It can be prohibitively expensive for an author or small publisher to attend a trade show. Booth space, furnishings, and travel expenses add up. CIPA helps you get exposure at shows for a fraction of the cost. You must become a member to have your books displayed and marketed by CIPA at a trade show.

February 17-20, 2026, Nashville, TN at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

Registration will open on September 1, 2025.

The NRB Convention is the world’s largest gathering of Christian communicators and offers a unique opportunity to reach media and ministry professionals. If you want to be interviewed on Christian radio, podcasts, and television shows—this is your opportunity to meet with those outlets in person. Basically, you can obtain a year’s worth of media interviews through this valuable convention (Susan Neal had five TV interviews this year from contacts made at the 2022 NRB Convention.) Watch the highlights from last year’s show HERE.

After you sign up, CAN/CIPA will send you a list of media attending the NRB convention. You can contact them before the show to set up an interview to be performed in the Press Room at the convention.

The fee to attend the show with CAN/CIPA and exhibit one book is $575. To exhibit a second book, there is a $75 fee. You will be scheduled a book signing at the CAN/CIPA booth so you can highlight yourself and your book.

“If you want to increase book sales, you need to let more people know your book exists. You can do this through different media outlets such as blogs, magazines, podcasts, radio shows, and television. But how do you find these media outlets? Trade shows provide the perfect opportunity. Recently, I attended the National Religious Broadcasting shows.

National Religious Broadcasting Convention

My CIPA membership saved me hundreds of dollars off the NRB convention price. I was pleasantly surprised by the opportunities that arose from this conference. Before the conference, the CIPA director sent me a long list of Christian media outlets attending this conference. I contacted them for potential interviews resulting in a podcast interview performed at the conference and a Faith Radio interview a couple of weeks later. A radio station I contacted asked if they could use my healthy living YouTube clips on their station in between their shows. Those clips were edited for radio and included my website and contact information.

At the NRB conference, I was filmed for a 10-minute slot on a television show. I was also invited to be on two other Christian television talk shows with expenses paid except airfare. I met numerous hybrid publishers who were interested in publishing my children’s picture book and cookbook. One of those Christian publishers was impressed with my book marketing skills, and we signed a contract for me to create marketing plans for his authors.

Part of the NRB convention included an expo with over 700 exhibitors that took three days to peruse. A press room contained all forms of media that interviewed attendees. Interview opportunities arise while you are there.

My NRB book signing through CIPA was announced in the NRB program, and it was so well attended I ran out of books before the hour was over. I also sold my books and met conferees while sitting at the expo CIPA table during my daily scheduled times.

In the Christian book publisher’s industry, developing professional relationships is key to expanding your platform and income. I also met two conference directors who showed interest in having me as a speaker next year. The contacts you make at conferences are invaluable, and you have no idea how those contacts will blossom to fruition in the future.

A trade show provides the opportunity to promote your masterpiece and ministry passionately. Attending a Christian trade show is spiritually and monetarily advantageous. Our ultimate goal is to further the kingdom of God and help people. A trade show allows us to spread God’s message through our prose.”