Fresh Opportunities at ISSA Show 2026

Key Takeaways:
• ISSA Show North America 2026 will return to Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas to bring together commercial cleaning industry members.
• The event's educational agenda tackles critical cleaning operational challenges—LEED v5 green cleaning compliance, AI equipment adoption, and strategic workforce retention.
• The new Robotics and Autonomous Cleaning Experience and ISSA Innovation Award program provide hands-on access to the latest smart equipment and autonomous technology solutions.

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Las Vegas has become the annual home for ISSA Show North America, which will once again return to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in November. But although it is a familiar setting, this year's event will be a decidedly different experience for attendees. From Nov. 16-19, jan/san distributors can expect four days of education, networking, product discovery, awards, and conversations focused on the issues shaping the commercial cleaning industry, along with an ever-changing backdrop.

The location may be familiar, but Las Vegas continues to change. Since ISSA Show North America first arrived at Mandalay Bay years ago, the city has added major attractions and embraced an even greater role as a destination for sports, entertainment, and large-scale events. The Sphere opened in 2023, Fontainebleau Las Vegas joined the Strip that same year, and Formula 1 continues to transform the city each November (a commitment that will run through 2037).

That evolution creates interesting scenery for a show that also seems to reinvent itself each year. ISSA Show North America 2026 is expected to bring more than 11,300 professionals together with at least 625 exhibiting brands, representing more than 75 countries. Education will get things started on Monday, Nov. 16, followed by three days of the expo hall.

For distributors, that combination means the show can be approached as much more than a product-sourcing trip.

Education On Tap

Education remains one of the strongest reasons for jan/san distributors to arrive early and stay engaged throughout the event. The 2026 agenda is organized around tracks including Distributor, Business Growth, ESG and Sustainability, Leadership, Career and Talent Development, Marketing Strategies, Technology & Innovation, and more.

Several sessions hold particular relevance for distributors looking to help customers navigate changing expectations.

For example, “The Future of Green Cleaning,” scheduled for Monday afternoon, will examine changes to LEED v5 requirements alongside social equity, ergonomics, new technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics, and sustainability. For distributor sales teams, those topics can translate directly into conversations about products, programs, and services customers may need to meet evolving facility requirements.

Programs and services are just what end users are looking for from their distributor partners, which is why attendees should consider sitting in on “Beyond the Cleaning Surface: Is it a People Problem or a Process Problem?” This interactive session will explore the operational challenges behind high turnover, inconsistent service quality, and constant retraining, and whether these challenges stem from leadership gaps, unclear expectations, or broken processes. For distributors, the session can provide valuable insight into the obstacles their customers face and offer a practical framework for identifying bottlenecks, strengthening accountability, and recommending systems that improve service consistency.

ISSA's broader education program also reflects the industry's growing emphasis on technology, automation, sustainability, employee development, and business growth. That makes it possible for a distributor to build a schedule that goes beyond product knowledge and addresses the larger business challenges customers are facing.

Networking With Purpose

Of course, education is only one part of the ISSA Show experience. Networking remains a major draw, particularly for distributors looking to meet new suppliers, reconnect with existing manufacturing partners, and build relationships with other professionals throughout the supply chain.

The 2026 event includes dedicated networking opportunities alongside the exhibit hall and education program. It all starts on Monday with a Hygieia Networking Lunch featuring inventor and entrepreneur Joy Mangano. That's followed later in the day by the ISSA Show Welcome Reception, where attendees are encouraged to mingle and create connections with key decisionmakers, thought leaders, and other engaged professionals.

The exhibit floor itself is designed to encourage discovery, too. Among its dedicated areas are the New Exhibitor Pavilion and returning International Pavilion. For distributors, those areas can be particularly useful when building relationships and searching for products or technologies that are not already represented in an existing product or equipment lineup.

Highlighted for the first time on the show floor is the Robotics and Autonomous Cleaning Experience. This new area will feature two live demonstration zones, as well as an innovation and education stage.

This blend of offerings can be especially useful to distributor attendees because it allows education to be combined with product discovery and networking opportunities, right on the show floor. The scheduled demonstrations can also offer insight into what end users are likely to ask about next—whether that’s robotics, smart equipment, dispensing technology, sustainability, or other technology-enabled solutions.

Recognizing Industry Achievement

Awards provide another important component of the ISSA Show experience, offering a chance to step away from the buying and selling side of the industry and recognize the people and ideas moving it forward.

One of the 2026 highlights will be the Emerging Leaders Network Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, immediately followed by a happy hour. The events will recognize emerging professionals for their accomplishments, leadership, and contributions to the cleaning industry.

Innovation also remains a major theme of the show. ISSA's Innovation Award program has been designed to spotlight new technologies and solutions across areas such as sustainability, hygiene, automation and equipment, facility care, and business technology. Previous programs have incorporated attendee voting, product showcases, and live presentations, making the awards a natural extension of the product-discovery experience.

For distributors, keeping an eye on these award programs can provide another way to identify products and technologies that may deserve a closer look.

Same City, Different Show

There is something appropriate about ISSA Show North America's continued presence in Las Vegas. The city has always been built around the idea that a return visit should never feel exactly like the last. Just as Las Vegas grows and evolves, ISSA has continued expanding and reshaping its own mix of education, networking, technology, and show-floor experiences.

That means distributors returning to Las Vegas in 2026 will recognize the convention center, but they shouldn't expect a repeat of the last trip. Instead, the familiar surroundings simply provide a comfortable starting point. The new products, new speakers, new connections, and evolving industry conversations are what make the experience different.

For jan/san distributors, that may ultimately be the most valuable reason to make the trip. ISSA Show North America provides an opportunity to see not only what is available today, but also where cleaning, facility management, and distribution are headed next.

Corinne Zudonyi has been in the commercial cleaning industry for over 20 years and is proud to serve as Editor-In-Chief of Contracting Profits (the official publication of BSCAI), Facility Cleaning Decisions, and Sanitary Maintenance (the North American media partner of Interclean Amsterdam) magazines, publications that serve the professional cleaning industry. Additionally, Corinne manages CleanLink.com, the leading digital resource for the commercial cleaning industry, and she uses her industry knowledge to steer educational topics for Clean Buildings at NFMT East.
Corinne is the sole U.S. representative to serve on the international Interclean Amsterdam Innovation Jury, where she weighs in on product trends impacting commercial cleaning on a global scale. She also works closely with Healthy Green Schools & Colleges to advance healthy and sustainable cleaning in educational facilities. As a member of the CLEAN Awards Jury, through the Building Service Contractors Association International, Corinne also helps recognize cleaning contractors and their companies for outstanding service to the industry.
Corinne can commonly be found moderating industry panel discussions, presenting education, and focusing on bringing awareness and affirmation for the wonderful work that people do to keep facilities clean and building occupants safe and healthy.
Follow Corinne on LinkedIn here.