Small Business Expo Austin 2026 at Palmer Events Center

On October 29, 2026, the Palmer Events Center hosts the Austin stop of Small Business Expo, the city's largest in-person gathering for entrepreneurs, founders, and small business decision-makers. The single-day format packs an exhibitor hall, practical workshops, keynote sessions, and structured speed-networking into one high-energy venue. The show floor is built for buyers hunting specific services: marketing and advertising agencies, banking and funding providers, payroll and HR platforms, IT and cybersecurity vendors, CRM, eCommerce tools, franchise opportunities, and business coaching. Roughly eight in ten attendees hold buying authority, and most walk in with the intent to purchase, which is why exhibitors treat the Austin edition as a lead-generation anchor of the national tour. On the education side, the agenda mixes speakers from Amazon, Verizon, and Texas Capital with Shark Tank alumni, covering AI for small business, brand strategy, digital marketing, and tax planning. General admission is free, premium VIP passes add networking lounges and reserved seating, and show-floor promotions run throughout the day. For out-of-town visitors, the venue sits on Barton Springs Road beside Lady Bird Lake, a short ride from downtown Austin hotels, South Congress, and the airport via I-35.