New York
#2 Fashion Industry Event
Ostensibly gathered to celebrate the 2015 exhibition “China: Through the Looking Glass,” the celebrities, fashion designers, models, and socialites contributed to a red-carpet spectacle worthy of the event’s chairwoman, Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour. Next: Spring 2016
Miami
#4 Fashion Industry Event
After 11 years, event owner IMG paused the official Fashion Week Swim to rethink the event, but Miami’s Swim Week continued with many designers staging shows independently. In addition, the Swimwear Association of Florida’s SwimShow trade show in Miami Beach continued as usual. Next: July 2016
Detroit
#1 Trade Show
With its strong media interest and massive consumer appeal, the show continues to be the go-to venue for the auto industry. This year the show boasted 49 worldwide vehicle introductions and another six North American introductions—providing the contingent of 5,025 journalists much to write about and the ticketed attendance of 808,775 plenty to see. The show’s Charity Preview, a gala benefit at the Cobo Center, raised $5.3 million for children’s charities and brought its cumulative fund-raising total to more than $100 million. Next: January 11-24, 2016
Las Vegas
#2 Trade Show
The retail industry event, held in February and August, draws buyers in 11 sectors of the fashion industry including womenswear, footwear, and accessories. More than 60,000 people attend each three-day event. Next: February 2016
Chicago
#3 Trade Show
The show continues to be the must-attend event in the foodservice and hospitality industries, drawing some 65,000 people. To increase interest in the co-located spirits-industry trade show, this year it changed the name to “Beverage Alcohol for Restaurants,” which shortens to the acronym B.A.R. Also new in 2015 was a “Startup Alley” showcasing restaurant technology and a 3-D Printing Zone that created candies and other treats. Next: May 21-24, 2016
High Point, North Carolina
#4 Trade Show
The furniture and home decor worlds convene to identify the next big trends as some 75,000 people view showrooms, participate in educational sessions, and network with peers. The largest furnishings industry trade show, it takes place twice a year and covers 11.5 million square feet of show space. Next: October 17-22, 2015
Houston
#9 Trade Show
The show, which focuses on offshore oil and gas resources, boosted its attendance to 94,700, the sixth-largest crowd in its history. It also increased the number of exhibiting companies to 2,682. A new event, the Rice Alliance Startup Roundup, brought together 50 start-up companies with potential investors. Next: May 2-5, 2016
Miami
#1 Art & Design Event
The country’s premier art event is the anchor to Miami Art Week and draws serious collectors and more than 250 gallerists who do mega business at the fair, which specializes in modern and contemporary art. The after-hours dinners, parties, concerts, and other promotions from brands add to the enormity of the scene. Next: December 3-6, 2015
National
#4 Art & Design Event
Architects, interior designers, fashion designers, floral and landscape artists, and event producers are among those who create dining room installations for versions of the show across the country. The efforts support organizations that fight H.I.V. and AIDS. Next: October 3, 2015, Kansas City
San Diego
#1 Entertainment Industry Event
About 130,000 people descend on the San Diego Convention Center—many dressed in character—to gather with fellow fans of comic books, movies, and other forms of pop culture. It marked its 46th year in 2015 and recently reached a new deal that will keep the event in San Diego through 2018. Next: July 21-24, 2016
Washington
#3 Entertainment Industry Event
One of the highest honors for performing arts is bringing in new producers—Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment—this year following 37 years under George Stevens Jr. The 2015 honorees, to be feted in front of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, are the band the Eagles, singer-songwriter Carole King, filmmaker George Lucas, actress and singer Rita Moreno, conductor Seiji Ozawa, and actress Cicely Tyson. Next: December 6, 2015
New York
#1 Benefit
The high-production benefit, which supports antipoverty initiatives in New York, raised $101.7 million this year, shattering the previous record of $87.8 million, set in 2010. Katie Couric hosted, and Paul McCartney performed a nearly two-hour set to close the evening. The 4,000-person event packs the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and in 2015 expanded its outreach by hosting two satellite parties in the city for younger patrons. Next: Spring 2016
New York
#3 Benefit
Art patrons gathered to honor artists Richard Serra and Kara Walker and give a 100th birthday tribute to David Rockefeller at the museum’s spring benefit, which raised $4.38 million. The event included an after-party performance by the Weeknd and a DJ set by Chromeo. Next: Spring 2016
Chicago
#11 Benefit
More than 700 guests attended the black-tie benefit, which raised more than $2.9 million this year. Held at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, the ninth edition of the society’s signature event featured an appearance by actor Paul Reiser. Next: April 2, 2016
New York
#3 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
While it shares some events with its sister event in South Beach—the popular Burger Bash and Meatopia, among others—the New York version has developed its own identity. About 55,000 people attended the seventh annual edition in 2014, whose proceeds support Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. Next: October 15-18, 2015
Las Vegas
#4 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
Presented by Bon Appétit, the festival offers events with chefs such as Emeril Lagasse and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Guests can also take part in the action at events such as a Hell’s Kitchen-style competition hosted by chef Gordon Ramsay himself. Next: Spring 2016
Aspen, Colorado
#6 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #7)
The 33rd annual event aims for quality, not quantity, and draws about 5,000 attendees for some 80 events with celebrated chefs such as Jacques Pépin, Marcus Samuelsson, and Christina Tosi. New this year was a sommelier conference. Next: June 17-19, 2016
Austin, Texas
#1 Music Festival
The massively popular festival, which also includes film and digital components, is dealing with the consequences of its success with fans and brands. For this year’s festival, Austin officials limited the number of special event permits and boosted police presence downtown. But the event proved as attractive as ever to brands such as Pandora, Spotify, and Comedy Central, which produced activations to engage fans. Next: March 11-20, 2016
National
#2 Music Festival
The pyrotechnic-filled spectacles that make up the electronic dance music series from producer Insomniac draw massive crowds. The Las Vegas edition is the largest, with some 405,000 fans attending the three-day event. The festival began in Los Angeles and has taken place throughout North America; this year it expands to Brazil and next year will head to Japan. Next: November 6-7, Orlando
Indio, California
#4 Music Festival
AC/DC, Jack White, and Tyler the Creator were among the performers at the boho-chic festival, which proves irresistible to brands like H&M, Chevrolet, and even McDonald’s, whose Instagram-ready installations guarantee social media success. Producer Goldenvoice also caters to the California crowd with vegan, gluten-free, and kosher food options, as well as its first sit-down restaurants this year—pop-up versions of several popular Los Angeles eateries. Next: Spring 2016
Chicago
#5 Music Festival
Paul McCartney headlined the festival this year, with Metallica, Florence & the Machine, and Sam Smith also getting top billing. Beyond the grounds in Grant Park, other live music events piggyback off of the festival, including Rolling Stone’s annual Live: Chicago Party and a series of after-parties at Hard Rock Hotel Chicago. Next: Summer 2016
Austin, Texas
#7 Music Festival
More than 75,000 fans converge on Zilker Park for two weekends of music from 130 bands. Headliners this year include Foo Fighters, Drake, and the Strokes. In 2014, the festival went cashless, requiring people to link their credit cards to an R.F.I.D. wristband. Next: October 2-4, October 9-11, 2015
Louisville, Kentucky
#9 Festival, Parade & Holiday Event
The kickoff to the Kentucky Derby Festival is the largest single attended event in the state, drawing some half a million people to watch the fireworks show. The theme of the 2015 show was “Boom With a View.” Next: April 23, 2016
Los Angeles
#6 Business & Financial Industry Event
Investment banking firm Roth Capital Partners draws more than 3,600 institutional investors, private equity investors, executives, and others to its Newport Beach conference, which marked its 27th year in 2015. Next: March 13-16, 2016
Los Angeles
#1 Award Show
The most prestigious of the entertainment award shows still innovates to attract more viewers to its celebration of the year’s best movies. Under president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the academy has become more diverse, and next year’s show will have new producers. Next: February 28, 2016
Los Angeles
#3 Award Show
With the addition of Amazon, Netflix, and others creating original television, the awards have become more competitive as well as more compelling for viewers. Actor Andy Samberg debuts as a major award show host at this year’s event, held at the Microsoft Theater. Next: September 20, 2015
Los Angeles
#6 Award Show (up from #7)
The sports giant moved the show to broadcast TV for the first time, airing it on ABC, and earned the highest ratings in the show’s history. The show celebrated the Women’s World Cup-winning United States women’s soccer team, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, and others. But Caitlyn Jenner, receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, stole the show. Next: Summer 2016
Las Vegas
#1 Technology Industry Event
The consumer electronics mega show drew a record-breaking crowd of more than 170,000 attendees and 3,631 exhibiting companies. Media coverage of the show saturates news and entertainment sites in the United States and across the globe. In addition to big players like Sony and Samsung, 375 start-ups had their own exhibit space, dubbed Eureka Park. Next: January 6-9, 2016
Aspen, Colorado
Susan Wojcicki, C.E.O. of YouTube, kicked off the main program of the invitation-only event, which is entering its 15th year. Next: July 11-13, 2016
