TUCSON, AZ (March 25, 2026) -- Following strong attendance in 2026 and continued exhibitor support for a shorter event, the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has finalized the schedule for GemFair Tucson for the next three years.
Beginning in 2027, the show will run on a Sunday-to-Thursday schedule while maintaining its five-day format. AGTA announced the following dates for upcoming events: Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, 2027; Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, 2028; and Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, 2029.
GemFair Tucson shifted to a five-day format in 2026, when the show was held Feb. 2 to 6, Monday through Friday. According to AGTA, the change was well received by exhibitors, prompting the organization to continue the shorter run while adjusting the calendar to better align with exhibitor preferences.
“During the show, we surveyed our exhibitors, and a very strong majority expressed a clear preference for maintaining the five-day format,” AGTA Board President Bruce Bridges said in a statement. “In response, the board elected to adopt a Sunday-to-Thursday schedule, with the strategic objective of reengaging the more than 150 companies that did not participate in 2026 and that have historically favored weekend dates.”
Bridges said the revised format delivered strong results this year, with most exhibitors reporting exceptional outcomes. He added that buyer attendance rose 7% in 2026 compared with the same five-day pattern in 2025.
Under the new schedule, GemFair’s opening Toast to Tucson Party will be held on Sunday. The show will also continue to feature two days of seminars and the Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards gala, though specific dates for those events have not yet been announced.
“I am thrilled that AGTA has set the format and the dates for GemFair Tucson for the next three years, allowing our attendees to plan their schedules and coordinate their travel,” AGTA CEO John W. Ford Sr. said in a statement.
Top photo: The AGTA GemFair Tucson show floor. Photo courtesy of the American Gem Trade Association.