attendees can consider equipment alongside operating questions and peer experience.

Consider the published scale carefully

The official attendee information describes more than 5,500 industry professionals as expected for the 2027 edition and refers to more than 200 exhibiting companies on the show floor. These are forward-looking organiser statements, not a completed-edition attendance report.

Who should visit Amusement Expo International?

Arcade and family entertainment venue operators

Useful if you are responsible for selecting, refreshing or operating games and attractions. Prioritise products that suit your venue format and audience, then ask suppliers about installation needs, routine maintenance, parts and operator support. The official visitor information positions AEI for professionals in the amusement and family entertainment industry and highlights direct access to games and attractions.

Owners and managers of amusement businesses

Use the show to compare equipment and discuss how attractions may fit your business model. Before visiting, identify the operational issue you want to solve—such as adding a new type of experience, reviewing a machine replacement or learning about venue operations. Education sessions and roundtables can help you frame questions to take back to your team.

Buyers, distributors and industry service professionals

Make a focused list of product categories and suppliers to investigate. Compare specifications, support arrangements and commercial terms directly rather than relying on a quick walk-through. The event’s published categories include amusement games, VR and laser tag, vending and merchandisers, jukeboxes, cashless systems, ATMs and professional services.

What can you find at Amusement Expo International?

Games, amusements and attractions

• Arcade games and amusement machines
• Virtual-reality experiences and laser-tag equipment
• Bulk vending machines and merchandisers
• Music systems and jukeboxes

Venue systems and industry services

• ATMs and cashless payment solutions
• Professional services for the amusement industry

These categories are the event’s published exhibitor groupings. Check the organiser’s current exhibitor information for the companies and products confirmed for the edition before setting a detailed appointment list.

What makes Amusement Expo International different?

AEI pairs an industry education programme with a product-focused trade show. The 2027 schedule places education sessions on Monday and Tuesday, 15–16 March, and the show floor on Wednesday and Thursday, 17–18 March. The event’s attendee page describes access to games and attractions and direct conversations with manufacturers and distributors. AAMA and AMOA sponsor the event; the visitor information also lists complimentary access to the co-located BCA Expo and NBVA Expo for show-floor registrants.

What should you try to achieve at Amusement Expo International?

If you operate an arcade or family entertainment centre

Choose a short list of equipment options that address a specific venue need. Record the intended audience, floor-space constraints, operating requirements and questions about service before comparing machines.

If you manage or own an amusement business

Leave with a clearer view of one operating decision. Use an education session or roundtable to develop questions, then test those questions in conversations with peers and suppliers.

If you buy, distribute or supply equipment

Identify the product groups and business contacts worth following up. Compare the range, support model and requirements of relevant suppliers; do not rely on memory after several demonstrations.

How to prepare before Amusement Expo International

1. Choose your purpose

Decide whether your priority is evaluating games, finding an attraction, reviewing venue systems, learning about industry operations or presenting products. A clear purpose helps you divide time between the education programme and show floor.

2. Build a product checklist

For each machine or system, note the audience it serves, space and installation needs, day-to-day operation, maintenance, parts availability and support. Add questions about payment options or integration only when they matter to your venue.

3. Prioritise companies and sessions

Once the organiser publishes current exhibitor and education details, sort your choices into must-see, useful and optional. Registration and the full education schedule are currently marked as coming soon; check for updates before fixing plans.

4. Prepare a concise introduction

Be ready to explain your venue or business, the customers you serve, the equipment or service you are evaluating and what information would help you make a decision. This makes supplier and peer conversations more useful.

How to make the most of the exhibition floor

Use a simple record for each promising conversation: Company → Product → Why it may fit → Contact → Next action. For a game or attraction, note the intended venue setting, operating requirements, service arrangements and any commercial details you need to verify. Compare like with like, and mark unanswered questions for follow-up rather than treating a demonstration as a complete evaluation.

Where a product looks promising, ask who handles installation, maintenance and parts, and what information is available for assessing its fit. These are preparation prompts, not claims that every exhibitor offers the same services or terms.

Beyond the Amusement Expo International show floor

The 2027 programme lists education sessions, expert presentations, panel discussions and roundtables on 15–16 March. Tuesday’s schedule includes a networking lunch and keynote presentation, followed by the All-Industry Gala reception. The show floor opens on 17 March with an opening ceremony and ribbon cutting; the official schedule also lists a Beers & Cheers gathering that afternoon. These programme details are specific to the published 2027 schedule; check organiser updates for changes and the full session lineup.

One day or several days at Amusement Expo International?

Show-floor visit: 17–18 March

The trade show floor is scheduled for two days. If you have limited time, set a priority list of products and companies before arriving and reserve time to compare alternatives, rather than trying to cover every stand.

Education and show-floor visit: 15–18 March

Consider the full programme if education and peer discussion are as important to you as product evaluation. The first two days are devoted to education sessions and related networking; the final two are scheduled for the show floor.

Who should consider exhibiting at Amusement Expo International?

The published exhibitor categories are relevant to companies offering arcade games and amusement machines, VR and laser-tag attractions, bulk vending and merchandisers, music and jukeboxes, ATMs and cashless systems, and professional services. An exhibitor can use the event to demonstrate products and discuss their operation with amusement-industry professionals. Define a measurable objective in advance—such as explaining a product’s fit for a particular venue type or gathering technical questions from operators—and confirm the current exhibit arrangements with the organiser.

Amusement Expo International visitor checklist

Before

• ☐ Confirm registration status and the latest programme with the organiser.
• ☐ Separate education sessions from show-floor priorities.
• ☐ List product categories, supplier questions and decision criteria.

During

• ☐ Record product, company, fit, contact and next action after each useful discussion.
• ☐ Compare operating and support details as well as the demonstration.
• ☐ Leave time for the sessions or networking activities that match your purpose.

After

• ☐ Sort contacts into immediate, potential and information-only follow-up.
• ☐ Request missing specifications or terms and compare them against your requirements.
• ☐ Share relevant findings with the colleagues involved in the decision.

Is Amusement Expo International worth visiting?

AEI is most relevant to professionals who operate, supply or support amusement and family entertainment venues and have a clear reason to compare equipment or learn about industry practice. Its combination of education sessions and a two-day show floor allows visitors to connect product exploration with operational questions. The value of the visit will depend on matching the schedule and exhibitor categories to a defined business or learning objective.

Amusement Expo International 2027 at a glance

Plan your next step

What equipment or operating question would make a visit worthwhile for your business? Use ilikevents to compare relevant industry events, then shortlist the sessions, product groups and supplier conversations that best match your priorities. Discover. Compare. Meet. Decide. Follow up.