An attendee views licensed consumer products at Licensing Expo.License Global
At a Glance
A Growing Retail Presence
Who and What is on the Show Floor
Education and Thought Leadership
Licensing Expo returns this year bigger than ever with new pavilions, expanded networking opportunities and a growing retail presence. With more than 5,000 diverse brands represented on the show floor, new matchmaking spaces, expanded pavilions and in-depth education sessions, there's more to see – and more connections to make – than ever before.
Whether you're attending to spark new relationships, strengthen existing ones, explore fresh markets or stay ahead of emerging trends, the opportunities you create in Las Vegas will help shape your licensing strategy for the year ahead and beyond.
If you're walking the floor for the first time or returning with a packed meeting schedule, here's your guide to what's happening on-site.
Registration is now open, click here to attend Licensing Expo 2025.
A Growing Retail Presence
This year welcomes the largest retail attendance in show history, with confirmed participation from Walmart, Amazon, Target, Macy's, Primark, JCPenney, Victoria's Secret and more. Retailers are coming to the show not just to browse but to build out licensing programs. They're actively exploring how brand licensing can drive differentiation, consumer engagement and new revenue streams. Licensing Expo has become the destination for decision-makers looking to connect with brands, IP owners and licensees across the full consumer products ecosystem.
Related:Tariff Turbulence: Global Industry Leaders to Address Critical Trade Changes at Licensing Expo 2025
For retail badge holders, the Retail Lounge, sponsored by Pan Am (booth G112), offers a dedicated space to recharge, take meetings and access on-site concierge support.
Who's on the Show Floor
This year's exhibitors span entertainment, toys, fashion, gaming, food and beverage, publishing, sports, art, music and more. Whether you're sourcing new IP or looking to expand your licensing program globally, you'll find an unmatched breadth of brands all in one place.
NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery are making their return to the show floor after delivering some of the past year's most buzzworthy licensing rollouts for IPs like "Wicked" and "The White Lotus." New exhibitors for 2025 include Arcade1Up, UFC, MINISO, Calm, STUDIOCANAL and Kripsy Kreme, among many others.
These next few days are your chance to meet with leading brands including Mattel, "Pokémon," "Bluey," "Minecraft," Hasbro, Paramount, LEGO, Crayola, Liquid Death, SEGA and hundreds more. They're all here all under one roof, ready to discuss deals, spark ideas and drive innovation.
What's On the Show Floor
While favorites like the Character Parade and the Magic Wheelchair reveal return this year, Licensing Expo has expanded its physical layout and programming this year to reflect the evolving landscape of licensing. New pavilions highlight the rise of sports and international markets, deeper licensee engagement and cross-category collaboration. Dedicated spaces for networking, meetings and downtime throughout the week are designed to be throughout the show floor. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a seasoned pro, the show offers countless ways to connect, recharge and discover something new this year.
Related:Walmart, Primark and MINISO to Keynote Licensing Expo
New for 2025, the Football and Soccer Pavilion (booths B203 and A204) shines a spotlight on soccer, showcasing partnerships between teams, federations and lifestyle brands. Featured names include the English Football Association, FC Barcelona, Kings League and the Portuguese, Dutch and French federations.
Explore global IP across anime, music, media and more at the International Pavilion (booths R224 and S225). This area showcases how Japanese and international brands are using licensing to expand globally and break into new markets. At the Licensee Pavilion (booths B196-B200), the curated zone highlights top-tier licensees across categories offering high-quality gaming accessories, collectibles, lifestyle goods and innovative merchandise.
Related:Licensing Expo Opens the Event Planner with Enhanced Digital Tools and Networking Opportunities
New to the show floor this year is The Networking Hub (booth A116). The designated spot for networking opportunities also features mentoring, drop-in Q&As, Licensing 101 talks, speed networking and daily expert-led sessions. The Matchmaking Lounge, Powered by Hangry Petz (booth J132), is where you can book meetings in advance or stop by for on-the-spot connections. A dedicated concierge team is available to assist all badge holders. The Cool Brands Café (booth G134) is a relaxed spot to refuel, catch up between meetings or strike up a new conversation while also learning more about new Cool Brands partnerships with celebrities like Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Smith, DeMarcus Lawrence and Kamilla Cardoso.
Looking for some fun on the show floor? Recharge with retro arcade games and take a moment to enjoy the latest in licensed gaming at the Arcade1Up Gaming Lounge (booth C204) or grab a snack from the SEGA Lounge (booth U232) while you take a break from the action or are connecting with fellow attendees.
Education and Thought Leadership
The License Global Theater will be your front-row seat for trend-focused panels and expert insights all to help you future-proof your licensing strategy. This year's agenda covers business trends, innovation and industry education across three days.
The keynote, "The Future of Retail: Trends, Technology and the Evolving Consumer," will be held May 20, from 2 p.m.-3 p.m. at the License Global Theater. Hear from leading retailers Walmart, Primark and MINISO about how they're adapting to evolving consumer behavior and where licensing fits into their strategies for growth in this rare panel conversation.
Don't miss License Global's "State of the Nation: The Brand Licensing Forecast," for a macro view of the trends and opportunities ahead. Additional panels include a conversation on the tariff situation and "Brand Licensing Explained," ideal for newcomers or those needing a refresher on key terms, major players, industry structure and how deals come together.
Licensing Expo takes place from May 20-22 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
To leverage insights from these educational sessions and more, and to gain access to network with top-tier brands exhibiting at the Licensing Expo, visit www.licensingexpo.com.
Registration is now open, click here to attend Licensing Expo 2025.
