CHAMPS Trade Shows returns to the Palmer Events Center in Austin from Tuesday, October 13 through Thursday, October 15, 2026. CHAMPS bills itself as a business-to-business counterculture trade show and has been running since 1999. The Austin stop brings qualified buyers from smoke shops, vape shops, dispensaries and other retail channels face to face with exhibitors sourcing product for the season ahead.
Show hours
The show floor is open 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday, then 11:00 AM to 4:20 PM on Thursday. The first two days give buyers the longest stretch to walk the hall and compare exhibitors before placing orders. Thursday wraps early, so plan return travel around the 4:20 PM close.
Who can attend
CHAMPS is a trade-only event, not a public show. It is open to qualified owners and buyers from smoke shops, vape shops, medical dispensaries, adult stores, convenience stores, CBD wellness shops, gas stations, licensed cultivation, hydro and trimmer stores, tattoo shops and clothing stores. Exhibitors register through their own path on the CHAMPS site.
Every attendee must be 21 or older and show a valid government-issued photo ID. No one under 21 is admitted under any circumstances, including infants and children.
Registration and badges
Attendance is free for approved buyers, with up to four people per company. Additional guests cost $50 each and need approval from CHAMPS management. Once approved, buyers register for each show separately and receive a QR code by email that works as the badge on site.
Buyers must bring two forms of business identification. At least one has to be a reseller's license, seller's permit, business license, tax ID or state tax certificate, tobacco license or permit, or articles of operation. The second can be a business credit card, a business card, or a previous invoice or purchase order showing the company name and address.
Badges must be worn and visible at all times and are non-transferable. Each person gets one badge, and sharing or duplicating a badge gets it revoked without reinstatement.
House rules on the floor
No consumption or combustion of any product is allowed inside the venue, and unauthorized sampling is prohibited. All people and belongings are subject to search at the discretion of CHAMPS management. Weapons of any kind are not allowed, and pets and animals stay out apart from lawful service animals.
Commercial photography, video or recording of exhibitor booths, products or other attendees needs express consent. Media need official press credentials, and interviews, filming or reporting on the floor require prior approval from CHAMPS management.
Buyers are solely responsible for confirming that everything they source, buy, transport or distribute is legal where they operate. CHAMPS spells out that this includes hemp-derived cannabinoids, kratom and kratom-derived products, and any other regulated or restricted goods.
Getting there and where to stay
Palmer Events Center sits at 900 Barton Springs Rd on the south side of Lady Bird Lake, a short trip from downtown Austin. The official CHAMPS hotel is Embassy Suites by Hilton, with standard rooms from $249 to $269 a night plus a 2% mandatory charge for October 12–16. The booking deadline for that rate was September 22. Questions go to the CHAMPS office at 818-855-1528, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Pacific.
More B2B dates this season
The next CHAMPS stop is CHAMPS Fort Lauderdale, November 17–19 at the Broward County Convention Center. The same week as Austin, MJ Unpacked Kansas City gathers licensed cannabis operators October 13–15. Looking further out, Total Product Expo 2027 lands at the Las Vegas Convention Center February 24–26. Check the official site for last-minute changes.