NAB 2026 preview: What are the changes & innovations shaping the future of storytelling?

By Shirish Nadkarni

A Sports Summit, with an extra focus on women, will be the show-stopper of this year’s NAB conference and exposition in Las Vegas. For five days from April 18, 2026, the eyes of the broadcasting world — creators, technologists, exhibitors and decision-makers exploring breakthroughs in AI, the creator economy, sports, streaming and cloud — will be trained on over 1,050 booths showcasing the latest innovations within the five vast halls of the Las Vegas Convention Centre (LVCC).

Key features of NAB 2026 include AI-driven production tools, IP-based workflows, and expanded content creation areas, with focus areas being broadcasting, content creation, streaming, AI-driven solutions, and next-generation video production.

“Attendees of this year’s NAB show will see the industry’s evolution not just in the technologies on display, but in the show itself,” said NAB Executive Vice-President of Global Connections & Events, Karen Chupka. “This year’s edition reflects that forward momentum with a new logo designed to better represent the diverse community of content creators it serves.”

Enthusiasm has hit pre-COVID 2019 levels, with current NAB 2026 registration showing a 200% increase over 2025 in attendees who describe themselves as content creators, influencers or podcasters, even as self-described producers of social media content are up about 150%. 

Delegates and visitors will have more new things to see when they arrive for NAB 2026 than the products on the exhibit-hall floor — like the Las Vegas Convention Centre itself. This year’s show is the first to be held since the LVCC completed a US$600 million renovation project that has been ongoing since 2023.

The sessions reflect the forces transforming how content is produced, distributed and monetised across broadcast, streaming and digital platforms.

“We’re seeing a moment where technology, creativity and business are all evolving at the same time,” said Chupka. “The 2026 NAB show brings that entire ecosystem together to explore how those changes are shaping the future of storytelling.”

Across the exposition, programming will highlight how AI, cloud workflows and new production technologies are reshaping media creation and distribution. NAB 2026 has added a second AI Pavilion to the show floor, reflecting how quickly AI has moved from experimentation into widespread, practical use across the entire media workflow.

The bond between sports and television — both broadcast and digital — has never been stronger. According to Nielsen, 96 of the 100 most-watched telecasts in 2025 were live sports, predominantly the NFL and college football. The Super Bowl on February 8, 2026, marked the second most-watched telecast in US history, with Nielsen placing total viewership at a staggering 125.6 million. 

With this burgeoning interest in sportscasting in mind, the NAB 2026 Sports Summit has been extended to four days (April 19-22), from three days last year, at the Sports Summit Theater on the convention floor in the West Hall. 

How can women’s sports maintain their current momentum and become an enterprise go-to? Those questions will be explored during “Women’s Sports at an Inflection Point” on April 19.

“Women’s sports are not just a moment, they are a growth story,” E.W. Scripps Co. Senior Vice-President of Marketing, Sherry Pitkofsky, said. “For broadcasters, it’s an opportunity to build real fandom, create deeper connections with viewers and invest in a space where demand is finally catching up with talent and competition on the field.”

Open to all attendees, the Sports Summit will spotlight the technologies, business models and industry shifts redefining how sports are produced, distributed and monetised. Discussions will be held on the efforts behind delivering exciting sports moments at a global scale, touching on major rights acquisitions, transformative distribution partnerships and the future of the sports media landscape.

Another key showpiece of NAB 2026 is the Streaming Summit, which returns with a clear mandate to cut through the hyperbole of the streaming business and deliver practical answers for an industry under pressure to prove that streaming can be both innovative and sustainable.

NAB 2026’s Broadcast Management & Monetisation Conference explores AI search, digital sales strategies and new business models. The track encompasses six sessions, including the popular Small/Medium Market Radio Forum, which will be held on Sunday, April 19, this year.

The expanded Creator Lab, presented in partnership with Adobe and Blackmagic Design, returns with a larger footprint and sharper focus on the business and impact of the creator economy, bringing together creators, brands and platforms for hands-on learning and candid conversations. 

Among the 1,050+ exhibitors who are transforming how live events are captured, produced and delivered to fans everywhere in real time on any screen are some of the biggest names in the broadcast world. Like AJA, AKTA Technologies, Alpha Networks, Apantac, Dalet, DoveRunner, Eizo, EZDRM, IHSE, Imagen AI, Magewell, MASV, Octopus, OpenDrives, Ross Video, Snicket Labs, Stream Shark, SNS (Studio Network Solutions), Symply, Telestream, Telecam, TVProGear, Veritone, VIDA and WidePath.

“The TV & Radio HQ for NAB 2026 reflects how broadcasters want to experience the  NAB show today, with relevant, high-energy programming that’s integrated directly onto the show floor,” said Chupka. “The new Central Hall makes it easier for broadcasters, exhibitors and attendees to connect, discover ideas and engage with the conversations shaping the future of television and radio.”

The enhanced HQ will feature the HQ Theater, offering quick-hit, entertaining sessions and live conversations showcasing the trends, technologies and talent shaping the future of TV, radio and audio storytelling. Alongside the theater, the NAB Member Lounge features curated networking activations, and offers members an elevated space to gather, exchange ideas and engage with peers throughout the show.

The TV & Radio HQ will also host a new workforce development program designed for industry leaders, offering practical, skills-focused sessions that address how AI, shifting talent models and emerging workforce trends are reshaping organisational strategy across the media, entertainment and technology sectors. The program sessions are open to all attendees of NAB 2026.

With curated destinations, immersive education and extensive networking, NAB 2026 will seek to deliver both discovery and deal-making, attracting buyers with real influence. From its century-long legacy to today’s multi-platform world, the NAB exposition remains the catalyst for innovation.