The largest dedicated tea trade show in the Americas. Conference + expo format, held annually in Las Vegas. Buyers include US retail chains, specialty tea shops, restaurant groups, e-commerce private-label operators, and the New York / Boston / San Francisco specialty tea trade.
For the four EU clients that ship to or have US retail relationships, our presence at World Tea Expo signals US-export readiness. The Specialty Tea Institute education program at the show shapes what US retailers will buy next year. For now we monitor it; an exhibiting decision is a 2027-2028 question.
5,500+
Visitors
350+
Exhibitors
50
Countries
March 22-24, 2027
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, United States
24 years of editions, reshaped by changing buyer behaviour and category growth.
2002
Founded by George Jage as the first North American B2B trade show dedicated solely to the business of tea, held in Las Vegas.
2014
Show relocated to Long Beach Convention Center, California, expanding the Healthy Beverage Expo co-location format.
2020
Questex acquired World Tea Expo and integrated it with Bar & Restaurant Expo, shifting the show back to Las Vegas Convention Center.
2022
20th anniversary edition, March 21-23, Las Vegas. Devan Shah Tea Tycoons entrepreneurship competition launched on main stage.
2024
Record combined attendance of 12,378 with exhibitors from 23 countries; inaugural Global Tea Championship replaced the North American Tea Championship.
Where tea, private label, and beverage buyers concentrate on the show floor.
Tea products, accessories, packaging, equipment, herbal and botanical suppliers
Why it mattersThe dedicated tea section hosts growers, blenders, importers, packaging suppliers, and equipment vendors. Packaging and co-packing suppliers can be found here alongside finished-tea brands.
Country-organized pavilions: Japan, China, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Korea, Taiwan and others
Why it mattersOrigin-country pavilions are where US retailers and importers source directly. For an EU co-packer, this is the best section to observe what raw-material buyers are paying and which origins US buyers prioritize.
Spirits, non-alcoholic beverages, food service equipment, POS and technology
Why it mattersA single badge gives access to both floors. Beverage-adjacent packaging suppliers and RTD tea vendors operate here, and HORECA buyers crossing from the BRE side represent a secondary audience for tea co-packing.
Annual blind-judged competition covering Camellia sinensis teas across multiple categories including matcha, green, oolong, black, pu-erh, and white. Winners receive Grand Prize, Superior Leaf, Superior Liquor, Premium, and Honorable Mention awards. The ceremony is a primary draw for exhibitors seeking US market credibility.
Multi-track conference running Monday-Wednesday covers supply chain disruption, inventory management, customer acquisition, matcha sourcing pressures, Gen Z tea trends, and how to launch or scale tea retail businesses. Conference Pass required for session access.
Country-organized pavilions from approximately 25 countries allow US buyers to meet origin-country exporters and compare grades, pricing, and minimums in one hall. Participated in by Japan, Vietnam, China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Korea, and others.
Buyers can purchase products directly from exhibitor booths and take them home the same day. This gives US retail buyers a low-commitment way to trial new brands without placing a formal import order first.
Live pitch competition for emerging small tea businesses on the NxT stage. Named after Devan Shah, International Tea Importers founder and WTE exhibitor since the inaugural 2002 edition. Finalists receive national press coverage in the tea trade media.
Brands typically exhibiting in the tea, private-label, or adjacent halls.
Retail chains, hospitality groups, and importers known to send delegations.
Strictly B2B - attendees must be 21+ with industry affiliation. Two pass tiers: Expo Pass (expo floor + Opening Night Party) and Conference Pass (all conference sessions, masterclasses, workshops, expo floor access, tastings, and Opening Night Party). Pricing published on the registration page; early-bird discounts available before January each year.
Conference sessions run Monday through Wednesday. Expo Hall: Tuesday 11:00-18:00, Wednesday 11:00-16:00 (2026 schedule). Opening Night Party held Monday evening.
Official housing partner Connection Housing offers blocked rates from $92/night at multiple Strip hotels. The Las Vegas Monorail connects the convention center to MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Flamingo, and Westgate stations. Vegas Loop (free between convention center stops) also available. Book through the official travel page to access show rates.
Exhibitor booth pricing is not published publicly; prospective exhibitors must complete an inquiry form and receive a response from the sales team within 24 hours. Third-party rental exhibit packages for the event start around $5,000 for a small inline booth. Premium island positions and branded packages are significantly higher.
World Tea Expo is North America's most important annual tea trade show, but it is structurally oriented toward the US domestic market. The buyer base - specialty retail owners, HORECA directors, US importers - is relevant only for Balkan Tea clients with existing US distribution or active US market ambitions. From Kosovo, the logistics and cost of exhibiting are significant, and the 2026 restructuring (reduced hall space, shortened conference, slower foot traffic reported by specialty tea vendors) raises questions about the show's trajectory as a standalone tea event. The 2027 pivot into a Bar & Restaurant Expo pavilion could dilute the specialist tea audience further. We rate it as a monitoring priority for now. A well-targeted visit rather than an exhibitor stand makes the most sense for our current phase. If a client asks us to explore US private-label volume, this would be the first show we would attend as a visitor.
Quick answers buyers ask before committing the travel budget.
No. The event is strictly B2B and requires industry affiliation. All attendees must be 21 or older; IDs are checked at badge pickup. No children or infants are permitted due to alcoholic beverage service on the floor.
The Expo Pass covers the expo floor, product tastings, demos, and the Opening Night Party. The Conference Pass adds all conference sessions, masterclasses, and hands-on workshops. Both include access to the co-located Bar & Restaurant Expo floor.
Only partially. The show is US-centric and heavily weighted toward specialty loose-leaf and origin teas. Packaging suppliers and co-packers do exhibit, but European tea bag machinery manufacturers are rarely present. The show is stronger for sourcing finished tea and accessories than for industrial packaging partnerships.
From 2027, World Tea Expo moves into a dedicated pavilion within the Bar & Restaurant Expo floor rather than occupying a separate hall. This follows a 2026 restructuring where the tea section was reduced to two aisles in the South Hall, and the conference program was shortened from three days to two.
Japan, China, Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka consistently have the largest country pavilions. Nepal, Korea, Taiwan, and Kenya also participate. European packaging and machinery vendors are rare; the showcase focuses on origin-country tea producers and exporters.
The Global Tea Championship is an annual blind-judged competition open to any Camellia sinensis tea. Entries are not restricted by country of origin. Categories include green, matcha, oolong, black, pu-erh, and white teas. Teas are judged on leaf appearance and cup character separately.
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