Innovations FAQ | Dot Marketing

Innovations 2026 will be held from Wednesday, April 22 to Friday, April 24 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.

Innovations is an invite-only event. Only Dot Foods customers, operators, and supplier partners who signed up to attend can be at our show.

To attend Innovations, individuals from companies exhibiting at the show must complete our separate attendee registration form. Attendee registration will open early next year.

To exhibit at Innovations 2026, purchase an exhibitor package once they are available October 7. On the checkout page, you will fill out additional details such as your contact information to register to exhibit. Please provide the company name you want us to use for your booth.

Everyone from your company who is attending Innovations, including booth workers and setup crews, will also need to complete attendee registration once it opens early next year.

We’ve added several more features, giving you more options to boost your presence at our show.
Premium and Premium Plus packages now include two extra badges and 20% off one sponsorship. Discount is applied in your invoice, not at checkout.
Trend Explorer, our restaurant chain tasting event, is now included with the Premium package.

On January 1, 2026, the following price changes will take place on exhibitor packages:

Introductory Package will increase to $11,000
Basic Package will increase to $16,500
Premium Package will increase to $37,000

If Dot cancels the show:

If we are required to cancel Innovations, the total cost of your exhibitor package and any additional booths, badges, and sponsorships will be rolled over to Innovations 2027 or refunded in full.

If you cancel your exhibition:

If you cancel your Innovations package for any reason, the following provisions will apply:

If Dot Foods receives your cancellation prior to February 22, 2026, the total cost of your exhibitor package and any additional booths, badges, and sponsorships will be rolled over to Innovations 2027 or refunded in full.

If Dot Foods receives your cancellation on or after February 22, 2026, you will pay a cancellation fee equal to the full cost of your exhibitor package and any additional booths, badges, and sponsorships.

One of the key values of our trade show is that all attendees know they can source the exhibitors' products through Dot Foods. Therefore, exhibitors must only offer samples and present items that are set up at Dot.

Our team will work with you to execute your features and sponsorships closer to the show. We’ll reach out to you with more details.

Each package comes with a specified number of badges. Up to four additional badges will be available as optional features for most packages. Additional badges are also available to purchase here.

Some of our features require a culinary or operator contact to be present. Everybody attending from your company, including booth workers and setup crews, will need to complete individual registration once it opens early next year.

The number of exhibitor badges you have depends on which package, features, and add-ons you select. Each badge gives someone from your company admission to the trade show, meals, and events, so long as they complete attendee registration in 2026.

You will see which package, features, and add-ons you selected in your confirmation email.

Introductory Package: 2 badges
Basic Package: 4 badges
Premium Package: 8 badges
Premium Plus Packages: 14 badges

Our exhibitor resources page will include the deadlines, order forms, and everything else you need to exhibit at Innovations 2026 and provide show specials. The page will be updated as we get closer to the show.

These details are available on our Innovations attendee website and will be continuously updated leading up to the show.

Innovations is just one component of our Dot Marketing program. Through Product Marketing, you can create campaigns to get your products in front of hard-to-reach distributors and operators. After you select your Innovations packages and sponsorships, be sure to explore our Product Marketing opportunities before you check out your cart. LEARN MORE

By participating in Innovations and Product Marketing, you work towards becoming eligible for our Incentive Program. Through our program, customers who buy any of your products for the first time earn points to go on our all-inclusive Dot Trip. Your company can also earn an invitation to our trip. Find out more about the Incentive Program on our website. VISIT SITE