SHOT Week® doesn’t just take place on the exhibit floor — it’s staged during a full week of networking, education, product discovery and relationship-building across The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum. If you want to get maximum ROI from your time at the 2026 SHOT Show®, the key is simple: show up with a plan and make sure the week’s major events are already on your team’s radar (and on the calendar).
Whether you’re attending SHOT Show for the first time or refining a routine built over years, knowing what’s happening, when it’s happening and where to be can make the difference between a productive week and a missed opportunity. From Industry Day at the Range and the Supplier Showcase to SHOT University™ education sessions, receptions and after-hours networking, each event serves a distinct purpose within SHOT Week.
Below is a breakdown of the headline SHOT Week events (plus a few easy “wins” to help you prep and stay efficient once you arrive).
Sunday, January 18: Start the Week with Purpose
| Time | Event | Opportunity | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 AM – 4:30 PM | NSSF/HAVA Golf Classic | A charity golf event benefiting disabled combat veterans — and one of the best low-pressure networking environments of the entire week. | If you’re sending a team, decide who’s “relationship-building” here vs. who needs to stay fresh for Monday/Tuesday meetings. |
Monday, January 19: SHOT Week Opportunities Ramp Up
| Time | Event | Opportunity | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM | Supplier Showcase | Dedicated supplier-focused event connecting manufacturers with materials, components and service providers. | Come with a short sourcing list. This is most valuable for operations, supply-chain and product teams. |
| 8:30 AM – 4 PM | Industry Day at the Range [Media Only] | Industry Day at the Range allows media to experience new products hands-on while giving exhibitors an early chance to introduce products before the exhibit floor opens. | Media should arrive with a prioritized product list and capture first impressions efficiently, while exhibitors should focus on clear demonstrations and scheduling follow-up conversations for SHOT Show. |
| 12 PM – 4 PM | Industry Day at the Range [Invited and Registered Attendees] | Industry Day at the Range gives buyers and media early insight into product performance and provides exhibitors an opportunity to identify serious interest ahead of the show. | Attendees should treat the day as product reconnaissance rather than decision-making, while exhibitors should align range messaging with what buyers will see in their booth. |
| 12 PM – 5 PM | Press Room Open [Media Only] | The first day in the Press Room gives media early access to resources that can shape initial SHOT Show coverage. | Media should prioritize scheduled interviews and review press materials early to set a strong foundation for the week. |
| 5:30 PM – 7 PM | Law Enforcement & Armed Forces Kickoff Meet & Greet [Invite Only] | An opening networking opportunity tied to the Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP). | Valuable for companies focused on LE and military channels. Make sure the right team members attend. |
Tuesday, January 20: It’s Show Time + First Big Networking Night
| Time | Event | Opportunity | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM – 6 PM | Press Room Open [Media Only] | Map out your day from the comfort of the press room and connect with your peers in the media. | Networking here will yield story ideas — a lot of resources are at your disposal. |
| 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Exhibit Floor Open | First full day of SHOT Show exhibit floor and product meetings. | Prioritize must-see booths early. Use Tuesday to scout and identify follow-ups for later in the week. |
| 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | New Product Center | Centralized display of new products across categories. | Great for trend-spotting and quick discovery. Schedule time here before revisiting booths. |
| 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Archery Business + Hunting Retailer Pavilion | Featuring a comprehensive look at the industry, from traditional archery equipment to cutting-edge technology in compound bows, trail cams and other gear. | Begin with a full walk-through to understand the scope of products and identify brands or categories worth revisiting. |
| 8:15 AM – 5:15 PM | SHOT University | SHOT University offers a la carte training courses to help retailers and ranges hone their management skills for today’s highly competitive and regulated marketplace. | Assign different team members to different tracks to avoid overlap and maximize takeaways. |
| 8:15 AM – 3:30 PM | Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) | Each of these sessions provides valuable insights for real-world, on-scene applications of various technology and training methods. | Prioritize sessions aligned with your role and responsibilities to establish a strong foundation early in the week. |
| 10 AM – 3 PM | Export Training Sessions | Personnel from BIS, SAAMI and Kim Pritula will present current information and updates on various regulations. | Start with introductory or overview sessions to understand export requirements before exploring opportunities on the show floor. |
| 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Industry Welcome Reception | A prime “everyone’s in town” connection point to kick off the week strong. (Plus, don’t miss the exclusive drone show to celebrate America’s 250th and our freedoms!) | The Reception is a great starting point for conversations, you can continue on the exhibit floor. |
| 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM | SHOT After Dark Welcome Mixer | An official nightlife mixer option for badge holders with an After Dark package (separate fees apply). | Best for informal connections. Don’t overbook late nights early in the week. |
Wednesday, January 21: Momentum Day + Reception Night
| Time | Event | Opportunity | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM – 6 PM | Press Room Open [Media Only] | Map out your day from the comfort of the press room and connect with your peers in the media. | Hear what stood out to media members yesterday and share your insights with others so you can leverage information for better coverage. |
| 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Exhibit Floor Open | Second full exhibit day of the SHOT Show exhibit floor. | Use Wednesday to revisit priority booths and start narrowing purchasing or partnership discussions. |
| 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | New Product Center | Continued access to new product displays | A second pass helps identify products worth deeper conversations. |
| 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Archery Business + Hunting Retailer Pavilion | Featuring a comprehensive look at the industry, from traditional archery equipment to cutting-edge technology in compound bows, trail cams and other gear. | Plan to have focused conversations with exhibitors about merchandising, category expansion and retail strategy. |
| 8:30 AM – 5 PM | SHOT University | SHOT University offers a la carte training courses to help retailers and ranges hone their management skills for today’s highly competitive and regulated marketplace. | Assign different team members to different tracks to avoid overlap and maximize takeaways. |
| 9 AM – 3:30 PM | Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) | Each of these sessions provides valuable insights for real-world, on-scene applications of various technology and training methods. | Prioritize sessions aligned with your role and responsibilities to establish a strong foundation early in the week. |
| 10 AM – 3 PM | Export Training Sessions | Personnel from BIS, SAAMI and Kim Pritula will present current information and updates on various regulations. | Be sure to clarify next steps and identify resources that support export planning following SHOT Show. |
| 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Industry Networking Reception | Midweek networking reception, featuring a hosted bar and live music. | A high-density networking hour — don’t waste it wandering. Pick 5–10 “must see” contacts and work the list. |
| 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM | SHOT After Dark Welcome Mixer | Another official mixer option (separate fees apply). | Attend if it aligns with your relationship-building goals. |
Thursday, January 22: Deepen Relationships + End-of-Week Energy
| Time | Event | Opportunity | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM – 6 PM | Press Room Open [Media Only] | Map out your day from the comfort of the press room and connect with your peers in the media. | Only one day remaining, make sure you stay up on assignments and plan how content can be used later in the year. |
| 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Exhibit Floor Open | Second full exhibit day of the SHOT Show exhibit floor. | Use Wednesday to revisit priority booths and start narrowing purchasing or partnership discussions. |
| 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | New Product Center | Continued access to new product displays | A second pass helps identify products worth deeper conversations. |
| 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Archery Business + Hunting Retailer Pavilion | Featuring a comprehensive look at the industry, from traditional archery equipment to cutting-edge technology in compound bows, trail cams and other gear. | Attend sessions that help translate education into actionable steps you can take back to your organization. |
| 8:30 AM – 5:15 PM | SHOT University | SHOT University offers a la carte training courses to help retailers and ranges hone their management skills for today’s highly competitive and regulated marketplace. | Assign different team members to different tracks to avoid overlap and maximize takeaways. |
| 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM | Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) | Each of these sessions provides valuable insights for real-world, on-scene applications of various technology and training methods. | Attend sessions that help translate education into actionable steps you can take back to your organization. |
| 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Industry Happy Hour | Casual end-of-day networking — have a beer on the SHOT Show! | A low-pressure way to maintain momentum before the final show day. |
| 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM | SHOT After Dark Welcome Mixer | Final After Dark event (separate ticket required). | Choose rest over late nights if you have key Friday meetings. |
Friday, January 23: Finish Strong
| Time | Event | Opportunity | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM – 3 PM | Press Room Open [Media Only] | Map out your day from the comfort of the press room and connect with your peers in the media. | The show floor will be less crowded today, giving you ample time to handle products and take photos and videos for coverage. |
| 8:30 AM – 4 PM | Exhibit Floor Open | Shortened final day of the 2026 SHOT Show. | Shorter day — which means you need a tight plan: final meetings, last-minute orders and clean handoffs for post-show follow-up. |
| 8:30 AM – 4 PM | Archery Business + Hunting Retailer Pavilion | Featuring a comprehensive look at the industry, from traditional archery equipment to cutting-edge technology in compound bows, trail cams and other gear. | Be sure to confirm contacts and capture final notes before transitioning to post-show follow-up. |
Planning With Purpose
SHOT Week moves fast, and once the week begins, there’s little time to adjust on the fly. The more intentional your planning before arrival, the easier it becomes to focus on meaningful conversations, smart decision-making and long-term relationship building throughout the week.
By mapping out which events matter most to your role, assigning coverage across your team and building your exhibit floor schedule around SHOT Week programming, you can reduce stress and increase the return on your time at SHOT Show. A clear plan won’t just help you keep up — it will help you make the most of every day, every meeting and every opportunity.
Before you pack your bags, take one final pass through your schedule, confirm your priorities and arrive ready to engage. SHOT Week is designed to deliver value — and preparation is how you unlock it.
