The diving industry is beginning to turn its attention towards New Orleans, with DEMA Show® 2026 gathering momentum ahead of its 50th anniversary edition this November.
Major manufacturers, training organisations, travel businesses and other diving industry organisations are already preparing to exhibit, adding to what is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of the international dive trade this year.
Taking place from November 3 to 6 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, DEMA Show 2026 is expected to bring together more than 500 exhibiting companies and over 7,000 diving professionals representing more than 60 countries.
It is an important milestone for an event that has spent five decades bringing manufacturers, retailers, instructors, training organisations, tourism businesses and other parts of the diving industry together under one roof.
More Than an Equipment Show
Although new diving equipment remains one of the major attractions of DEMA Show, the modern event extends considerably beyond regulators, BCDs, computers and other equipment.
Dive resorts, liveaboard operators, tourism boards, training organisations, underwater imaging companies, conservation groups and business service providers now form a significant part of the show floor.
That mix reflects how broad the diving industry has become and also makes DEMA an important meeting point for businesses that might otherwise spend much of the year communicating across countries and continents.
For dive retailers and professionals attending the event, it creates an opportunity to compare equipment, meet suppliers, explore destinations and establish new commercial relationships during the same four days.
DEMA says more than 500 exhibiting companies are expected in New Orleans, while over 250 seminars, workshops and educational sessions will form part of the 2026 programme.
Strong Exhibitor Return
There are also signs that businesses which attended last year’s show see value in returning.
According to DEMA, 81 percent of exhibitors from DEMA Show 2025 have already secured space for the 2026 event.
The organisation also reports that 95 percent of attendees influence purchasing decisions within their businesses, highlighting why manufacturers and suppliers continue to place considerable importance on the annual gathering.
This year’s event carries additional significance because DEMA Show is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
A dedicated anniversary programme is planned alongside the exhibition and education schedule, including a 50th Anniversary Celebration at Mardi Gras World on Thursday, November 5.
The milestone provides an opportunity to look back at how both recreational diving and the businesses supporting it have changed over the past five decades, while much of the attention on the exhibition floor will inevitably be focused on where the industry goes next.
A Global Meeting Point for Diving
DEMA describes its annual show as the world’s largest trade-only event serving scuba diving, ocean water sports and adventure dive travel.
Unlike consumer dive exhibitions, attendance is restricted to qualified industry professionals. Dive centre owners and staff, instructors, manufacturers, distributors, travel specialists, resort and liveaboard operators, underwater photographers, conservation organisations and diving media are among those represented.
That distinction has helped make the show as much about meetings and relationships as the products displayed on the exhibition stands.
With professionals from more than 60 countries expected in New Orleans, DEMA Show 2026 will once again provide a useful snapshot of the commercial direction of the global diving industry.
And with its 50th anniversary providing an additional reason for businesses and diving professionals to make the journey, this year’s event is shaping up to be considerably more than another date on the industry calendar.
DEMA Show 2026 takes place from November 3–6, 2026 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Further information, registration and the current show floor can be found through the official DEMA Show website.
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