Chicago Trade Shows 2025–2026: Dates, Venues, and How to Prep

Chicago hosts trade shows almost every month. You see crowds from every field here, like design, food and medical imaging. The city makes it easy to plan a visit, move between venues, and meet people who work in your field. 

This guide shows you what’s coming up and what you can expect when you arrive.

15 Chicago Trade Shows 2025-2026

1. RSNA Annual Meeting 2025

Dates: November 30 to December 4, 2025
Venue: McCormick Place

RSNA brings medical imaging teams from around the world to one location. You see equipment lines that fill entire sections of the hall. Many visitors come to compare scanners side by side because it’s one of the few places where you see them all running in real time. Sessions run all day, and most rooms fill quickly, so you want to check the schedule early. You also meet researchers and hospital teams who share what they see in daily practice.

You cover a lot of ground at this event. Plan your path the night before, since you walk through long halls that take time to cross.

If your badge photo looks dated, visit Studio Pod before the show and update your profile right away. Small details help people remember you when you follow up later.

2. NeoCon 2025

Dates: June 9 to June 11, 2025
Venue: THE MART

NeoCon spreads across many floors. You move through showrooms that display furniture lines, lighting setups, textiles, acoustic panels, and workplace layouts. Most visitors come to see how spaces change and to understand where design is heading. Some arrive with product lists to compare, while others come with a notebook and walk floor by floor. Morning crowds are dense, but the pace slows by mid-afternoon.

Talk to the showroom reps. They often give short walk-throughs and explain how pieces fit into current projects. You learn more when you ask simple questions and let them show you how the materials feel or how a chair supports weight.

3. The Inspired Home Show 2026

Dates: March 10 to March 12, 2026
Venue: McCormick Place

This show is busy and full of motion. You see cookware demos, new kitchen tools, food storage systems, countertop appliances, and cleaning gear. Many visitors come to understand what shoppers ask for each year and how trends shift across categories. You can handle products, watch demos, and ask questions that help you judge durability or ease of use.

The floor is large, so keep your route simple. Pick a hall, finish it, and then move to the next. You save more time that way than you expect.

If you meet brands you want to follow, scan their QR codes or take quick notes. Every contact blends together later unless you write down something short that triggers your memory.

4. Chicago Auto Show 2026

Dates: February 7 to February 16, 2026
Venue: McCormick Place

This show draws huge crowds. You see new models, concept cars, test tracks, and product reveals. Many visitors come with family or friends because there’s space to explore and plenty to watch. You can sit in vehicles, compare trims, and talk to brand reps without pressure. It’s a strong event for anyone shopping for a car or tracking trends in EV growth.

Plan at least half a day here. The test track lines move fast, but they still take time. Bring water and comfortable shoes.

5. IMTS 2026

Dates: September 14 to September 19, 2026
Venue: McCormick Place

IMTS fills McCormick with machines, tools, automation systems, and factory-floor setups. Visitors come to see equipment in action and talk to engineers who build and maintain industrial systems. You hear a lot of practical conversations at booths, and many run short demos that show how the machines cut, move, or measure materials.

This event covers large sections of the building, so plan your visit around the areas that interest you most. Each hall has a different focus, and walking between them takes time. Bring a battery pack because you take more photos and videos than you expect.

When you’re there, grab a map at the entrance. It helps you stay on track and avoid walking in circles.

6. PACK EXPO International 2026

Dates: October 18 to October 21, 2026
Venue: Chicago, IL

PACK EXPO brings together packaging suppliers, machine makers, printing groups, and material specialists. Visitors come to see how products move through lines, how labels look up close, and what new designs reach the market. You also see full working setups that show how items drop, move, seal, and exit conveyors. It’s a good event for anyone who works in food, retail, beauty, or shipping.

Expect long aisles and many stops. You learn the most when you ask reps to run short demos, since many can show quick adjustments or different speeds on the spot.

7. IFT FIRST 2026

Dates: July 12 to July 15, 2026
Venue: Chicago, IL

IFT FIRST brings food science groups, ingredient suppliers, and research teams together. You walk through exhibits that show new flavors, functional ingredients, lab tools, and safety methods. Many visitors come to understand how food formulas shift and how brands respond to new rules, supply changes, and shopper habits. You also see tasting stations and short demos that explain what makes a product stable or shelf-ready.

Plan your day around the sessions you want to attend. They fill fast, and some are only offered once. The show floor moves at a steady pace, so you can cover a lot if you map it out early.

8. EXPO CHICAGO (Contemporary Art Fair) 2025

Dates: April 24 to April 27, 2025
Venue: Navy Pier, Festival Hall

This fair draws galleries, collectors, curators, and visitors who want to see new work in one space. You walk through rooms filled with paintings, sculpture, photography, and installations. Many visitors enjoy the pace here because you can move slowly, take in the work, and talk to gallery teams without pressure. The setting at Navy Pier adds to the experience with lake views and easy access to food and seating areas.

If you like to see art without crowds, arrive early. Afternoons get busy, especially on the weekend.

9. Chicago Build Expo 2026

Dates: (Dates typically released later each year)
Venue: McCormick Place

Chicago Build brings together construction groups, architects, project managers, engineers, and product suppliers. You see new building tools, safety gear, finishes, software, and training stations. Many visitors come to learn how codes shift, how materials perform, and how technology changes daily work on job sites. You can attend talks, walk through product demos, and ask questions about real projects.

The show is broad. Pick the sections you want to see and go straight there before crowds build. Smaller talks are worth attending because speakers take questions at the end.

10. ABA TECHSHOW (Annual)

Dates: Early spring each year
Venue: Chicago, IL

ABA TECHSHOW brings lawyers, legal tech groups, and practice teams together. You see case tools, research platforms, automation tools, and security products for law offices. Visitors come to learn how to work faster, stay organized, and keep client data safe. Sessions run throughout the day and cover topics that help solo attorneys as much as firm teams.

You meet many people in hallways, so keep your badge visible. Many visitors stop to compare tools or talk about work challenges, and these short chats help you understand what others use day to day.

11. Coffee Fest Chicago

Dates: Varies by year
Venue: Chicago, IL

Coffee Fest draws shop owners, roasters, baristas, and visitors who work in or follow the coffee world. You see product lines, roasters, grinders, syrups, brewing gear, and training stations. Many visitors enjoy the energy because you can walk up, taste something, and move on without losing time. You also see short classes that explain how drinks are built or how shops run profitable menus.

Plan your visit around tastings you care about. Some have short lines, while others draw crowds fast. Bring water to reset your palate between stations.

If you do visit, keep notes on your phone. Many drinks taste great in the moment, and notes help you remember which ones stood out after you leave.

12. National Restaurant Association Show (Annual)5

Dates: Late May each year
Venue: McCormick Place

This show fills large halls with food, equipment, beverage lines, and technology used in restaurants. Visitors sample items, watch demos, and meet suppliers who guide menu planning or kitchen setups. Many come to track how trends move each year and see what chains or independents adopt next. The event is busy, but you can still take your time and walk from section to section at your own pace.

You cover many categories here, so start with the one you care most about. You can easily spend a full day exploring food alone.

13. Retail Innovation Chicago (Recurring)

Dates: Dates shift year to year
Venue: Chicago, IL

This event brings together retail teams, product groups, and technology providers. You see displays, checkout tools, digital signs, store concepts, and visual setups. Visitors come to understand how stores attract attention and how buying behavior shifts. Many talks focus on real cases, so you hear straight from teams who build or test these ideas.

Keep your schedule light. You get more from the show when you leave space for unplanned conversations or booth tours.

14. Chicago Toy and Game Fair (Annual)

Dates: Typically mid-November
Venue: Navy Pier

This event draws families, hobbyists, educators, and visitors who enjoy hands-on play. You see new board games, STEM kits, puzzles, collectibles, and early prototypes. Many visitors come to test games before they hit stores and talk directly with creators. You can join demos, walk through themed sections, and pick up items that are hard to find in regular shops.

Crowds pick up fast on weekends. If you want space to try games without long waits, go early and start with the sections that interest you most.

15. Chicago Travel & Adventure Show (Annual)

Dates: Traditionally early February
Venue: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (Rosemont)

This show brings together travel groups, tourism boards, cruise lines, tour operators, and gear suppliers. Visitors walk through large displays filled with trip ideas, destination guides, and onstage talks from well-known travel figures. You see cultural presentations, food tastings, and short sessions that help you plan trips with clear steps.

Plan time for the speaker schedule. Many visitors attend these talks first, then walk the floor after crowds settle.

DES is close to O’Hare. If you visit from another city, you reach the venue fast and avoid long rides into downtown.

How to Plan Your Visit

You get the most from a trade show when you prepare a simple plan. It doesn’t need to be complex. A few small steps make your day smoother and help you enjoy the floor without rushing.

• Update Your Headshot Before You Go: Your profile photo appears on your badge, event app, and social profiles. A clean, current photo helps people remember you. You can book a quick Studio Pod session in Chicago before the show and use the photos the same day.

• Review the Schedule Early: Look at the agenda a few days before you travel. Pick the sessions or demos you want to see, then save them in the event app or in a note on your phone. You stay focused and avoid wandering.

• Check the Floor Map: Most Chicago shows cover large spaces. A quick look at the map helps you avoid long backtracking. Start with one hall, finish it, then move to the next.

• Wear Comfortable Shoes: You walk and stand more than you expect. Good shoes make the day easier and help you stay fresh through late sessions.

• Bring a Small Bag: Many booths hand out samples, guides, or small products. A simple bag keeps your hands free.

• Keep a Portable Charger: Trade show days drain your phone. You use it for maps, photos, messages, and badge scans. A charged device keeps your day on track.

• Bookmark Who You Want to Meet: Look up exhibitors or speakers you care about. Save their booth numbers or session rooms. You move with purpose when you arrive.

• Plan Breaks: Give yourself short pauses between halls. You take in more when you aren’t rushing.

Final Thoughts

Chicago gives you a full calendar of trade shows each year. You meet people, see products, and learn how different fields shift from season to season. The city is easy to move through, and each venue has a pace of its own. A little planning makes your visit smoother and helps you get more from your time on the floor.

If you want to start the week with a clean, current photo for your badge or social profiles, book a Studio Pod session before your event. You walk in, take your photos, and leave with images you can use the same day. It’s simple and fits into any schedule.