With a mission of encompassing the future of building through leadership and education, integrating technology, solutions and partnerships, World of Concrete (WOC)--the annual commercial concrete trade show and conference--kicked off 2025 with a successful 51st addition bolstered by a strong convergence of construction and masonry professionals and a notable uptick in exhibitors. 

Held January 20-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the annual event drew in 57,908 registered attendees and 1,522 exhibiting companies, 342 of them making their debut this year. The event featured indoor and outdoor exhibits with leading industry suppliers showcasing innovative products and technologies, engaging demonstrations and lively competitions. 

What they’re saying: “This event sets the standard for excellence in construction, both excelling in size, attendance and engagement as well as the ability to deliver highly relevant and tailored content to our various audience types,” said WOC Vice President Jackie James. “It provides actionable insights and tangible takeaways that attendees can take into the real world, empowering them to thrive in their roles and stay ahead as the knowledge gained at WOC is applied in the day-to-day work.” 

Looking back: In 2024, the event’s 50th anniversary edition attracted nearly 60,000 attendees and more than 1,400 exhibitors spanning 700,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor expo space. 

Deeper dive: “We didn’t think we could top our 50th anniversary but this year’s World of Concrete proved us wrong—and I think our attendees would agree,” said Kevin Thornton, senior vice president, infrastructure and construction, Informa Markets, which produces the show. “The energy on the show floor was unmatched, fueled by a strong sense of optimism and a forward-thinking mindset about the direction of the industry. Across every hall, demo, and education session, it was clear that industry leaders aren’t just reacting to change—they’re proactively investing to get ahead of anticipated growth.”  

Expo floors highlighting emerging innovations  

Showcasing the latest tools, technologies, equipment, and services for material handling, concrete reinforcement, concrete masonry, cement production, and decorative concrete for all types of building, repair, demolition, and reconstruction, key exhibitors represented a who’s-who of the industry’ biggest and most well-known brands, including Bobcat, DeWalt, Ford Pro, Hilti, Blaklader Workwear, Kubota, and Milwaukee Tool, to name a few.  

“DY Concrete Pumps is celebrating ten years [in business], and we’ve had our best show yet,” said Exhibitor Braden Huggins of DY Concrete Pumps Inc. “This is our tenth year at World of Concrete as well – we love this show. Traffic is always amazing, but this year is more than we could have ever expected. If you’re in the concrete business this is where you have to be; anybody and everybody who is in the [industry] is here at this show and it pays off.”  

Future-forward technological solutions were also at the forefront of the expo, with companies such as Lucid Bots, Ripik AI, Procore, and Dusty Robotics demonstrating how construction is leveraging and integrating emerging technologies to increase efficiency, and how applications of robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and clean energy innovations are positioned to revolutionize safety, performance, and speed.  

Elevating professional knowledge and development 

Offering more than 180 educational sessions designed to supply contractors, builders, and companies with the skills to bring their operations to the next level, the show’s conference featured learning opportunities across technical applications, business management expertise, and best practices for building businesses efficiency and safety, as well as hands-on training and certifications. More than 40% of WOC’s educational content was new for 2025, according to Informa Markets officials.  

Industry experts delved into top-of-mind industry topics, such as regulatory changes, geological conditions, labor gap and work force trends, infrastructure demands, and growth opportunities throughout the sector, while concrete fundamentals courses provided support those entering the workforce and professional development and leadership courses appealed to more experienced industry members.  

To enhance accessibility, WOC introduced a Spanish-language track and piloted Wordly, an AI-powered real-time translation tool that provided audio, captions, subtitles, and transcriptions in 66 languages throughout seven education sessions.  

Exclusive experiences and opportunities 

Among its long roster of special events on and off the show floor, the show once again set the stage for concrete and masonry masters to compete for championship titles, including the fan-favorite SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship. Known as the “Super Bowl of Masonry,” the contest showcases the world’s best bricklayers melding skill, speed and stamina, outside at the MASONRY MADNESS Arena with more than $125,000 in cash and prizes.  

To support skill development of the next generation of builders, the Mason Contractor’s Association of America hosted the Masonry Skills Challenge, consisting of first, second- and third-year apprentices showcasing their expertise in a surprise project without any preparation or assistance, while the second annual Scaffold Builders Challenge witnessed 18 teams competing to see who could erect and dismantle scaffolding structures the fastest without penalties.  

Live streamed for the first time this year, WOC’s “Rock Carving LIVE!” featured an interactive showcase in which skilled artisans competed to transform ordinary concrete into decorative and lifelike artificial rock sculptures, and at the Construction Industry Management (CIM) Auction, a record-breaking $2.15 million was raised for the CIM initiative, a business-intensive program that awards students with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in CIM programs at five U.S. public universities. 

“World of Concrete continues to be the premier destination where the industry comes to tackle its biggest challenges, find solutions, and shape the future,” Thornton said. “This year, the conversation wasn’t just about the present—it was about what’s next. Businesses are seeking answers to how evolving markets and regulations will impact them, and they’re finding those answers right here.” 

He added, “The collaboration, innovation, and strategic decision-making we witnessed at World of Concrete reaffirm why this event is the heartbeat of the industry, and we couldn’t be prouder to provide the platform that brings it all together.”  

Looking ahead: World of Concrete will return January 19-22, 2026 to the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

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