CP+ 2027 Returns to Yokohama: Dates, Details, and How to Attend

8 min read

Overview

CP+ 2027 is heading back to Yokohama, and the dates are now official. The Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA) confirmed the return of the free-to-attend CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show. The event runs for four days at Pacifico Yokohama, from Thursday, February 25 through Sunday, February 28, 2027. For anyone who follows new cameras and lenses, this is the event to watch.

Since Photokina ended in 2020, CP+ has grown into the biggest international show on the photography calendar. Every year, major brands use the Yokohama floor to reveal new gear, run hands-on demos, and host talks with working photographers. The 2027 edition, then, is your early look at where the industry moves next.

The show also keeps getting bigger. In 2026, CP+ set records for both exhibitor count and in-person attendance, and it pulled in a noticeably younger and more diverse crowd. Below, you get the confirmed schedule, the venue details, the attendance numbers, and the steps to attend CP+ 2027 in person.

CP+ 2027 Dates, Venue, and Hours

CP+ 2027 opens on Thursday, February 25 at 10 AM local time. From February 25 through February 27, the doors stay open until 6 PM. On Sunday, February 28, the final day, the venue closes a little earlier at 5 PM. Either way, plan your Sunday visit for the morning or early afternoon if you want the full floor experience.

The location stays consistent with recent years. CP+ 2027 runs at Pacifico Yokohama, a large convention complex on the Yokohama waterfront, about 30 minutes south of central Tokyo by train. The venue sits close to hotels, restaurants, and the Minato Mirai district, so travel logistics are simple whether you arrive from Haneda or Narita.

Yokohama has hosted the show for years, and the transit access is a big reason the event draws international visitors. From Tokyo Station, a direct train reaches the Minato Mirai area in roughly half an hour. Because the show falls in late February, pack for cool weather, and book lodging early since the four-day event fills nearby hotels fast.

Why CP+ 2027 Leads the Industry

Those crowds arrive for a reason. For decades, Photokina in Germany was the center of gravity for camera launches. However, the show shut down in 2020 as the market shifted, and the industry needed a new flagship. CP+ stepped into the gap, and it has grown every year since. Today, CP+ 2027 stands as the most important international photography show in the world.

The reason is simple: this is where the brands show up. The exhibitor list spans Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, OM System, Sigma, and Tamron, plus dozens of accessory makers. They use the floor to demo new products, from entry bodies to flagships like the Nikon Z9. Feedback from real users flows straight back to the companies. So if a company has something new for the year, Yokohama is often the first place you get to hold it.

The show also shapes conversation well beyond the venue. Announcements, concept designs, and hands-on impressions ripple across photography media for weeks afterward. Last year, for example, the Canon Analog Concept Camera stole the spotlight and reignited interest in slow, deliberate shooting. Moments like this are why CP+ 2027 matters to working pros and weekend shooters alike.

Record Crowds and a Younger Audience

The 2026 edition set the bar high, and the numbers tell the story. CP+ 2026 welcomed a record 58,329 in-person visitors and hosted 149 corporations and organizations, its largest exhibitor lineup yet. Both figures point to a live event with real momentum, even as much of the photography world moved online.

More telling is who showed up. Visitors under 40 made up roughly 40 percent of attendees, and women reached a record 22.4 percent of the crowd. In fact, the audience is getting younger and broader, not older and narrower. For a hobby some people wrote off a decade ago, those are healthy signs.

CP+ organizers point to this shift as proof the event has grown into a festival for enthusiasts, not only a trade show for professionals and core gear fans. Interactive workshops, family-friendly exhibits, and creator-focused sessions all feed this trend. Because of it, CP+ 2027 should draw an even wider mix of photographers, videographers, and curious first-timers.

What to Expect on the Show Floor

The CP+ camera show blends product booths with programming, so there is more to do than browse gear. For 2027, the organizers have promised practical sessions for video and film creators, main-stage talks with working photographers, and creator-focused projects. According to CP+, the goal is to capture the latest trends in a fast-growing imaging market.

On the booth side, you get hands-on time with the newest bodies, lenses, lighting, tripods, and software. Testing a camera in person still beats reading a spec sheet, and CP+ centers on exactly this kind of tactile experience. Bring a memory card, since many booths let you shoot sample frames and take the files home.

Workshops and interactive exhibits round out the schedule for families and casual visitors. Whether you shoot with one of the best compact cameras or a pro mirrorless flagship, there is programming pitched at your level. New to interchangeable lenses? The floor is also a low-pressure way to compare systems before you buy. Our guide to the best mirrorless cameras for beginners lays out the same trade-offs.

How to Register for CP+ 2027

Admission to CP+ 2027 is free, but you need to pre-register before you go. CIPA has confirmed the free-entry model continues, and it expects to open registration in early December 2026, though it lists the date as tentative. As of July 2026, no sign-up link is live yet. So mark your calendar for the end of the year, and register the moment the portal opens.

Registration runs through the official CP+ website. You provide basic details, receive a confirmation, and bring it with you to enter the venue. Because the show is free and popular, expect brisk online traffic when registration opens, though the process itself is quick.

If you are traveling internationally, use the December window to finalize flights and hotels alongside your registration. Late February is a busy travel period in Japan, and Yokohama lodging near Pacifico fills quickly during the show. Booking early keeps you close to the venue and cuts your daily commute during the four days.

Exhibitor Plans and Early-Bird Deadlines

Brands looking to exhibit at CP+ 2027 have options, and CIPA is already accepting applications. The organizers again offer two exhibitor-friendly plans carried over from 2026. Their Budget Plan books a compact booth at a flat rate. Meanwhile, the Early Bird Plan trims the booth fee for companies committing early. First-time exhibitors save the most, with CP+ materials citing up to 50,000 yen off, while returning exhibitors save 10,000 yen. Both options lower the barrier for smaller companies and startups.

The deadlines matter if you want a booth. The Early Bird and Budget plans close on August 31, 2026, while standard exhibition packages close on September 30, 2026. Companies still apply after those dates, but discounts disappear and space is no longer guaranteed. Therefore, the sooner a brand commits, the better the pricing and placement.

For exhibitors, the pitch is direct marketing at scale. CP+ delivers face-to-face access to tens of thousands of engaged buyers, plus global brand exposure and genuine feedback from users. As the industry’s flagship show, Yokohama gives companies a rare chance to reach new customer segments in one concentrated four-day window.

Final Thoughts

CP+ 2027 gives the photography world its clearest annual snapshot, and the dates are worth circling. From February 25 through 28, Pacifico Yokohama fills with new gear and live demos, and its announcements set the tone for the year ahead. Best of all, entry stays free as long as you pre-register.

The momentum behind the show is real. Record attendance, a growing exhibitor list, and a younger, more diverse audience all point to an event on the rise rather than one in decline. So whether you shoot professionally or for the love of it, CP+ 2027 rewards the trip with hands-on access you rarely get anywhere else.

If a flight to Japan is out of reach this year, you still benefit from the coverage afterward. Keep an eye on the reveals and hands-on impressions in the weeks after the show. Use them to guide your next purchase, whether you want a new system or one of the best Canon cameras. Either way, CP+ 2027 sets the agenda for the gear you shop for all year.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is CP+ 2027?

CP+ 2027 runs for four days, from Thursday, February 25 through Sunday, February 28, 2027. The show opens at 10 AM on the first day. Doors stay open until 6 PM from February 25 to 27, and the final day closes at 5 PM.

Where is CP+ 2027 held?

The show takes place at Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, on the city’s waterfront. Yokohama sits about 30 minutes south of Tokyo by train, with direct service from Tokyo Station to the Minato Mirai district. The venue has hosted CP+ for years.

How much does it cost to attend CP+ 2027?

Admission to CP+ 2027 is free. However, you need to pre-register before you arrive. CIPA expects to open online registration in early December 2026, a date it lists as tentative, so sign up as soon as the portal opens.

Why is CP+ considered the most important camera show?

After Photokina in Germany ended in 2020, CP+ became the largest international photography show. Every major brand uses the Yokohama floor to reveal new cameras, lenses, and accessories. As a result, the announcements from CP+ shape the industry for the rest of the year.

Are exhibitor applications still open for CP+ 2027?

Yes. CIPA is accepting exhibitor applications now. The Early Bird and Budget plans close on August 31, 2026, and standard packages close on September 30, 2026. The Early Bird Plan trims the booth fee for first-time exhibitors by up to 50,000 yen.

Sources: CP+ official website (CIPA). Attendance and exhibitor figures reported by CIPA / CP+.