The Hartford doesn’t offer trade show insurance online, but a local agency or Tivly may be able to help you find the coverage you need. The following content includes information from various sources and can change over time.
What Is Trade Show Insurance Coverage?
Trade show insurance is made up of different types of business insurance coverages designed to help protect you from the risks you face as an exhibitor. Accidents happen, whether a guest trips at a booth or you damage another vendor’s display during setup. These situations could lead to expensive out-of-pocket costs or legal claims.
Although The Hartford doesn’t offer exhibitor insurance, we help connect businesses to Tivly, so they can get the coverage they’re looking for.
Why Might You Need Trade Show Insurance?
If you’re at a trade show, insurance coverage can help protect you from different risks. For example, if a show is canceled and you lose out on potential opportunities, business income insurance can help recoup lost revenue. Some trade shows may also require participants to have coverage and show a certificate of insurance before they can set up.
Because every business owner has unique needs, you’ll likely need specific types of coverage. Having the right insurance can help protect you from situations like:
- Guest injury: A visitor trips and falls while walking through your booth, resulting in a costly injury claim.
- Inventory theft: Valuable products are stolen during the show.
- Equipment damage: Your display equipment is accidentally damaged during setup.
Who May Need Trade Show Insurance?
Business insurance coverage can help protect many types of businesses at trade shows, including:
What Trade Show Insurance Coverages Might I Need?
When it comes to protecting exhibitions, coverage should match your potential risks. Many business owners have a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) because of the peace of mind it can provide. It combines three types of coverage to help cover your business from the common risks you might face at a trade show:
General liability insurance helps protect your business from claims that your trade show caused bodily injury or property damage to others.
Commercial property insurance helps protect the owned or rented building that you run the trade show out of, as well as the equipment, tools and inventory you use. These can include:
- Furniture
- Screens
- Stock and samples
- Demo materials
Business income insurance helps replace your lost income if you can’t host a trade show because of covered property damage.
Keep in mind that a BOP won’t cover every kind of claim, so you’ll need to get other types of insurance to have a well-rounded plan, including:
Workers’ compensation insurance to give your employees benefits to help them recover from an injury or illness they get while working at the trade show.
Commercial auto insurance to help cover bodily injury or property damage claims from an auto accident when you or an employee drives a company-owned vehicle for work.
How Much Does Trade Show Insurance Cost?
Although The Hartford doesn’t offer trade show insurance, here are the average costs our small business customers pay for common types of coverage. You can use these amounts to help estimate your costs:**
- BOP: $1,687 a year, or about $141 a month
- Stand-alone general liability insurance: $810 a year, or about $68 a month
- Workers’ compensation insurance: $1,032 a year, or $86 a month
- Professional liability insurance: $744 a year, or $62 a month1
The cost of trade show insurance varies because every business and booth faces unique risks. Insurance companies consider several factors when determining your coverage cost, including:
- Number of employees
- Location of your business
- Type of coverage
- Your claims history
- Coverage limits you select
To find out your specific trade show insurance costs, get a free quote online through Tivly.
General Liability Insurance
“Our light stand fell during setup and scratched the floor. The venue sent us a repair bill right after the event.”
General liability insurance helps cover claims that your business caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else.
Product Liability Insurance
“The samples we gave out caused an attendee to break out in a rash. She sued our business, saying we failed to disclose any allergens.”
Product liability insurance helps protect your business from claims that a product you made or sold caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else’s belongings.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
“One of my reps slipped off the ladder while breaking down our booth. He injured his back and needed weeks off to recover.”
Workers’ compensation insurance gives your team benefits to help them recover from work-related injuries or illnesses. It can help pay their medical bills and replace lost wages.
Commercial Auto Insurance
“My office manager was driving the company truck to the show when he accidentally backed into the building wall.”
Commercial auto insurance helps protect you and your employees on the road if they’re using company-owned vehicles for work.
Commercial Property Insurance
“A pipe burst in my storage area, and the water damaged all the lights and inventory I was planning to use at an upcoming trade show.”
Commercial property insurance helps protect your business' equipment, furniture and inventory from loss or damage caused by covered events like storms, fires or vandalism.
Business Income Insurance
“A fire broke out in another storage unit. It spread to my storage box and damaged a lot of my equipment. I couldn’t participate in a big show.”
Business income insurance helps replace your lost income if you can’t operate temporarily because of covered property damage.
Get a Quote for Trade Show Insurance Options
Ensure you’re protected for your next event. Get a trade show insurance quote through Tivly.
Last Updated: April 24, 2026
1 What you pay for professional liability insurance will vary by product, limits chosen and risk class or hazard group associated with your business.
2 Insurance Information Institute, "Facts + Statistics: Product liability," viewed March 2026.
3 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in 2023," viewed March 2026.
4 The Hartford, “Water and Freezing Damage, Burglary Lead The Hartford’s Top Five Small Business Claims,” viewed March 2026.
** Costs, premiums, and coverages mentioned are estimates and are not guaranteed. Actual cost, premium, and coverage are determined at the time of quote or issue and are specific to an individual risk. Premiums are based on information provided to The Hartford, including, but not limited to, underwriting and rating criteria. All examples included on this website or in an advertisement are intended for informational purposes only and are not an offer or a guarantee of premium or coverage. Coverage and products described are subject to the terms and conditions found in the policy contract. Any educational information provided about available coverages does not modify the policy language or imply that any claim is covered. Products are not available in all states or for all businesses.
The Hartford does not currently have a product available to provide the coverage described on this page. You are being referred to Tivly in an effort to connect you with a carrier who may provide this coverage. This link will redirect you to a third-party website, owned and operated by an independent party ("Tivly"). Any link you make to or from the Tivly website will be at your own risk. Any use of the Tivly website will be subject to and any information you provide will be governed by the terms of the Tivly website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy and security. The Hartford and its affiliates (collectively "The Hartford") do not endorse or approve and make no warranties, representations or undertakings relating to the content of the Tivly website. The Hartford assumes no liability for loss, damage and any other consequence resulting directly or indirectly from your access to the Tivly website or any information that you may provide on the Tivly website.
Additional disclosures below.