Equip Exposition will alternate between Louisville and Orlando beginning in 2029 under new rotation plan

A major U.S. trade show sets a two-city schedule

Equip Exposition—an international trade show focused on landscape, outdoor living, and equipment—will move from its long-running single-city format to a planned two-city rotation beginning in 2029. The show is owned and managed by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and has been held annually in Louisville for more than four decades.

Under the announced plan, the event is scheduled to remain in Louisville in 2028, then shift to Orlando, Florida, in 2029. The rotation continues with Louisville hosting in 2030 and 2032, while Orlando hosts in 2031 and 2033. The 2029 Orlando dates are set for Oct. 10–12 at the Orange County Convention Center.

What the rotation changes—and what stays the same

For Louisville, the change is not a full departure but a reduction from an annual event to an every-other-year pattern starting in 2029. The plan also provides several years of lead time for exhibitors, attendees, and local hospitality partners to adjust booking and logistics decisions tied to a large fall convention.

For Orlando, the addition places Equip Exposition in one of the country’s largest convention venues. The Orange County Convention Center reports a total campus of roughly 7 million square feet and more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, positioning it to accommodate large-scale trade show footprints and related meeting activity.

Growth and capacity pressures behind the decision

Equip Exposition has recently posted record scale. The 2025 show expanded to about 1.2 million square feet and drew nearly 30,000 registered attendees, including participants from all 50 states and 52 countries. Organizers have also reported multiple consecutive years of exhibit space sellouts at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

The Louisville venue is also in the midst of a multi-phase expansion and renovation program. Project descriptions released by Kentucky Venues outline a Phase I plan centered on a new, interconnected 350,000-square-foot multipurpose building and a Phase II redevelopment affecting major wings of the facility, alongside guest-experience upgrades. Portions of existing structures have been slated for demolition to clear space for new construction.

Key timeline details

• 2026: Equip Exposition is scheduled for Oct. 20–23 in Louisville.

• 2028: Louisville

• 2029: Orlando (Oct. 10–12)

• 2030: Louisville

• 2031: Orlando

• 2032: Louisville

• 2033: Orlando

How organizers describe the operational rationale

Organizers have framed the move as a way to add venue options for programming and meetings while maintaining Louisville’s outdoor equipment demonstration experience.

The rotation plan also creates a defined schedule during a period when construction at the Kentucky Exposition Center is expected to affect parts of the campus used for show operations, including loading and show-floor logistics. In Louisville, discussions have been initiated around expanding and enhancing the show’s outdoor demonstration components at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

The first year of the new two-city rotation is 2029, with Louisville remaining on the calendar in alternating years thereafter.