Check out our tips for a great experience at the annual Tucson Gem Show. Plus, learn where to connect with team Halstead during your trip.
What is The Tucson Gem Show?
The Tucson Gem Show is a legendary cluster of trade shows that stretch from late January until the end of February each year. It is not a single show at all. It is a group of over 20 separate events spread all over the city of Tucson. These events cover every facet of the jewelry industry; from cheap trinkets to the most incredible museum specimens and luxury jewelry work. There are diamond dealers and bobble head booths with everything in between. It is unlike any other trade show you have ever experienced. In fact, much of it is more like a giant swap meet. Venues range tremendously in size, scope, vibe, and contents. It is a pilgrimage that is on every jewelry artist's bucket list to soak in the Arizona sun along with an amazing array of gemstones, beads, and jewelry. If it is your first time going to Tucson, buckle up and read on to learn how to get the most out of your time there.
Where to Find Halstead at the Tucson Gem Show in 2026
Halstead does not exhibit at a booth at the Tucson Gem Show anymore. We learned that most visitors are not looking to buy chain and findings at the show. Rather, they are there to shop stones in person and for the community. We attend the show for one week each year and participate in a number of different events so we have the opportunity to connect with clients and friends face-to-face. In 2026, Hilary, Brad, and Sylvie will be covering ground all over town. We would love to see you at any or all of the events listed here!
Sun, Feb 1 Free Sh!t Party
Join us from 5pm - 8pm at Casino del Sol for this free event co-hosted by Halstead and Clay Revolution. Meet many of the jewelry instructors you follow online. Come for drinks, food, prizes, games, and giveaways. Please RSVP to [email protected] for planning purposes.
Mon, Feb 2 Clay Revolution Demos
Sylvie Alusitz will be doing demos on how to use Project X Silver Metal Clay in combination with sterling silver tube settings and other jewelry findings all afternoon on Monday, Feb. 2. Stop by the Clay Revolution booth at the To Bead True Blue show at Casino del Sol. Be sure to check out all the other exhibitors and workshops available at the venue while you are there. Admission to this venue is free and open to the public.
Tues, Feb 3 Vivi Magoo Workshop
Sylvie Alusitz will be teaching an all day workshop on how to make a shadowbox pendant at the Vivi Magoo Art Retreat in the Desert hosted at the Doubletree at Reid Park. This workshop requires payment and pre-registration. Seats will sell out so register today! Be sure to check out the amazing line-up of other instructors and topics available.
Thurs, Feb 5 SNAG demo
The Society of North American Goldsmiths hosts SNAG @ Tucson, an event dedicated to jewelers tools, equipment, and education at the Cathedral Square Center in downtown Tucson. This event only lasts a few days. Sylvie will be doing a demo for Halstead. Check back here for time and topic and be sure to meet us there.
Top Tucson Gem Show Venues for Shopping
No one can hit all the venues of the Tucson Gem Show. I don't think it is possible. There are large scale venues and parking lot pop-ups all over town. Below, we list the major venues and describe the flavor of each. Pick and choose which events are the best fit for you. Save yourself a lot of time waiting in lines by pre-registering for shows you plan to attend. Anticipate wait times at badge pick up on venue opening days and when they open first thing each morning. You will likely drive by other parking lot events around town as you traverse the city. It can get overwhelming. Be sure to start with your priority events and stay focused or you can spend a lot of time that you may regret later.
South of Town
G&LW Gem Mall & Holidome - Wholesale only. Credentials required. This is the grandaddy of the Tucson gem shows. It is two enormous tents in a remote area south of Tucson. Note there are no restaurants or facilities very close. There are food trucks outside with picnic tables if the weather is good. This show has a little bit of everything including cabs, stones, pearls, beads, finished jewelry, accessories, clothing, watches, and more. This is a great venue for bargain hunters willing to walk a lot of aisles. Plan a minimum of half a day if you want to see the whole show.
JOGS - Wholesale only. Credentials required. This venue is a close drive from the G&LW show above. If you move quickly, you can do it in the same day. This venue is much smaller and will take anywhere from one hour to half a day depending how you browse. This is an excellent venue for purchasing finished jewelry in bulk for resale, cabochons, amber, and other items to stock retail stores. There are a few food trucks outside the venue but very little seating.
Kino Gem & Mineral Show - Open to the public. Another venue within 1-2 miles of JOGS and G&LW. Kino is for rock hounds and lapidary artists. Go for lapidary equipment and more tubs of rough than you have ever seen in your life. There are also rock & gem specimens as well as other miscellaneous exhibitors. Heaven for lapidary artists. If that isn't you, skip this show.
Downtown
AGTA/GJX - Wholesale only. Credentials required. This is two separate shows but they recognize each others badges with validation stickers. AGTA is in the Tucson Convention Center. GJX is directly across the street. It works best to park at AGTA ($20+ fee) and walk over to GJX without moving your car. These shows most closely resemble traditional trade shows you may have experienced before. They are large ballroom facilities with exhibitor booths and display cases. They both have a lot of food and seating available. Note this is the most secure and tightly controlled show in Tucson. Plan to dress more professionally to feel comfortable. Exhibitors are mostly high-end diamond, facet cut gemstone, and pearl dealers. This is the show for the absolute best quality gems. It is excellent for traditional jewelry stores, bridal collections, custom pieces, and exhibition work. It is not for bargain hunters.
Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show and Hotel Row - Open to the Public. The Pueblo show is located in the Ramada Inn. It anchors a row of similar shows in hotels right along the west side of the Tucson freeway. There are a few parking lots near the Pueblo so it is best to start there and then walk on to the adjacent shows as time permits. The Pueblo is the show famous for all the social media photos of people in front of giant geodes, crystals, and dinosaur fossils. It should definitely be part of your Tucson experience. It has a quirky mix of fossils, antiquities, African baskets, specimen gemstones, and jewelry. Don't miss the tent and the food court inside the hotel's main courtyard. Then, move on to explore exhibitors set up in the guest hotel rooms with wares on the beds and spilling outside of each room. Nearby hotels and parking lot pop-up shows have a similar mix that is heavy with rock & gem specimens by the piece, flat, or case.
22nd Street Show - Open to the public. This is a tent show East of the main freeway. It is about a mile from the Pueblo show above. It is possible to walk between them but it adds a lot of distance. It's better to move your car to go to this show. It has a good selection of cabochon, carving, and gift items. It also has a nice food truck food court with shaded seating. This show will take a couple hours to get through.
Melee - Wholesale only for verified retail store & gallery owners only. Credentials required. A tiny, beautiful show featuring about 25 exceptional jewelry artists. This show is juried for excellence. Retail jewelry store owners looking for work in the $300 - $5,000 price range will be sure to find artist studios to love.
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show - Open to the public. This show is in the same venue as the AGTA show at the Tucson Convention Center. It sets up immediately after AGTA ends. It is a long running specimen show designed for the general public, not jewelers. It is more of a science and natural history event. I've heard many sad stories about first time Tucson visitors who Googled the Gem show and planned their travel around this particular event. Don't make that mistake. This is not the show you are looking for!
West of Town
To Bead True Blue - Open to the Public. Located in the ballrooms at the left end of the Casino del Sol resort grounds. This event is a mix of jewelry making workshops and small artisan booths. You will find bead strands, tools, and supplies. But most vendors are very small artisans selling handcrafted beads, jewelry, or fiber art. This show only takes about an hour or two to walk through. If you want to take jewelry making classes during your trip, this is one of your best options. Register for classes in advance, seats sell out quickly. See below for other workshops.
Top Tucson Gem Show Venues for Jewelry Making Workshops
Vivi Magoo Art Retreat in the Desert - In 2026 this event is moving to the Doubletree at Reid Park to be closer to most of the gem show venues. Vivi Magoo does not have an expo. It is a collection of jewelry making workshops taught by some of the best known instructors in the field. Browse classes and register in advance. Seats sell out quickly. No walk-ins. Halstead's Sylvie Alusitz will be teaching a shadowbox pendant workshop this year.
To Bead True Blue - Also a show venue described above. Many top instructors offer jewelry making classes in rooms adjacent to the show ballroom. Clay Revolution also runs metal clay workshops in rooms adjacent to their expo booth.
Potter USA - This jewelry tool & equipment mainstay is based in Tucson, AZ. During the gem show, they offer a facility open house. Many people drive to Tucson just to visit Potter and pick up large items like anvils and hydraulic presses. They recently began offering jewelry making workshops on-site and have some courses available during the gem show. Register in advance.
Top Tucson Gem Show Events to Prioritize
SNAG @ Tucson - The Society of North American Goldsmiths produces an intimate expo with some of the trade's top tool, equipment, and education providers. Go for demos and networking. This venue is near the downtown shows and only takes an hour to stop by. Adjacent covered parking or metered parking is available. They also have a sale associated with the show on the Saturday of the host weekend. Check it out to shop or apply to sell your own work.
Free Sh!t Party - Halstead and Clay Revolution are hosting this free party on Sunday, Feb 1 from 5-8pm. Come for games, prizes, giveaways, food, drinks, and a whole lot of fun. Many instructors you know and love will be attending. Don't miss this chance to meet them in person and network with other jewelry makers.
Influencer Meetups - If you follow any jewelry instructor influencers, keep an eye out for their social media posts about various meet-ups around town during the show. These are some of the best opportunities to meet other jewelers and get some snaps with mentors you love. They are usually promoted only to followers through social posts and emails. You won't find them online with Google. They are often casual happy hours or private shows by invitation only. Some big names known to host meet-ups from time to time include Tonya Davidson, Corkie Bolton, Lucy Walker, Hector Ortega, Danny Wade, and more.
WJA Mixer- The Women's Jewelry Association usually has a members happy hour mixer event during the show. It is often hosted at the AGTA show venue. If you are a member, don't miss this annual networking event.
How to Get The Most Out of Your Time at The Tucson Gem Show
Have a Strategy
Maps of the Tucson Gem Show venues show every parking lot tent in the city. Even Google Maps has an excellent record of show locations you can use to plot your course. Do not plan to stop at every dot on the map. Start with major shows.
Know your total budget and must buy items on your shopping list. Walking up and down every single show aisle will get overwhelming really quickly. If you are there to buy, take a notepad and start writing down booth numbers and prices if you want to bargain shop. You will never remember specific booths without notes. Be mindful of your time and whether you will really be able to return to venues later in your trip.
Most shows do not have many chairs, benches, or table seating for lunch. Plan to be at the shows with better options near mealtimes. Or, plan to make restaurant shops during the day to get off your feet for a while.
Ask for Referrals
There are literally hundreds of vendors in Tucson for each type of stone you might be looking for. Going in blind will be very difficult. Prepare for your trip by asking friends in the jewelry community for seller recommendations. Reach out to your existing sources to see if they will be in Tucson so you can meet in person. If you already have a turquoise seller, for example, ask if they would recommend any vendors they know for nice jaspers. Work your network to save yourself a lot of time and frustration.
Connect With Other Jewelry Artists
You will get more out of the show if you network before and during your trip. Post on social media that you will be going. DM jewelers you follow to see if they will be there and want to meet up for coffee or lunch one day. Many lifetime friendships have grown out of Tucson meetups. Network to grow your tribe and make time for fun. Most shows don't open until 10am and they close at about 5pm. That leaves plenty of time for socializing. Also consider taking a workshop to meet fellow jewelry artists in town at the same time. It can be beneficial on your first time to go with a jeweler friend who has been before. It can be overwhelming and walking the shows with someone who knows the drill can be really helpful!
Tucson Gem Show Travel Tips
How Much Time Do You Need?
Some people zip into town for 2 days of intense shopping while others stay 1-2 weeks. If it is your first visit, I recommend prioritizing G&LW, JOGS, the Pueblo, and the 22nd street show to see a good sampler of what Tucson has to offer. That would probably take 2-3 full days on the ground. Show days are exhausting. You will probably walk close to 5 miles a day up and down aisles. Even parking lots are often a long walk from the front door. Veteran Tucson attendees plan for long-lunches or afternoon breaks by the pool to pace themselves. If you have the time, plan for rest as well as shows.
When to Schedule
The first shows start in January and the last shows close out the month of February. But, the sweet spot when most of the venues are open is usually during the overlap between the AGTA and G&LW anchor events. Google those show dates each year before you book your travel. When you book your travel, get online and register in advance for the shows above you plan to attend.
Getting There
Tucson is a small city. It has an airport but flight options are limited and expensive. Most visitors drive or take a flight into Phoenix and rent a car. The Phoenix airport is about 2 hours away. This adds time to your itinerary but can save you a lot of money. If you can travel with one or more friends you will all save money by sharing lodging and car rental costs.
Getting Around Town
There are show shuttles between major hotels and the large venues. The shuttle system is great but it requires a little more time and patience to navigate each day. Tucson has very poor public transportation. If you choose not to use the shuttles you will need a car. Uber and Lyft are options but they can get overloaded during peak show travel hours. People are always surprised by how much time you end up driving back and forth across the city to get to different shows. Every time you get in the car it is another 20-30 minute drive in traffic to reach your next destination.
Where to Stay
Book early and look for a central location near downtown or the University area. Downtown is the central hub area for show locations. This will save you a lot of driving. Many AirBNB houses are 30 minutes outside of the city. There are beautiful neighborhoods to enjoy if you want to get out of the urban area. But Tucson traffic can be a drag during commuter hours.
Things to Pack
- Comfortable shoes - You will walk many miles during the show. Your feet will be sore each night. Pack the most sensible shoes you have in your closet.
- A nice shoulder bag - Backpacks and roller cases are extremely difficult to maneuver in crowded shows. But, you will definitely need a comfortable, lightweight bag for your credentials, small purchases, snacks, and a water bottle. Your bag will get heavy so avoid straps that will cut into your arm or shoulder by the end of the day.
- A copy of your state sales tax license, picture ID, and printed business cards - Even if you register in advance, bring copies of your credentials with you everywhere you go. Sometimes badge pick-up gets a little crazy. You will be glad to come prepared.
- Your badges - Some shows allow you to print your badges at home. This will save you a ton of time waiting in lines for registration or badge pick up. You can grab a lanyard by the door and walk right in once you show your picture ID.
- Snacks - Venues are big and food options are sometimes limited or expensive. Keep snacks in your bag and car. Some days you get busy and suddenly realize you've gone the whole day without eating.
About the Weather
February in Tucson is highly unpredictable. Some years are 90 degree days full of sunburn and heat exhaustion. Other years, people flood Instagram with pictures of frozen solid fountains and ice on cactus. Wet, cold years are especially difficult because so many shows are outdoors with dirt parking lots. Watch the weather right up to your departure date. Even during warm years, pack a jacket or sweater for evenings. The desert gets surprisingly cold at night even on the warm, sunny days.
Experience Tucson Culture
Tucson is a unique town to explore. Public art murals are all over the city. Be sure to check out the many great restaurants around town. Prioritize Mexican food and margaritas. Some areas to explore are the 4th avenue shops and Congress St. near downtown.
