Tradeshows:

July 2009
American Library Association Exhibit, July 11-14, Chicago, Illinois
As libraries across the nation start making games a core part of their community-centric initiative, this show is fast becoming a key show for game manufacturers.
Protospiel, July 24-26, Okemos, Michigan
Started in 2001 by game designers Stephen Glenn, Dominic Crapuchettes, and Mike Petty, Protospiel is an annual get-together of amateur and established game designers to test and promote nearly-finished game prototypes. The atmosphere is casual, yet everyone is serious about their goals and dreams of publishing games.
Comic-con, July 23-26, San Diego, California
Everything comics. Tons of artists, graphic novels, anime, tv and movie release features and more.

August 2009
GenCon, July 13-16, Indianapolis, Indiana
The biggest open gaming convention in the U.S. All the major hobby game manufacturers show their releases for the year. Tons of gaming areas and special events.

September 2009
none

October 2009
Fall Toy Preview, October 6-9, Dallas, Texas
An appointment-only trade show where all the major manufacturers meet with all the major accounts for a sneak peak and what is in the works for games and toys.
Essen, October 22-25, Essen, Germany
The biggest (and best) open-to-the-public gaming event in the world. Draws more than 150,000 people each year. The best chance to see all the European releases before the Holidays. Also timed with the announcement of the Spiel de Jahr winners.

November 2009
BGGcon, November 19-22, Dallas, Texas
The largest community of gamers, BoardGameGeek.com, hosts their annual con. A great event filled with lots of dedicated gamers.
ChiTAG, TBD, Chicago, Illinois
An open-to-the-public long gaming weekend akin to Essen. Lots of gaming areas and an ever-growing amount of exhibitors. Quite a few special events as well, including a Young Inventors contest.
TAGIE, TBD, Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois
The two days leading into ChiTAG, this Toy and Game Inventor Expo, offers practical advice on how to get started inventing, licensing and publishing your own creations. Hosted by a magnificent panel of experts.

December 2009
none

January 2010
Hong Kong Toy & Game Fair, TBD, Hong Kong.
A trade only show which has been growing in significance in the last several years.
UK Toy Fair, TBD, London, England
A trade only show is expressly for UK manufacturers of toys, games and hobbies to exhibit their upcoming products for the year.

February 2010
Spielwarenmesse, February 4-9, Nürnberg, Germany
A trade only show which is the largest in the world, I believe. A fantastic intro to all the game and toy manufacturers in Europe.
NY Toy Fair, February 14-17, New York, NY
The preeminent US trade-only show for the specialty and mass markets. If a company sells to these markets, they will be at this show.

March 2010
NSSEA EdExpo, March 18-20, Orlando, Florida
This trade show is a back-to-school extravaganza. I have heard that a good number of game companies have been well-received here.
WTHRA, March 27-30, Pomona, California
For game buyers that do not come out to NY for Toy Fair, this is another option for them on the West Coast. A much smaller, more intimate fair. Often sales reps are manning the booth rather than the actual game companies.

April 2010
GAMA, April 14-17, Bally's, Las Vegas, Nevada
One of the first-of-the-year trade shows for the hobby market. An excellent place to catch up with the folks in this industry to find what the new releases will be for the year.

May 2010
none

June 2010
Licensing International Expo, June tbd, Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada
The world's largest brand and property trade show. Find out what movies are coming out, which books need games, and which licenses will be hot.
UK Games Expo, June tbd, Birmingham, UK,
The UK's biggest gaming convention with plenty of drop-in and organized play sessions and two days of demos, tournaments, role-playing, and game company exhibits.
ASTRA Marketplace & Academy, June tbd, St. Paul, Minnesota
American Specialty Toy Retailers Association's industry show targeted specifically at specialty retailers in the U.S.
Origins, June tbd, Columbus, Ohio
Another great hobby industry trade event. Also tied to the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design awards (often just referred to as the Origins awards).