Atlantic City is preparing to host one of the most influential trade events in the global counterculture and cannabis-adjacent retail industry as the CHAMPS Trade Show returns to the Atlantic City Convention Center from March 17 through March 19, 2026. Recognized as the world’s largest business-to-business wholesale expo for smoke shops, vape retailers, cannabis accessory brands, and counterculture product manufacturers, the CHAMPS Trade Show once again positions New Jersey as a focal point for innovation, commerce, and networking across one of the fastest-growing retail sectors in the United States.
Since its founding in 1999, CHAMPS has evolved into a powerhouse event that connects thousands of retailers, wholesalers, glass artists, manufacturers, and emerging brands under one roof. Each year the expo draws industry professionals from across North America and beyond, creating a marketplace where new products debut, partnerships are formed, and the direction of the industry often takes shape.
For New Jersey’s rapidly expanding cannabis and dispensary landscape, the event’s return to Atlantic City reflects the state’s growing importance in the national conversation around cannabis culture, smoke shop retail, and alternative lifestyle commerce. Across the Garden State, platforms like Explore New Jersey Dispensaries continue to highlight the businesses, retail innovations, and cultural movements driving this evolving marketplace.
When CHAMPS arrives in Atlantic City this March, it brings with it not only thousands of buyers and exhibitors but also a snapshot of where the industry is headed next.
The Largest B2B Counterculture Expo in the World
Few trade events match the scale and influence of CHAMPS.
Over the past two decades, the show has grown from a niche wholesale gathering into the largest B2B trade expo dedicated to the smoke shop, cannabis accessories, and counterculture retail industries. The event now features hundreds of exhibitors representing everything from high-end glass art studios to major manufacturers of vape devices, lifestyle apparel, and CBD-related wellness products.
For retailers attending the Atlantic City edition, the show serves as a vital opportunity to discover new products, evaluate emerging brands, and secure wholesale deals that will shape their store inventory for the coming year.
Unlike public expos or consumer festivals, CHAMPS remains strictly business-to-business, meaning access is limited to verified retailers, distributors, and wholesalers. Attendees must present two forms of business identification to enter the exhibition floor, ensuring the event remains a focused marketplace designed for professionals within the industry.
This structure has made CHAMPS a critical hub for decision-makers who influence retail trends across thousands of smoke shops and specialty stores nationwide.
Event Details: CHAMPS Atlantic City 2026
The 2026 Atlantic City edition of the CHAMPS Trade Show will take place at the Atlantic City Convention Center, one of the East Coast’s largest and most recognizable convention venues.
The event will be held on the second floor of the convention complex, providing expansive exhibition space for hundreds of vendors and interactive demonstrations.
Dates and Hours:
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday, March 19, 2026
11:00 AM – 4:20 PM
Location: Atlantic City Convention Center
1 Convention Boulevard
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Admission: Free for verified retail and wholesale buyers. Two forms of business identification are required for entry.
The convention center’s on-site parking garage offers approximately 1,400 spaces, typically available at a flat daily rate. Many attendees also take advantage of nearby accommodations, including the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel, which connects directly to the venue via pedestrian bridge.
What Retail Buyers and Industry Leaders Will Discover
Walking onto the CHAMPS show floor is like stepping into the future of counterculture retail.
Hundreds of booths line the convention hall, each showcasing new designs, emerging technologies, and products that reflect the evolving tastes of consumers within the smoke shop and cannabis lifestyle markets.
Exhibitors represent a wide spectrum of categories including:
Hand-blown glass pipes and artistic glassware
Vape devices and accessories
CBD wellness products
Lifestyle apparel and streetwear
Novelty items and collectible merchandise
Smoking accessories and rolling supplies
Retail display innovations and packaging solutions
For independent retailers, the show offers an unparalleled opportunity to meet manufacturers directly, compare product lines, and secure wholesale agreements that can differentiate their stores in competitive markets.
Many brands also choose CHAMPS as the launchpad for entirely new product lines, making the event one of the first places retailers can see emerging trends before they reach mainstream retail shelves.
The CHAMPS Glass Games: Where Craft Meets Competition
Among the most anticipated highlights of the expo are the CHAMPS Glass Games, a live glass-blowing competition that transforms the trade show floor into a stage for some of the most talented glass artists in the world.
During the competition, skilled artisans demonstrate the delicate and complex process of shaping molten glass into intricate smoking accessories and artistic pieces.
Spectators witness the full creative process in real time—heating, sculpting, shaping, and finishing unique designs under intense time constraints.
The Glass Games are more than entertainment.
They celebrate the artistry that has long been central to counterculture craftsmanship, highlighting the creativity and skill required to produce high-quality hand-blown glass.
For many attendees, watching these artists work offers a deeper appreciation of the craftsmanship behind products often displayed in specialty smoke shops and boutique retailers.
JOLLY Brings a Fresh Energy to the Show Floor
Among the brands making an appearance at CHAMPS Atlantic City this year is JOLLY, a cannabis lifestyle brand that has been gaining attention for its vibrant approach to premium gummies and modern cannabis experiences.
The company will showcase its products at Booth #8048, bringing a colorful and energetic presence to the show floor.
JOLLY’s product philosophy centers on creating cannabis-inspired experiences that blend flavor innovation with contemporary branding. The company has positioned itself as a brand that speaks to the next generation of cannabis consumers—individuals seeking quality, creativity, and lifestyle integration.
By appearing at CHAMPS, JOLLY joins a growing roster of companies using the expo as a platform to introduce their brand identity to thousands of retail buyers and distributors.
Atlantic City’s Role in the Industry’s Growth
Atlantic City has increasingly become a strategic destination for large-scale trade events tied to emerging industries.
The city’s convention infrastructure, hospitality capacity, and accessibility from major metropolitan regions such as New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. make it an ideal location for events that draw national audiences.
Hosting CHAMPS further strengthens Atlantic City’s reputation as a gathering place for innovation within alternative retail markets.
Beyond the convention halls, the city offers an environment where business meetings often continue long after the expo floor closes.
Restaurants, lounges, and entertainment venues throughout Atlantic City become informal networking hubs where industry leaders continue conversations sparked during the day’s trade show activity.
The Broader Cannabis and Dispensary Landscape in New Jersey
The timing of CHAMPS’ return to Atlantic City is particularly significant given the rapid evolution of New Jersey’s cannabis market.
Since legalization, the state has seen a wave of new dispensaries, cannabis brands, and ancillary businesses emerge across the region.
Smoke shops and specialty retailers increasingly serve as lifestyle hubs connected to the broader cannabis culture ecosystem. These stores carry products that extend beyond traditional accessories, including wellness items, apparel, art pieces, and curated merchandise.
Trade shows like CHAMPS provide the marketplace where these retailers discover the brands and products that will shape the next phase of retail growth.
For entrepreneurs operating in New Jersey’s dispensary and smoke shop sectors, the event offers direct access to manufacturers and distributors that might otherwise require extensive travel to meet.
A Major Gathering for Industry Networking
While product discovery is a central component of the CHAMPS experience, networking remains one of the event’s most valuable aspects.
Thousands of professionals gather in one place—shop owners, brand founders, product designers, distributors, and artists.
The environment creates opportunities for conversations that lead to collaborations, wholesale partnerships, and long-term business relationships.
For new retailers entering the industry, CHAMPS provides exposure to the broader ecosystem that powers the market—from product sourcing to merchandising strategies and retail innovation.
Atlantic City’s Culinary Scene Adds Flavor to the Experience
Visitors attending CHAMPS will also encounter a city alive with culinary and cultural activity.
March coincides with Taste Atlantic City, a month-long celebration where restaurants throughout the city offer special prix-fixe menus and seasonal culinary experiences.
Nearby dining destinations such as Tun Tavern and Dock’s Oyster House often become gathering places for attendees looking to unwind after a day on the show floor.
These experiences add another layer to the event, transforming the trade show trip into a full exploration of Atlantic City’s food, hospitality, and entertainment offerings.
A Trade Show That Continues to Shape the Industry
For more than two decades, CHAMPS has played a defining role in the evolution of the smoke shop and counterculture retail market.
The event continues to serve as the meeting point where artistry, entrepreneurship, and retail innovation intersect.
As thousands of industry professionals arrive in Atlantic City this March, the expo will once again function as a living snapshot of where the industry stands today—and where it may be heading next.
For New Jersey, hosting an event of this scale reinforces the state’s growing influence within the national cannabis and lifestyle retail landscape.
And for the retailers, brands, and creators gathering inside the Atlantic City Convention Center, CHAMPS 2026 promises three days of discovery, opportunity, and the energy of an industry that continues to evolve.
