IAAPA SNEAK PEEK // What's Next and Short List WHAT'S NEXT? IN THE WORLD OF FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT By The IBI Team I AAPA Expo has never been a show where you can see everything. This year, that may be more true than ever. The 2026 Expo, November 16-20 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, is expanding into a second building, increasing the show floor by nearly 50%. More than 1,100 exhibitors and 170 education events are expected. That makes a little advance planning especially useful. Beyond the inevitable new games and big product introductions, here are a few areas worth watching for ideas that could make their way back to your center.
E XHIBIT HALL
BOWLING Bowling technology continues to change both sides of the lanes.
ARCADE & ATTRACTIONS “New” gets plenty of attention at IAAPA.
Scoring and entertainment systems are adding more interactive and customizable features, while pinsetting, lane environments, and connected technology are changing what happens behind the scenes. Pay particular attention to how bowling connects with reservations, payments, food, and other activities. When looking at upgraded scoring or entertainment features, find out which ones guests actually use and whether centers are successfully selling any of them as upgrades. moving into the new West Building, with products, equipment, and live chef demonstrations throughout the show. Trade show samples are the easy part. Think about what happens at your business on a packed Saturday night. Equipment that addresses kitchen bottlenecks, food that can be executed consistently during peak periods, new beverage opportunities, and ordering technology are all worth a look. When something catches your attention, ask about installation, training, and ongoing support. The demo is only part of the story. FOOD & BEVERAGE The Food & Beverage Pavilion has doubled in size for 2026 and is
What happens after the novelty wears off is more interesting.
Look for attractions with replay value, smaller footprints and manageable staffing requirements. The Games & Arcade and Family Entertainment Center pavilions will both be in the South Building this year, making it easier to compare a lot of options in one area. ASK ABOUT: Throughput, replay rates, staffing, and what operators discover after the attraction has been running for six months.
ARCADE TECH & REDEMPTION Some of the most useful arcade technology may
not be what guests notice. Cashless systems, game-card technology, redemption management, inventory tools and reporting platforms continue to give managers more information about what’s happening in their arcades. The bigger question is how easily your team can use it. When you see an interesting system, ask to go beyond the guest-facing demo. Take a look at the reporting screen and find out how quickly a manager can get to the information they would actually use during a normal week. TECHNOLOGY
Technology now touches nearly every part of a guest visit, from reservations and check-in to food ordering, game cards, loyalty programs, and payment. Integration deserves particular attention. Look at how information moves between systems and where employees or guests still have to do something manually. AI will undoubtedly be part of plenty of conversations this year, too. Practical applications already addressing a real business need are the ones worth spending time on. IBI TIP: Bring one or two real problems from your operation. Ask vendors to show you exactly how their technology would handle them rather than starting with a feature tour.
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