Trade Show News

Chicago offers extensive meeting planner resources, including Choose Chicago (Convention Bureau) for event planning assistance and venue connections. Professional associations like MPI Chicago Area Chapter and Chicago ILEA also provide local expertise. The Chicago Hotel Association offers group booking assistance and hotel connections, making the city a strong choice for corporate events.

The Warwick Allerton Chicago offers 12,000 square feet of elegantly restored event space in the heart of the Magnificent Mile, suitable for meetings, weddings, and social gatherings. The historic landmark blends Northern Italian Renaissance architecture with modern functionality, providing inspiring settings with natural light and panoramic city views, complemented by expert planning and service.

Loews Chicago O'Hare features 53,000 square feet of refreshed meeting space, including four grand ballrooms, 34 meeting rooms, and nine private boardrooms. The hotel emphasizes its chic and functional design, inspired by Chicago's aesthetic, and offers intuitive service, fresh food and beverage, and creative meeting breaks, positioning itself as a leading meeting and event destination in the Midwest.

The Chicago Fire Football Club announced plans for a new privately funded, open-air soccer stadium in The 78 development, expected to open in Spring 2028. Levy was selected as the food and beverage partner for the stadium, which will anchor Chicago's newest neighborhood.

The National Confectionery Sales Association's Candy Hall of Fame Museum is set to open in Chicago in 2027, located at 830 N. Michigan Ave. This multi-level experiential attraction will include a museum, spotlighting iconic candies and confectionery history, and an on-site candy store.

CODESYS Corporation announced it will exhibit at Automate 2026, North America's premier automation and robotics event, from June 22-25 at McCormick Place. They will showcase developments in software-defined automation, virtual control, safety, and AI-supported engineering.

PCMA, headquartered in Chicago, announced the Executive Leader Fellowship in partnership with NYU SPS, a new executive education program for global business events leaders, with its inaugural in-person session scheduled for Chicago in July 2026.

A recent analysis on convention destinations noted that McCormick Place remains the largest convention center in North America, providing Chicago with a significant capacity advantage for hosting the largest trade shows. This positions Chicago competitively against other major convention cities like Las Vegas and Orlando.

Choose Chicago is seeking a Vice President of Communications & Content to lead the organization's communication, media relations, content, social media, and storytelling efforts, supporting Chicago's reputation as a premier visitor and meetings destination. The role, advertised through SearchWide Global, requires a strategic communicator and strong leader to shape how Chicago is perceived across various audiences.

The 2026 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, which drew over 55,000 foodservice professionals, focused on the practical implementation of AI and technology to solve business challenges. Discussions centered on deploying technology across restaurant networks and integrating it into daily operations without compromising hospitality.

Collect-A-Con, described as the nation's largest trading card, anime, and pop culture event, is announced for the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Hall A in Rosemont, IL. The event will feature over 900 vendor tables, anime voice actors, and celebrity guests.

The Utility Show 2026, a trade show for the restaurant community, is scheduled for May 17-18 at The Mae District in Chicago. The event will feature F&B vendors, artisans, industry panels, and a restaurant pitch competition, with free pedicab transport available from McCormick Place.

PlantCon Chicago, described as the nation's largest plant convention, will be held for the first time in the Midwest at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on June 20-21, 2026. The community-driven event aims to connect plant lovers, small businesses, and creators.

The Design-2-Part Trade Show, in its 27th year in Greater Chicago, is returning to the Schaumburg Convention Center on May 6-7, 2026. The event is North America's largest custom manufacturing sourcing event, connecting OEMs, buyers, and decision-makers with over 275 American suppliers across 300+ manufacturing categories.

The Book Harvest Convention 2026 is scheduled to be hosted at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Chicago. This event is listed under group bookings for the hotel.

Chicago is preparing for new venue openings in Spring 2026, including "The Hand & The Eye," set to be the world's largest magic venue. Looking ahead, Bally's Chicago, a new casino and hotel featuring 20,000 square feet of exhibition space, is projected to open in 2027.

360 CHICAGO is expanding to include a new 14,000-square-foot premium event venue on its 96th floor, expected to open in 2027. This expansion will make it the city's first multi-story observation deck and a new option for corporate events.

The 95th and 96th floors of a building near The Magnificent Mile are being converted into a premium event venue with 14,000 square feet for corporate events, expected to open in 2027.

360 CHICAGO Observation Deck, located on the 94th floor of 875 N. Michigan Ave., is undergoing a historic expansion onto two additional floors, becoming the city's first multi-story observation deck. The 96th floor will become a premium event venue with 14,000-square-feet for corporate events, weddings, and celebrations, with new spaces expected to open in 2027.

The Cube Chicago has opened a 25,000 sq. ft. space featuring 21 glass game cubes for team-building challenges. The venue offers full buyouts and can accommodate large groups for unique events.