KBIS 2025 Is a Must-See
From a new NEXTStage location in the South Hall showcasing industry stars to Global Pavilions, the NKBA has you covered in Las Vegas
By Heather Shannon
From hosting the NEXTStage and Global Connect Lounge at KBIS to being the home of groundbreaking brands, the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall is a must for anyone looking for the next big thing in kitchen and bath. “After many successful years in North Hall, we’re enthusiastically embracing new opportunities in South Hall with its greater proximity to some of our emerging partners and international organizations through Global Connect, demonstrating our growing role in the global kitchen and bath community,” says Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO, NKBA | KBIS. “This move allows us to tap into the vibrant energy of NEXTStage while fostering connections with established brands, our long-term members, as well as fresh talent that bring an innovative spark to the industry.”
Spotlight on NEXTStage: Daily Design Trends & Insights
Enjoy lively discussions about current design trends and insights.
Tuesday, February 25: The NKBA Design Council, Thom Filicia, Michel Smith Boyd, Celerie Kemble, and Caleb Anderson, will share their personal stories, offering insights from their early careers to their latest projects. Later on Tuesday, listen to a panel of senior leaders from Windsor Declaration signatories to explore two urgent global challenges: water scarcity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Wednesday, February 26: Ferguson will host a panel on “Selective Luxury: The Art of Intentional Design,” centered on crafting bespoke spaces that prioritize glamour, comfort, and personal style through intentional design and thoughtful material choices.
Thursday, February 27: NKBA’s Head of Research, Tricia Zach, will give a presentation on what’s next for kitchens & baths and unveil the top kitchen and bath trends defining 2025.
Also on Thursday on the NEXTStage, join Darcy as he sits down with Daryl Friedman, CEO of CEDIA, to discuss the powerful synergy between residential design and smart home technology.
For each day of KBIS, three daily hosts–John McClain, Sophie Donelson, and Breegan Jane–will guide the NEXTStage audience through an energetic experience of more than 20 programs focused on design trends and insights combining research, data, and expert opinions to forecast the coming year.
South Hall will feature more new-to-North America products and services than ever with more than 75 international member companies and five international pavilions exhibiting throughout KBIS, with many concentrated in and around the Global Connect Lounge and Kiosks in South Hall. NKBA Global Connect is designed to help international brands reduce their risk when expanding into the North American market.
The NKBA Global Connect Lounge is the spot where international brands connect with North American design professionals, showrooms, dealers, distributors, and sales representatives. Beginning each morning, brands will present quick “spotlight” takes on their products and brand stories. Roundtables and panel discussions, exploring the role of the designer and go-to-market strategies for North America, will be offered for international brands to better understand this unique marketplace. Breakfast, lunch and cocktail events will include audience engagement opportunities.
On Tuesday, February 25, NKBA’s Thirty Under 30 Class of 2025 will be introduced individually at the KBIS NextStage. The annual 30s Choice Awards will be selected over the course of KBIS and announced online, featuring video of the newly inducted Thirty Under 30 members touring booths and scouting for their choices of the best products at KBIS.
You’ll also be able to find the next big thing at the Discovery District in South Hall, the epicenter of innovation and inspiration at KBIS 2025. As the premier destination for cutting-edge product showcases and groundbreaking design solutions, Discovery District is where the future of the kitchen and bath industry comes to life.
Finally, the NKBA Booth (SL3125) is joining in on the fun with a photo studio featuring free headshots by professional photographers. It will be open from Tuesday through Thursday from 9am to 5pm, and walk-ups are welcome–no pre-registration is required. Rounding out the activations, the NKBA Research Team will be presenting its brand new initiative, The Kitchen & Bath Pro Hub, in the booth on all three days at both 10:00-10:30am and 2:00-2:30pm. Created for members and non-members alike, The Hub portal will provide real-time data insights on trends to complement the NKBA Research Team’s invaluable survey findings released throughout the year.
So if you haven’t already registered, please visit KBIS.com to do so now!
Heather Shannon is SVP of Marketing and Communications with NKBA.
